• Welcome to Tamil Brahmins forums.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our Free Brahmin Community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.

Archagas demanding money from sevadries

Status
Not open for further replies.
Dear everybody

Gd mrng and have a nice day with the blessings of devi.

Recently, i had a very bitter experience in one of the temples, where, i had offered abhishekam to lord subramanya. After the abhishekam and deeparadhanai, we were taken to the side of the temple, where the sivacharias gave away prasadam. I offered a coconut shell, betel, nut, banana and a ten rupees note. To my utter amaze, he returned the rupee note and take a deep breathe, he was openly demanding at least rs.50/-. this literally killed my heart and i felt very bad. This sort of demanding does not do good to archakas in generaly and our community in particular. Will our religious gurus intervene in the matter and put an end to commercialization of the temple activities.

With namaskarams.

kls iyer
 
I do not know which temple you are referring to. But, I agree with you on this matter.

Let us look at the other side of such behaviour.

Priests/archakas in 99% of the temples depend on 'kanikkais' only, for their livelihood. Their monthly salary is too meagre and it is a ludicrous amount. They are offered a part of the neivedhyam (prasadam) for their daily food.

Ramadoss of PMK, Thirumavalavan of VCK reel out figures about the number of people from their communities in Ministry, Judiciary, Media, Large Corporate Houses, Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, IIT professors, College Principals and commerce and trade of sizeable volumes. Their contention/conclusion is they are grossly under represented in every field.

To my knowledge, no such survey (not a farcical one) was ever conducted in the community of archakas.

I once again repeat that I don't support them blindly, but I sympathise with them.
 
Last edited:
I also condemn the behavior of Archagas. It is very sad that commercialisation is taking place in front of God.

However who can regulate such people? Only our Acharyas can tell them not to be commercial.
 
Reply to KIS IYER

Sir,

Please remember that Archargas also have a belly and family.Their children are also to be educated.

We go to Saravana Bhavan and pay any money they bill and likewise at Nalli/Kuamaran.

For labourers how much we pay?

Remember their avocation is this and they have to earn.They should not be greedy.For an abishekam how much you will spend.I can agree if for showing deparadhanai thattu u hv offered Rs 10 and he has asked this much.

I do agree that in some temples the expectation are too much and needs to be pruned.But the offering of Rs 10 for doing abishekam is too low.With one part of a coconut you want him to live?

I am not critical of your act but giving the other side's perception.
Sorry if i have hurt you anyway in the process.

Regards,
 
This is real issue...like shri Pannvalan...i dont support them..
i feel sympathise them...but "poonaikku yaru mani kattarathuu"?
means who can regulate them?like thirudan thaanaga thirunthatha varayil thiruttai ozhikka mudiyathu"...like archagas themselves
change their behavior...
 
We always understand the plight and condition of Archagas and Vadhyars. But poor people from our community cannot afford like their rich counterparts. Let them have consideration for poor among our own community.

On the onside, we want all the rituals and other ceremonies are preserved and observed. On the other side, our own community Vadhyars/Archagas drive the poor out of the performance.

Vadhyar/Archagas should have a balanced approach. Whereever they can earn more, let them earn. Let them have consideration for the poor who cannot afford.

Some people told me that they cannot perform Srardam because they cannot affort Vadhyar's demands. Infact the economic prosperity of some of the Vadhyars and Archagas are much better than most of us. My own Vadhyar has a Car and latest cell phone.
 
From
From JAMADAGGNI's DESK
---------------------------
ABOUT Archagas and Vadhyars professional fees and/or Guru Kanikkai
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Many of the Gurukkals/Archagas and Purohits/Vadhyars are still in the reign of poverty. I request members not to take one example as the representative of whole population of Archagas and Vadhyars.

I feel very belittled and ashamed by the way some of the members wrote against the Archagas/Gurukkals and Purohits/Vadhyars. I am really sad as to how Kanjus and selfish we are. How many people know...there are thousands of temples all around India where the Archagas, in spite of their meagre and scanty income), still do 6 times-Pooja for the deity even at their own expense without expecting any materialistic benefit from anybody. They even starve for food but never stop the prayers offered to the deity. I just ask the question...you people earn thousands of rupees and dollars as salary and live a very decent life....Archaga's and Purohit's lives are not such...they starve...they are deprived of day-to-day wants...they are unable to send their children to schools.....no one to take care of them if they fall ill....In spite of all these sufferings, the Archagas perform their duties very well in all temples. Archagas also have one another nonsense duty....adjusting to the tune of HR&C Board, Ministers, MLAS and other VIPs.

