P
pviyer
Guest
I know that there is not going to be one answer. But here is my shot at it ,and like to see your views.
First quote from the grand old saint of our land - "Paramacharya of Kanchi"
To start with different traditions have been followed. Many traditions have contradictory rules. Not all traditions are in line with scriptures. Not all scriptures are supposedly in agreement. Not all areas of scriptures can be implemented in society.
How to in that case?
My view-
For any situation for which scriptural guidance in necessary, three possibilities exist
1. The family does not know what are the rules of its traditional scripture
2. The family knows the rules but here is an area that is not treated in their own scripture
3. The family sees contradictions in different scriptures and is not sure which to follow
For 1, solution is simple if it does not know the rules, then it should read it. If either rule for that situation does not exist, or difficult to follow, then the authority of any of the other valid scriptures can be followed. They may also want a confirmation from theirKula Gurus.
For 2, again solution in any other valid scripture under the guidance of guru is to be adopted.
For 3, if none of the traditional scriptures seem resolvable and no guru guidance is available then accept what is most practical.
Please read paramacharya's guidance above
First quote from the grand old saint of our land - "Paramacharya of Kanchi"
Vaidyanatha Diksita's own name for his work is Smrti-Muktaphala-Nibhandana-Grantha. We know very little about the author of this extremely useful book. Diksita must have lived some two hundred years ago; he belonged to Kandiramanikkam, near Nacciyarkoil (in Tanjavur district). It must be noted that he himself practised the dharmas he had dealt with in his nibhandana and he is also believed to have performed big sacrifices.
Vaidyanatha-Diksitiyam is considered superior to similar works by Medhatithi, Vijnesvara, Hemadri and so on. Exhaustive in nature, it deals with the duties and rites pertaining to the different castes and asramas (the four stages of life), ritual purity, sradhha, prayascitta, stridharma, dayabhaga, dravyasuddhi. It even gives directions about the division of paternal property. When the Hindu code Bill was introduced in free India some put forward the view that the division of property must be based on the sastras. Such division is called "Dayabhaga". The division of property in Kerala, in the uncle-nephew line, is called marumakkatayam. The word "dayadi" is derived from "daya".
Diksitiyam is the last among the nibhandanas. In the preparation of this work Vaidyanatha Diksita had the advantage of making a comparative study of all the previous works on Dharmasastra. Before it the authority followed it to some extent in the South was the nibhandana of Tozhappar. Vaisnavas and Smartas alike today accept the Diksitiyam as an authority.
The nibhandanas are not like the Vedas (Sruti), the Kalpa-sutras and the Smrtis. Since they came later it is not easy to make them acceptable to all. Diksita, it must be noted, does not show the least trace of bias in his work and has followed the Mimamsa in determining the meaning of Vedic texts. He has brought together previous sastras and arrived at conclusions only after resolving the contradictions in them. This is the reason why his work is considered as authority in the South. When the Smrtis differ in some matters, he takes a broad view and suggests: "Let each individual follow the practices of his region and the tradition of his forefathers".
To start with different traditions have been followed. Many traditions have contradictory rules. Not all traditions are in line with scriptures. Not all scriptures are supposedly in agreement. Not all areas of scriptures can be implemented in society.
How to in that case?
My view-
For any situation for which scriptural guidance in necessary, three possibilities exist
1. The family does not know what are the rules of its traditional scripture
2. The family knows the rules but here is an area that is not treated in their own scripture
3. The family sees contradictions in different scriptures and is not sure which to follow
For 1, solution is simple if it does not know the rules, then it should read it. If either rule for that situation does not exist, or difficult to follow, then the authority of any of the other valid scriptures can be followed. They may also want a confirmation from theirKula Gurus.
For 2, again solution in any other valid scripture under the guidance of guru is to be adopted.
For 3, if none of the traditional scriptures seem resolvable and no guru guidance is available then accept what is most practical.
Please read paramacharya's guidance above