WHETHER BRAHMANA VARNA IS DETERMINED BY BIRTH?

Vipra means BrAhmaNa .
A person is born as a BrAhmaNa.

As the first born among the mortals, he is known as agrajanmA.
After Upanayana. he becomes a dvija.
As one learned in Vedas, he is known as a Srotriya.
As a deity upon earth, he is known as BhUdeva.
As one who has emanated from the mukha of the Supreme, he is known as Mukhaja.
A BrAhmaNa who is only by birth and not by performance of duties is known as BrAhmaNabruva .

1. It is difficult to convince all as each one thinks that he/ she knows everything about dharma SAstras and their subtle interpretations.
2. The VarNa is determined only by birth according to the conclusive view of all traditional AcAryas including Adi SankarAcArya.
3. Regarding matters related to varNa and ASrama, we have to go by what is stated in established and accepted Smritis. We should not use our limited materialistic knowledge and try to justify with our own interpretations.
4. While a BrAhmaNa has to follow the varNASrama dharma to the extent possible, he has to necessarily treat those belonging to other VarNas with equal respect and dignity.
5. Now it has become a fashion among the vipras to say that brAhmaNas are not determined by birth. This brAhmaNa-bashing by members of the same community is unwarranted.

6. Instead of joining hands to bring the best out of the BrAhmaNa community as a whole for Universal welfare, it is sad that the community is denounced by its own members .

WHAT IS SPIRITUALISM FOR A POOR MAN?

It is true that money is very important for day to day existence. The modern living has complicated this further.

In SrImad Bhagavad GItA , SrI KrishNa talks about selflessness, samatva bhAva and dexterity in action along with non-attachment. These essential ingredients of karma yoga when practised with deep faith and devotion would lead to human emancipation. By non-attachment to the fruits of action, one concentrates on the present and does the work in an excellent manner. He is also not affected by success or failure and is in a position to keep his poise and lead a life which is stress-free, wholesome and useful to others. He has a sense of non-doership and therefore karmas do not bind him.

Though a person may not have adequate monetary resources, the Supreme would show the path for fulfilling his basic necessities. This is true of all Beings where even before birth the mother’s milk is kept ready. A person is born to work out his prArabdha karma. He has some sort of conditional free-will just like a cow which is tethered to a peg. Within that circumference he can make self-efforts and progress both monetarily and spiritually.

To reach the Supreme, the mind is most important and not money. Whatever a person offers with devotion, be it a leaf, flower, fruit or water, the Supreme is immensely pleased. We hear the story of kucela , the childhood friend of SrI KrishNa who has to suffer for many years before which he could get His divine grace. The touching story of sage ThyagarAja who sung “ Nidhi sAla sugamA” is a pointer.

That is why in our daily prayers we say “sarve bhavantu sukhinah” (Let all be happy) and so on. The Vedic prayers cover not only the welfare of human beings but also that of plants and animals. Prayers are offered for pleasant environment taking into consideration the well-being of all.

The truth is that each one experiences the fruit of his action in his own way. A deeper insight into karma yoga alone can redeem humanity from its complex problems.

Even though a person strives hard for his daily bread, if he unconditionally submits to the Supreme and offers all his service as dedication unto the Lord, he is sure to attain the path of immortality.

WHETHER VEDIC MANTRAS CAN BE RECITED BY ALL?

In matters regarding learning and teaching of Vedas , we have to go based on what is stated in the Vedic Scriptures and concluded by our AcAryas.

One should not confuse what is stated in the SAstras with our limited materialistic knowledge. It is safer and better to align with the UpadeSa of the renowned AcAryas in this regard.


Vedas are no doubt meant for Universal peace, Universal development and Universal welfare. But the Vedic yajnas have to be performed by those who are qualified by the SAstras to perform. While Vedic knowledge can be freely disseminated for the benefit of all, teaching and learning the Vedic Mantras have to be based on tradition only.

Vipras have protected the Vedas from time immemorial by making personal sacrifice and by leading a simple and austere life devoted to propagation of Vedas (sVadhyAya pravacanam). We have to offer our gratitude to them who have selflessly carried it so far despite numerous hurdles. In the name of modernity, let us not fiddle with it.

When we daily recite the SAnti Patha as below, we pray for the well-being of not only human beings but also animals and plants. Therefore Vedic Prayers have an Universal outlook.

Urdhvam jigAtu bheshajam !
Sam no astu dvipade !
Sam catushpade !

Om SAnti: SAnti: SAnti: !




The following Mantra also recited while offering oblations to our forefathers show how caring are the Vedas about environmental order.

Madhu vAtA rutAyate(Let the air be pleasant)

Madhu ksharanti sindhavah(Let the rivers be pleasant)

MAdhvIrnas santvoshadhIh(Let the plants and creepers be pleasant)

Madhu naktamutoshasi(Let the day and night be pleasant)

Madhumat pArthivam rajah(Let the dust of the earth be pleasant)

Madhu dyaurastu nah pitA(Let our father-like Sky be pleasant)

Madhu mAnno vanaspatih(Let the herbs be pleasant)

MadhumAm astu sUryah(Let the Sun be pleasant)

MAdhvIr gAvo bhavantu nah(Let the cows be pleasant to us)
--- mahAnArAyaNa upanishad xxxix-3

Let all the dvijas take the initiative in learning and propagating the Vedic knowledge for the benefit of all Beings within the framework of SAstras.

Else the prediction in SrImad BhAgavatam that "VedAh PAshaNda dUshitAh" would become a reality very soon.


Let us pray more Vipras do whatever they can for protecting and nourishing the Vedas and the Srotriyas.

Yadyat Acarati Sreshthah tadtadevetaro janah !
sa yat pramANam kurute lokas tadanuvartate !! ( Bh. G . iii- 21)

WHETHER WOMEN CAN RECITE SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMA?

SrImad BhAgavatam i-4-25 empowers Women to study MahAbhAratam .


strI SUdra dvijabandhUnAm
trayI na Sruti gocarA
karma Sreyasi mUdhAnAm
SreyA evam bhaved iha
Iti bhAratam AkhyAnam
krupayA muninA krutam


As SrI VishNu SahasranAma is part of MahAbhAratam, women can recite it as Sloka pAtha after learning from a Guru. However, it may not be advisable for them to do anganyAsa, karanyAsa etc and recite the same as japa.

In my limited understanding, there is no bar on Women to recite SrI Vishnu SahasranAma as a Sloka pAtha without elaborate rituals covering anganYAsa, KaranyAsa , etc.

WHETHER SCRIPTURES TALK ABOUT MATCHING OF HOROSCOPES FOR MARRIAGE?

Our ancient Scriptures do not talk about matching of horoscopes for the purpose of marriage. Hence in those days this was not insisted upon.However, as the planetary positions of the groom and bride give some indication about one's health, longevity,etc the practice of matching the horoscope could have started later on. This has been stretched too far now.

Jyotish SAstra is more about determination of the auspicious time for conducting various rituals including yajNAs and SamskAras based on the planetary positions.