I am referring to majoirty of Archagas and Purohits who suffer materialistically in India. We only should take care of them in the form of providing more and more KANIKKAI(fees or Guru Dakshinai, I would say), so that the ancient culture and tradition will not severe and will be taken to next generations. One complains that he was asked to give Rs.50 instead of Rs.10 as Guru Kanikkai to Archaga. This is not admirable. If Sevardhi could not give those additional Rs.40, he could have explained to Archaga. The Archaga would have understood Sevarthi's situation. But, in many occasions, Sevardhis become so miserly and selfish and Kanjus, not having better heart to give them more. These sevarthis (with due respect to them) may spend hundreds and thousands of rupees in going to cinemas, clubs, taking taxis instead of bus, taking shelter in ooty and Kodai....but they say that they do not have enough money to give it to Archagas and Purohits. This attitude is to be condemned. Archagas and Purohits wholly depend on Sevarthees to support them. Even we do not support them liberally, where would they go for running their day-to-day life. If we do not support them enough, the rich Vedas, customs, traditions will soon fade away because the Archagas and Purohits do not have enough resouces to continue it without support of others any more. Is this what we want to achieve? Then, do not give them liberally.

I have seen many people think four times only when the occasion comes to compensate Archagas and Purohits after they performed rituals and homams. It is utterly condemnable attitude. When you spend Rs.50,000 for performing 60th birthday (Sashti-aptha-poorthi), what stops you in giving at least 5% of the whole spendings as "Guru Kanikkai/gift"? But, people become very critical only when it comes to paying to our Gurus. This will lead our community to diaster soon if not mended immediately.


I stop with this... since I expect our community and other communities will be liberal in offerings to Archagas and Purohits, at least hereafter. Advance Thanks !
 
Last edited:
As some of you have rightly said, the archargas should not behave like that. However, considering their position in the society, their earnings, they are forced to do that. In case of small temples, where the devotees/visitors are less, the archagas depend on them. However, in big temples with huge crowd, still they demand for higher amount. On top of that, they do handle it sentimentally by offering to do yearly poojas, and so forth. Since it is very sensitive and we have to support those people, we have to deal with it.
 
I was astonished to see the variety and weight of gold jewellery on the body of several bhattars/archakas in a popular temple recently and even an average woman doesn't possess so much of gold. But, these are exceptions and constitute less than 3% of their population.
 
அர்ச்சகர்கள்

இன்றைய தேதியில் ஒருநாள் தினக்கூலி எவ்வளவு ?
ரூபாய் 250 - 300 . அரசாங்க கோவில்களில் அர்ச்சகர்களின் சம்பளம் மிக மிகக் குறைவு . உண்டியல் பணம் எங்கெங்கு செல்லும் என்பதை நாம் அறிவோம் .
அதிக வருமானம் உள்ள கோவில்களில் உங்களுக்கு அபிஷேக வாய்ப்பு கிடைப்பதே அரிது .
நாம் ஒருபோல ஒரு முடிவை எடுக்காது பாத்திரம் அறிந்து சன்மானம் கொடுக்கத்தான் வேண்டும் .
கொடுக்காமால் வரவே கூடாது . வருமானமுள்ள கோவில்களில் நீங்களும் முண்டியடித்து பணம் கட்டி பணம் கொடுத்து தரிசனம் செய்ய தயார் . எல்லா கோவில்களிலும் இறைவன் தான்
எனினும் நாமும் கடவுளிடமே பேரம் பேசித்தான் வாழ்கிறோம் . நம்மில் எவ்வளவு பேர் வெறும் இறைவழிபாட்டுக்கு மட்டும் இறைவனை வேண்டுகிறோம் ? வேண்டுதல் காணிக்கை
என இறைவனையே பணியாவாக கருதுகிறோம் . எல்லாம் வல்ல எல்லாம் உள்ள இறைவனைத்தவிர வேறு யாரிடம் கேட்பது . கேட்பதில் தவிறில்லை . கோவில்களை நாம் அணுகும் முறையே வியாபாரம் போல் இருப்பதில்லையா ?

