This is a continuation of this thread.
http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/showthread.php?p=16007#post16007
Thank you kunjuppu and hariharan1972
Man is a Social Animal said Aristotle. Being a citizen, while certainly implying participation in various political responsibilities, was more about being a part of society; contributing to the good of the whole.
This is what I was trying to emphasize. Religious conservatism apart, a man is expected to be a part of the society and contribute to the welfare of the society. Our ancient Brahmins were aware of this. Yagnavalkya did not just confine himself to the definition Of Brahman or the compilation of the Sukla Yajur Veda. He also wrote the Yagnavalkya Smiriti which is about the laws and conduct of the society. The entire Dharmasasthras are about the general rule governing the society. This shows the concern of the ancient Brahmins toward society. They tried to improve the society by laying down the codes of conduct generally known as Dharma. The very fact that there are 18 Dharmasasthras shows that the Dharmasasthra were redrafted to suit the needs of the society.
Let us now now zoom to the modern age. The Bengali Brahmins were in the forefront of social reforms. Abolition of Sathi, Widow remarriage etc. The sathi issue did not concern the Tamil Brahmins as there is no recent history of this practice in Tamil Nadu. But it is mentioned in Tamil literature. In Widow remarriage the Tamil Brahmins were active and most of them supported it. Again later when it came to abolition of Child marriage, Untouchability and temple entry for all castes, some of the Tamil Brahmins played an active role. But in Abolition of Child marriage (Sharada Act), Widow remarriage, and later giving property rights to women, our religious heads were against all these. Some of them even campaigned against it. So we see that Tamil Brahmins were socially active and many of them were actively involved in these progressive measures.
Things started changing in 1960s. The Tamil Brahmins did not have effective leaders. In this vacuum the religious leaders stepped in. History tells us that these religious leaders like madathipathis and mahants were more interested in promoting their Madam as the the most ancient, going to the courts in succession battles and other activities which were for the benefit of the individual madams than either Hinduism or the community.
Religious leaders are more interested in the propagation of their own brand of religion than the welfare of the community. When any community starts looking up-to religious leaders for directions regarding their social goals, that community is bound to suffer. The religious leaders are all socially conservative. The days of Yagnavalkya and Gowthama are in the long past.
There is a section of the Tamil Brahmins who would like the definition of Aristotle to be changed to "Tamil Brahmin is a Religious animal." Their social awareness is very poor. When someone who knows all about the problem of Ramar Bridge, Conversion by Christians and all other so called issues affecting religion, but feigns ignorance of a burning issue like "The two tumbler", it is very difficult to believe. Every one in India about what Untouchability means. To talk about Acharam that too to a Devi Upasaka is the limit. People would not even give their daughters to Devi Upasaka families because of the Acharam involved. My grandmother was so strict, that when we were very young we had a game of trying to touch her. She would run. But that did not prevent my grandmother from cooking and serving food to Christians and Muslims and all castes when the need arose. This is a familiar tactic called Obfuscation.
This section of the Tamil Brahmins have withdrawn into a shell where all that matters is some often imagined slight to their scriptures, traditions etc. For them the rest of the world does not exist. Entha Kattil mazhai Penja enna?
Individuals can afford the luxury of withdrawing into a cocoon and wearing blinkers like the proverbial three monkeys. But a community can not afford to do it.
The Tamil Brahmins are often portrayed as a persecuted community. Since the reservations are not directed only against them and as long as there are other communities which are in the forward list, this persecution is more of use of terminology than factual. There are some who would like to whip up the "persecution complex" in the community for their own benefit. The fact is that the community has been Marginalized.
But to come out of this we have to move with other communities. To do that you should have social awareness. You have to be a social animal contributing to the welfare of the entire society. Fortunately the majority of the community are aware of their social responsibility. I read a story in a Tamil magazine some time back about a conservative Tamil Brahmin woman conducting classes for the slum children in her house in Chennai. There are hundreds like that.
Let us contribute to the welfare of the society. Most of the social issues involve religion. But that does not make it a religious issue. Become more active on social issues. That is the only way the community can defeat the evil designs of some people who want to isolate us. By withdrawing into a Cocoon and quoting the writing of religious leaders who were known social conservatives, we are only helping these people. Follow your religious leaders with respect to religion only. There is another community with a well known religious leader. But they have formed their own party under some other leaders.
Let us become Social progressives. There was a time when if two communities had problems between themselves, they used to approach a Brahmin for conciliation. That is because it was believed that Brahmins were fair and just. They trusted us. That is what made us great. Not because we had money or because we recited the Vedas. We provided leadership. We were known as Fair and Just people. Let us regain that Glory.
http://www.tamilbrahmins.com/showthread.php?p=16007#post16007
Thank you kunjuppu and hariharan1972
Man is a Social Animal said Aristotle. Being a citizen, while certainly implying participation in various political responsibilities, was more about being a part of society; contributing to the good of the whole.