சைவர்களிடையே ஒரு கொள்கை தமது வாழ்நாளில் பாடல் பெற்ற அனேக ஸ்தலங்களை காணவேண்டும் என்பது . இதற்கு சில கோவில்களில் அர்ச்சகர் போனவுடனே கிடைக்கமாட்டார் . கடிதம் எழுதினால் தரிசனத்திற்கு தான் இல்லை என்றாலும் எதாவது ஏற்பாடு செய்வார் . கோவிலை நம்பி வாழமுடியாமல் வேறு வேலைக்கும் செல்ல வேண்டிய நிர்ப்பந்தம் . அப்படி ஒரு கோவிலுக்கு சென்றபோது வயதான அந்த அர்ச்சகரின் தட்டில் காசை போட்டபோது கண்களில் கண்ணீர் பொங்க அழுதுவிட்டார் . கேட்டதற்கு தட்டில் காசு விழும் சப்தம் கேட்டு ரொம்ப நாளாச்சி என்றார் .

அனைத்து அர்ச்சகர்களையும் ஒருபோல் காணாது சமயத்திற்கு ஏற்றார் போல் நாம் தான் நடக்கவேண்டும் .
இவற்றை யாராலும் காட்டுப்படுத்த முடியாது . வேலிகளே பயிரை மேயும் காலம் இது !
 
Last edited:
i am somewhat reluctant to post, because, it touches sooooo many raw nerves.

the earliest memories are of what i thought was stinginess in giving the vadhyar his dues. many a times, i have seen, thousands and thousands spent on weddings or funerals.

except when it came to vadhyar sambaavanai, the suspicion and stinginess floated to the fore. it pained me, more times than i recall, to see a vadhyar leave a wedding or a thevasam, dissatisfied and unfulfilled.

i used to cover my head in shame, at what i perceived, to be the small minds, who had an open cheque to the owner of the mandapam or the caterer, but would 'nickel and dime' the moneys to the priest.

where do we place our trust?

there was always, this urging from the ignorant grihasthas, 'மந்திரம் எல்லாம் சரியா விவேகமா சொல்லணம்', with the ardent belief that the supposed short change of sanskrit chants would deem the ceremony unfit for its said purpose.

there was an implicit belief, that the priest would short change on prayers, and this would reflect in the short changing of favours that we sought. (!)

i am talking of an age long gone by. i hope, things are better now in india. where i live, there is more dignity. we have come to an understanding, that private priests have an household to maintain. there is more demand than supply. they live comfortably. i am ok with that.

back to india... and the value of the quantum of prayers.. mis or not understood...content or context .. but demanded nevertheless...with a sense of insecurity...

i have asked often, if this be so, why not say tamil prayers, for we could understand every word.

over the times, i have come to understand, my inherent own belief, that God will understand you in whatever language you speak.

the other side of the coin? our family vadhiar was a ex-clerk, caught for stealing railway inventory in some place up north. fleeing justice, he resorted to the prayers inculcated by his dad, and sought refuge in servicing a few brahmins for amaavasais. anything more complicated, he sought a senior priest.

so, there are all sides to this story.

is there a remedy? my own gut feeling, is for those interested, to go through priesthood training and get your certificate - to conduct ceremonies in tamil or sanskrit.

irrespective of caste, it would attract those interested in the welfare of hinduism. priesthood would be the domain of the learned. certified. does not guarantee a good living. but puts it on par with the doctor or the accountant. you practice what you learn.

i would not take medicine or undergo surgery from a guy whose only qualification was that his parent was a doctor. why would i do the same with something more important to me?

i see a big blot in our tradition in the fact in some pockets the demand exceeds supply, like the rituals at kasi/gaya. when it comes to death, we are more timid and intent on doing the righ thing.

nothing wrong with that. but i have come to believe in vultures, in the garb of ganapaadigaLs who prey upon our sincerety and earnestness and treat us as ATMs for their personal benefit.

do these people care about their souls? do we have a code of morality written somewhere in our scriptures for the behaviour of vaadhiyaars?

the learned ones in this forum can enlighten the likes of me.

thank you.
 
i am somewhat reluctant to post, because, it touches sooooo many raw nerves.

the earliest memories are of what i thought was stinginess in giving the vadhyar his dues. many a times, i have seen, thousands and thousands spent on weddings or funerals.

except when it came to vadhyar sambaavanai, the suspicion and stinginess floated to the fore. it pained me, more times than i recall, to see a vadhyar leave a wedding or a thevasam, dissatisfied and unfulfilled.

i used to cover my head in shame, at what i perceived, to be the small minds, who had an open cheque to the owner of the mandapam or the caterer, but would 'nickel and dime' the moneys to the priest.

where do we place our trust?

there was always, this urging from the ignorant grihasthas, 'மந்திரம் எல்லாம் சரியா விவேகமா சொல்லணம்', with the ardent belief that the supposed short change of sanskrit chants would deem the ceremony unfit for its said purpose.

there was an implicit belief, that the priest would short change on prayers, and this would reflect in the short changing of favours that we sought. (!)

i am talking of an age long gone by. i hope, things are better now in india. where i live, there is more dignity. we have come to an understanding, that private priests have an household to maintain. there is more demand than supply. they live comfortably. i am ok with that.

back to india... and the value of the quantum of prayers.. mis or not understood...content or context .. but demanded nevertheless...with a sense of insecurity...

i have asked often, if this be so, why not say tamil prayers, for we could understand every word.

over the times, i have come to understand, my inherent own belief, that God will understand you in whatever language you speak.

the other side of the coin? our family vadhiar was a ex-clerk, caught for stealing railway inventory in some place up north. fleeing justice, he resorted to the prayers inculcated by his dad, and sought refuge in servicing a few brahmins for amaavasais. anything more complicated, he sought a senior priest.

so, there are all sides to this story.

is there a remedy? my own gut feeling, is for those interested, to go through priesthood training and get your certificate - to conduct ceremonies in tamil or sanskrit.

irrespective of caste, it would attract those interested in the welfare of hinduism. priesthood would be the domain of the learned. certified. does not guarantee a good living. but puts it on par with the doctor or the accountant. you practice what you learn.

i would not take medicine or undergo surgery from a guy whose only qualification was that his parent was a doctor. why would i do the same with something more important to me?

i see a big blot in our tradition in the fact in some pockets the demand exceeds supply, like the rituals at kasi/gaya. when it comes to death, we are more timid and intent on doing the righ thing.

nothing wrong with that. but i have come to believe in vultures, in the garb of ganapaadigaLs who prey upon our sincerety and earnestness and treat us as ATMs for their personal benefit.

do these people care about their souls? do we have a code of morality written somewhere in our scriptures for the behaviour of vaadhiyaars?

the learned ones in this forum can enlighten the likes of me.

thank you.
hi kunjuppu,
idhu nijam thaan ....i wholeheartdly support with u... very
sensitive/delicate topic...more emotional things are
attached with this topic...like wise..there was a thread
about our vadyars/ganapadigals...here the topic about
archagas....both sides of same coin...i was thinking a lot
about this topic....sometimes silence is best way...some
times i feel crying about this topic...idhu kalathin kolam...

regards
 
Dear Sri kunjuppu Ji,

I agree with your post. We have a family Vadhyar, who over the years served our family in India well. But I remember him being called as 'modern' fifty years ago, just because he wore a wrist watch! I underwent upanayanam under his watch.

Whenever I visit India, I always make sure that I give him some money through my mom. He lives a lower middle class life and his only son turned out to be a dud.

I also remember my uncles fought on his dhakshinai. And they would argue with him over ten rupees, while they would throw that money at a theater on coffee, watching a Sivaji Ganesan movie.

Are there Vadhyars who are rascals? Yes, there are. But we as a group owe something to them, who risked their livelihood just to serve us. And we have no right to question their dhakshinai, I think.

On the other hand, when at a ceremony recently in a temple where I live in USA, I was pleasantly surprised when the priest said 'there is no fixed dhakshinai. We are not allowed to ask an amount. Please give me what you think is appropriate'.

Poverty has ugly rules.

Regards,
KRS
 
According to my opinion, we should be generous in offerings to Archakas, we should patronize Archakas., we should consider it as one of our duty.
 
My native village had approx 65 houses of people belonging to our community. Almost 90% of the people have left the village and except Gurukkal and Battacharyar, very few old people are still living there. Pattacharyar is highly devoted to the Perumal and inspite of his old age, performing his duties to the best of his abilities. He is not money minded. Gurukkal is not at all sincere in performing regular poojas but highly money minded. Other residual people in the village are in deep poverty.