This is what I was trying to emphasize. Religious conservatism apart, a man is expected to be a part of the society and contribute to the welfare of the society. Our ancient Brahmins were aware of this. Yagnavalkya did not just confine himself to the definition Of Brahman or the compilation of the Sukla Yajur Veda. He also wrote the Yagnavalkya Smiriti which is about the laws and conduct of the society. The entire Dharmasasthras are about the general rule governing the society. This shows the concern of the ancient Brahmins toward society. They tried to improve the society by laying down the codes of conduct generally known as Dharma. The very fact that there are 18 Dharmasasthras shows that the Dharmasasthra were redrafted to suit the needs of the society.
Let us now now zoom to the modern age. The Bengali Brahmins were in the forefront of social reforms. Abolition of Sathi, Widow remarriage etc. The sathi issue did not concern the Tamil Brahmins as there is no recent history of this practice in Tamil Nadu. But it is mentioned in Tamil literature. In Widow remarriage the Tamil Brahmins were active and most of them supported it. Again later when it came to abolition of Child marriage, Untouchability and temple entry for all castes, some of the Tamil Brahmins played an active role. But in Abolition of Child marriage (Sharada Act), Widow remarriage, and later giving property rights to women, our religious heads were against all these. Some of them even campaigned against it. So we see that Tamil Brahmins were socially active and many of them were actively involved in these progressive measures.
Things started changing in 1960s. The Tamil Brahmins did not have effective leaders. In this vacuum the religious leaders stepped in. History tells us that these religious leaders like madathipathis and mahants were more interested in promoting their Madam as the the most ancient, going to the courts in succession battles and other activities which were for the benefit of the individual madams than either Hinduism or the community.
Religious leaders are more interested in the propagation of their own brand of religion than the welfare of the community. When any community starts looking up-to religious leaders for directions regarding their social goals, that community is bound to suffer. The religious leaders are all socially conservative. The days of Yagnavalkya and Gowthama are in the long past.
There is a section of the Tamil Brahmins who would like the definition of Aristotle to be changed to "Tamil Brahmin is a Religious animal." Their social awareness is very poor. When someone who knows all about the problem of Ramar Bridge, Conversion by Christians and all other so called issues affecting religion, but feigns ignorance of a burning issue like "The two tumbler", it is very difficult to believe. Every one in India about what Untouchability means. To talk about Acharam that too to a Devi Upasaka is the limit. People would not even give their daughters to Devi Upasaka families because of the Acharam involved. My grandmother was so strict, that when we were very young we had a game of trying to touch her. She would run. But that did not prevent my grandmother from cooking and serving food to Christians and Muslims and all castes when the need arose. This is a familiar tactic called Obfuscation.
This section of the Tamil Brahmins have withdrawn into a shell where all that matters is some often imagined slight to their scriptures, traditions etc. For them the rest of the world does not exist. Entha Kattil mazhai Penja enna?
Individuals can afford the luxury of withdrawing into a cocoon and wearing blinkers like the proverbial three monkeys. But a community can not afford to do it.
The Tamil Brahmins are often portrayed as a persecuted community. Since the reservations are not directed only against them and as long as there are other communities which are in the forward list, this persecution is more of use of terminology than factual. There are some who would like to whip up the "persecution complex" in the community for their own benefit. The fact is that the community has been Marginalized.
But to come out of this we have to move with other communities. To do that you should have social awareness. You have to be a social animal contributing to the welfare of the entire society. Fortunately the majority of the community are aware of their social responsibility. I read a story in a Tamil magazine some time back about a conservative Tamil Brahmin woman conducting classes for the slum children in her house in Chennai. There are hundreds like that.
Let us contribute to the welfare of the society. Most of the social issues involve religion. But that does not make it a religious issue. Become more active on social issues. That is the only way the community can defeat the evil designs of some people who want to isolate us. By withdrawing into a Cocoon and quoting the writing of religious leaders who were known social conservatives, we are only helping these people. Follow your religious leaders with respect to religion only. There is another community with a well known religious leader. But they have formed their own party under some other leaders.
Let us become Social progressives. There was a time when if two communities had problems between themselves, they used to approach a Brahmin for conciliation. That is because it was believed that Brahmins were fair and just. They trusted us. That is what made us great. Not because we had money or because we recited the Vedas. We provided leadership. We were known as Fair and Just people. Let us regain that Glory.
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