We visit the village & temple regularly (mostly once in a year) and contribute liberally to both the priests. Financially both the priests are much better than other villagers of our community (Having Fridge, Telephone, Two wheeler etc). However what is lacking is the sincerity of the Gurukkal. If he is more devoted, we can contribute much more to him.

There is a responsibity for us to take care of them. At the same time, archagas have to be more devoted and sincere in the work. It is a two way process.

At the same time, Archagas/Vadhyars should avoid demanding huge money from poor and downtrodden people of our community.
 
Dear,

In this yugam nothing is free, for ex. your breathing, when you exhale co2 then only you can inhale o2.

I appreciate the humanity of Mr. AHVENKET.

For temple karyams, well knowledged people not ready to take part or to serve. The archagas have to appoint local people for temple works. They have to be paid at least higher to the famer's wage.

We should think of earlier temple standars and about present situation, in future may be a robot can be a archagar and our payments may be through credit card or internet.

Now most of the HR&CE undertaking temples have the e-pooja, e-donations like wise.

Sorry if i have hurt you anyway

Regards,
 
We spend Rs 300 for hairdie and expect Archagar's to do abhishekam for Rs 10.
Ennangada nyam idhu........ Their living condition are poor all through out their life.
Has any one go and bargain with the cardiac surgeon when your open heart surgery date is finalised. We are so selfish !!

Shame- even moderators, are supporting these kind of discussions here.

Bhramana kulam iranguvathurkkum, thazaikamal irrukavum verun engum poyi kaaranam theda vendham.

Chei Chei - Namellam poyi Sankara madathai re-energise seiyya poromma ? Let us do the adhma sudhi ourselves !


Vedha sollum evanaiyum nindhippavan - Maha Kevalamana Brahmahatti Dhoshattukku ullagiraan ............

I will send you the true story narrated by Mahaperiyaval in next posting



Regards,
 
..
Shame- even moderators, are supporting these kind of discussions here.

rk,

the moderators are also participants with views.

when a comment is written in bold red font, we assume the role of the moderator.

in normal fonts, us moderators too express our views. we are mostly also participants.

while i can appreciate your disgust, i do not understand why you have to be so vehement about it. please take care to express your feelings in a milder manner, lest they be read as offensive. we would like to avoid such.

courtesy and politeness are the expected norms here. if we do not practise it, how can we expect others to treat us well.

also, what makes the forum interesting is the exchange of views. the more the diversity, within boundaries of accepted norms and decency, the better.

what use is a group, where everyone thinks alike and speaks the same?

re the views expressed in this thread, i think they are balanced.

on one hand, most of us have recognized the need for fair dakshinai to the vadhyars and have condemned certain attitudes of the grihasthaas.

but there is also another viewpoint re vadhyar corruption and (absence of) knowledge.

i can understand, that you might not have been exposed to the seemier side of this profession. believe me it exists. in pockets.

on the whole, i think, we should professionalize it, open it up to hindus of all castes, based on their interests and aptitude. it will be good for our religion, long term.

thank you.
 
let us be liberal while we give the archagas. When we do not hestitate to offer lots of money in the hundi we are only stingy when it comes to the archgas. After all he has also a family and solely depends on this kannikai
 
Organised fees is a must,if our kulam gothram has to survive.There is simply lack of proper co-ordination,and in-built rebelion to gurus sampradaya.Just simply listen to guru vaak siddhi.Archagars have a life to lead with comfort and luxury,so that young people will also learn the trade for future generation.Lets give respect and take respect.

gopal.
 
Folks, Read this story. You will know why YOU MUST NOT criticise people who chants Vedam and Veda Brahmanal . For me Kurukkal is also a Veda Brahmanal because he chants Rudram in the ears of Lord Rudra standing close to the god





Tiruvidaimarudoor, near Kumbakonam in Tanjore district is famous for a Siva Temple, Sri Maha Linga Swami.

Many years ago, on a Chitra Pournima day, an Abhishegam for Sri Maha Linga swami was performed with the chanting of Rudra Japa. It was a grand success. With 11 Vedic Pundits, it started at 8am and finished by 1pm. Sri Narayanaswami Iyer (NI), the head of the village (Mirasudar), an ardent Maha Periyava devotee, organised the whole event.

Very eager to offer the Rudra-Prasad to Maha Periyava, NI reached Kanchi the very next day. He had packed the Prasad in a plantain-leaf covered with a new silk shawl.

At Kanchi, after finishing the daily Puja, Sri Maha Periyava was giving dharshan. A lot of people were waiting for the dharshan. When his turn came, NI was shivering and lost his voice. He did a sashtanga namaskaram. Maha Periyava looked at him and raised his brows, meaning “Whats the news?”

NI opened his prasad packet, kept it in a plate and offered it to Maha Periyava – still shivering in reverence. The Prasad offering had vibhuthi, Kumkum, chandan, vilva leaves, 2 half coconuts, and bananas.

Maha Periyava: “ This prasad is from which Kshetram?”
NI: “ Periyava, I organized a Rudra abhishegam yesterday in Tiruvidaimarudoor for Maha Linga Swami. I brought this Prasad for Periyava from there. I am offering it for Periyava’s anugraham”.

MahaPeriyava was looking at that plate containing the Prasad. And then asked him: “Narayanaswami, you are a rich man; still did you share the expense with someone else for this Abhishegam?”
NI: “No Periyava…I bore all the expenses myself”
Maha Periyava was smiling after hearing the emphasis on “I, myself”.

Maha Periyava: “You performed this abhishegam for Loka Kshemam?”
NI: “No Periyava…for the last 2 or 3 years we are not getting good harvest from the fields…..some lands have not yielded anything…..Muthu Josiyar asked me to conduct a Rudra Abhisegam on Chitra Pournima day for the best yields….I did that after believing him, Periyava”

The Acharya still has not accepted the Prasad. “ This means that you did not do it for aathmaartham or Loka Kshemam….!”, saying this, Maha Periyava closed his eyes and meditated for 15 minutes. When He opened His eyes, one could understand that He was very clear as to what had happened.

Maha Periyava: “Ok. How many Brahmmanals were there?”
NI: “Eleven Pundits were there, Periyava”
“ Who are they, you only organised them, right? From which place are they ?” this was Maha Periyava.

By now the devotees around were wondering why Sri MahaPeriyava was so inquisitive. NI took out a paper and read out the names. ".......Tiruvidaimarudoor Venkatrama Sastrigal, Srinivasa Ganapadigal, Rajagopala Swouthigal…..” MahaPeriyava intervened, “ Oh… all of them are great Vedic Pundits….just see in your list, if you have Thepperumanallur Venkatesa Ganapadigal”.

NI was very happy to find that name in his list. He exploded: “yes, yes, Periyava, he was there yesterday….”

Mahaperiyava : “besh….besh…..Venkatesa Ganapadigal was also there…Very good. He is a great Vedic Pundit! He is getting very old now. Nowadays he chants Rudra Japam with great difficulty.”

As if he got the point, NI immediately said: “ You are very correct, Periyava. He did not do the Rudra Japam properly. Most of the times he was sitting with his eyes closed without chanting…..and the number of Japams got reduced because of that……I was wondering why I invited him”.

Maha Periyava got annoyed with NI. “ Just because you have money, you cannot assume you can say anything! Do you know the qualification of Thepperumanallur Venkatesa Ganapadigal? You are not even comparable to the dust in his feet. How can you say that about him? Now I understand what happened yesterday. Now you answer me. When he was sitting with his eyes closed, did you not go to him and shout at him saying ‘ For the money you are getting, why is your mouth keeping shut?’

There was absolute silence there. The devotees were stunned. NI, who was at ease a minute ago, started shivering again, fell down on his knees, got up, closed his mouth with his palm and with tears in eyes said, “ I was wrong, Priyava…please, please forgive me. To Ganapadigal, I said exactly what you just now described. Please forgive me”

“ Wait, that is not it. There is more. Did you give dhakshina to every Pundit? How much did you give?” – Maha Periyava.

“ I gave ten rupees to each of them” – NI, with great difficulty.

“ I know everything….tell me again. Did you give ten rupees to everyone?” – Maha Periyava.

NI was quiet. But Maha Periyava did not leave him. “ You are ashamed to tell me. I will tell you what happened. You offered the ten rupee sambhavana to each Pundit. When you came near the Thepperumanallur Ganapadigal, you reduced the sambhavana to seven rupees since you thought he did not do the Japams continuously. You felt vindicated by this! And you were happy! But the Ganapadigal did not care. He smiled at you and took it……Tell me all this is true?”

The devotees did not know how Maha Periyava knew all this. NI was stunned and silent. He repeatedly pleaded guilty and said he would never ever do such things in future.

While Narayanaswamy Iyer was feeling ashamed and was pleading guilty, Maha Periyava did not stop there.

While Narayanaswamy Iyer was feeling ashamed and was pleading guilty, Maha Periyava did not stop there. “Wait…I would have been happy if it ended here. Did you organise lunch for all of them at Ramachandra Iyer’s house?”

“Yes, Yes, Periyava” – NI.
“ You served very well……the Chakra Pongal was like Amrut, made with a lot of cashews and raisins; overflowing with ghee… was served personally by you. Right?” – Maha Periyava.

“ Yes Periyava, I served the Chakra Pongal myself” – NI was pleased to say this.

“While serving, did you do it with clear conscience and follow the proper etiquette and decorum? “ – Maha Periyava.

No response from NI. “OK. I will tell you. Since it tasted very good, all the Pundits enjoyed it and asked for more Chakra Pongal. You also served them more and more. But when you saw Thepperumanallur Ganapadigal asking for more, not once but many times, you pretended as if you did not even hear him! So many times he asked for more! Yet, not once did you respond. Is this dharma? You cheated him off….You played so dirty. You deceived him, you betrayed him, you insulted him!”. Acharya looked very upset and sad.

NI was standing there, fully ashamed of himself. Maha Periyava changed his position and sat straight as if Lord Parameshwara was sitting there. After 15 minutes of silence and meditation, Maha Periyava opened His eyes. “Mirasudarvaal, you must understand one thing. The Ganapadigal is now 81. He has been chanting Rudra Japam from the age of 16 at many Siva temples. Sri Rudram is embodied in every nerve of his, and runs in his breadth and his blood. He is such a Maha Purush. What you displayed was absolute sin. Nothing but sin”. Maha periyava could not talk any more. After a while, He continued.

Maha Periyava continued: “The insult you heaped on him affected him thoroughly. Do you know what he did? He did not go back to his village. Yesterday evening he went straight to Maha Linga Swami temple. After three pradhakshinas, he stood in front of the Swami and do you know what he prayed for?”

Maha Periyava had difficulty talking. He continued after some time…”with tears rolling down his cheeks, ‘Appa Jothi Maha Lingam! You know I am your ardent devotee. You have heard my Rudra Japams so may times in your Sannidhi, from my young years. I am now 81. Am very strong at heart, but the strength in my voice has diminished. You are well aware of what happened during lunch today. That Chakra Pongal.... was so tasty…. And leaving aside my shame, I was pleading for some more….so many times. That Mirasudaar just pretended as if he did not hear me and went away. You know I like Chakra Pongal so much….I felt so bad that he did not serve me more in spite of my pleading. But later on, I realised that I should not have that kind of attachment to a mere dish. That’s why I am standing in front of you. When people go to Kasi, they give up a vegetable and a fruit. You are the same Lingam in Kasi as well. That’s why I am promising you that from this minute on, till my jeevan leaves this body, I am giving up not just Chakra Pongal, but any sweet dish. I will not touch. Maha Lingam, this is my promise… I am taking leave of you’. So saying, with more tears from his eyes, the Ganapadigal left for his village. Now you tell me, Narayanaswamy Iyarvaal, was it not a sin you committed? Will Maha Linga Swami accept your actions?”

Maha Periyava stopped here. It was 3pm. He refused the Biksha for the day. No one left that place. Tears in everyone’s eyes.

NI fell on Maha Periyava’s feet. He was sobbing, uncontrollably. Unable to speak, but still managed to say, “ Periyava, I feel very very ashamed. I made a big mistake. I will never do this mistake in my life. Please pardon me. Please, Periyava. Please tell me that you forgive me….Please take this Maha Linga Prasad and pardon me. Please Periyava”. Even then Maha Periyavaa didn't touch the Prasadams brought by NI but firmly said
“ Wait for a while, that Maha Linga Swami himself will give me anugraham for Prasadam”.

Just then a Pundit aged around 65, looking fresh with rudraksha around his neck holding a plate arrived there. He told Maha Periyava: “ My name is Maha Lingam. I am the Archagar in Tiruvidaimarudoor temple.

The Pundit continued: ”Yesterday there was a Rudra Abhishegam for Maha Linga Swami. I came to offer the Prasad to Periyava and take His blessings”.

When he was going to do Namaskaram, Maha Periyava stopped him saying “ those who got Siva Dheeksha should not do Namaskaram to me”. MahaPeriyava took the Prasadam and offered Matam’s ‘return gift’ – prasad. By then the Archagar saw NI and said, “ Periyava, he is Narayanaswamy Iyer. He was the one who organised the Abhishegam yesterday.” Then the Archagar took leave from Maha Periyava and left.

NI told Maha Periyava repeatedly that he made a big mistake and asked for Prayaschittam- ‘how can I wash this sin?’

Acharyal got up and said, ” I cannot tell you the Prayaschittam for this. Only Thepperumanallur Venkatesa Ganapadigal can tell you”. “But will he tell me, after whatever I did?” asked NI. In a loud voice, Maha Periyava said: “ If you have the Praaptham he will tell you”. So saying, He went inside to His room.

Maha Periyava did not come out for long. NI now decided to meet the Ganapadigal. He took a bus and reached Thepperumanallur next day. He wanted to plead for pardon from the Ganapadigal, get his blessings and then only go back to his place. When he reached the Ganapadigal’s house, he saw a lot of people there………the Ganapadigal left for his heavenly abode early that morning! What Maha Periyava said hit his head: “ If you have the Praaptham, he will tell you”.

He said to himself, “Maha Periyava knew I did not have the Praaptham – what a big sinner am I”. However, he did Namaskaram to the Ganapadigal’s body and left for his village back.

Later on, Narayanaswamy Iyer did a lot of service for the Mutts in the North and obtained Mukhti in Kasi.

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara.


I was amused why Mahaperiyava was tough on Mirasudar. I kept on asking this question to many learned pandits . One such person opened a book called "Dharmashastram" and read a page #312 and surprisingly the answers which I was looking for was the only 6 lines that were underlined by the author himself in this whole book .


What it says:

As per the Book Dharmashastram the prayashittam written for Bramahatthi Dhosham.

" Brahmahathi seithavan pannirandu varusha kaalam, gramathirku veliyil kudichai poottu kondu bhishai eduthu jeevanam seithu , dhanthitil manushya shiraz kaabalathai sorugi kaiyil vaithu kondu "Shamyasmaredu Hareem" engira vaakiyathai anusarithu harismaranam seithu kondu irikka vendum"

I dont want to write other two lines which talk more about a death penalty.



If some one who kills Cow and who criticise Veda Brahmanan are affected with Brahmahatti Thosham. There is no prayachittam for that. Every human has Kamam, Kovam and Perasai . These three are called enimies. Some one who has one of this will do the following nine sins- Maha padhagam, Adhi Padhagam, sama padhagam, uba padhagam, sangeeranakaranam, malineekaranam,
abatrikaranam, Jathibramsakaranam,prageeranam. Some has prayachittam and some dont have one. ( Reference book Dharma Shastram - synopsis from Vaithyanatha dikshithuyam)

I will certinly be tough on any one who criticise a Veda brahmanan. None of us has any arugathai . Many of the people who call themselves brahmanan does not even do Parisheshanam forget even about Sandhyavandanam.

Who said Narayanasamy Iyer attained Mukthi and he is living in many of us and I have no doubt when people make a comment on a guru- Mandiram ellam vivekama sollanum

Regards, Patham Iyer
 
Last edited:
Thank you rkpatham, you have opened our eyes. Let us be careful in the future atleast.Let us not discuss further criticising archagas and veda brahmnal.
எண்ணாயிரம் ஆண்டு யோகம் இருப்பினும் கண்ணார் அமுதனை கண்டறிவாரில்லை உள் நாடி ஒளி பெற உள்ளே நோக்கினார் கண்ணாடி போல கலந்து நின்றானே
 
Thank you sir. Nanum Brahmanan thaan , Niraiya thappu seidum and seidu kondum irrukiren. There is a commercialization every where . But when we spend money for some one who chant Veda we should be extra careful in not criticizing them. They are saakshat Parameshwaran. If they want more money- please take it that Parameshwaran is testing you and he is not happy with your spending on Veda Samrakshanam.


But in any forum, I dont care even if some one criticise me - I will express my views on this .

Regards
 
It is a bad experience. But all the archakas are not behaving like that. Big temples? Yes, unless you give minimum 50/, then only you will get at least vibhoothi prasadam.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest ads

Back
Top