[Advaita-l] Books on Bhagawatham.

[sriram]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rajaram Venkataramani" <rajaramvenk at gmail.com>
To: "A discussion group for Advaita Vedanta" 
<advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 10:11 PM
Subject: Re: [Advaita-l] Books on Bhagawatham.


> There was an opinion by Sri Sunil that Bhagavatham, Ramayana etc. needs no
> commentary. I gave the argument in favour of why commentary is required by
> quoting a verse from Ramayana that could be very wrongly misinterpreted as
> if Ravana succeeded in physically violating Sita. Vishnu, the Lord of
> Sringara rasa, not even Bharatha Muni, only knows what sringara rasa is
> being spoken of by Sri Vidyasankar or Sri Srikanta in this context.
>
> In addition to Agni's reassurances, Lord Rama confirms that Ravana could
> not even in his thoughts violate Sita leave alone touch her. Her pativrata
> dharmam protected her in toto. Now, Sri Sriram said that Sita was 
> referring
> to Ravana carrying her from the forest. If Ravana succeeded in lustfully
> touching her even to kidnap, then Lord Rama's statement would be false 
> that
> he could not even touch her in thoughts. It will also falsify countless
> other statements in Ramayana that Sita was not physically or mentally
> violated. Valmiki himself explains in what mood Ravana carried her - like
> Budha, the son of Moon and Rohini, carrying his mother Rohini! Sita does
> not directly go to Ashoka Vana. She walks beside Ravana and surveys his
> palaces and treasury. What Ravana says in this context has two meanings. 
> It
> appears as if he is using his wealth to entice Sita but the other is in 
> the
> mood of child speaking to lokamata! It is part of tantra sastras to 
> worship
> the deity as a child. But Ravana could not worship the deity as a lover as
> the deity (Sita) did not permit that. So, there was no Sringara Rasa
> between Ravana and Sita.
>
> On Sunday, June 3, 2012, Srikanta Narayanaswami wrote:
>
>> It is wrong to think that eroticism is unholy or atrocious. Within the
>> standard
>> parameters of Indian literary and other artistic conventions, eroticism 
>> is
>> not
>> something to be abhorred always. In fact, SRngAra is often said to be the
>> king of rasa-s in traditional Indian discussions of aesthetics. It is a
>> sign of
>> the continuing colonization of the Indian mind that many amongst us 
>> cringe
>> at the very mention of SringAra. We have to stop alienating ourselves 
>> from
>> our own culture.
>>
>> __________________________________________________________________________________
>> Pranams.Well said Vidyashankarji.It is very much true that the continuous
>> colonisation of the Indian mind that many amongst us cringe at the very
>> mention of Sringara.Sringara rasa is also included in the Bharatha natya
>> sastra.It would be sheer hyprocrisy if we say that we donot entertain the
>> shringara rasa.
>> Recently,I had a chance to go on a piligrimage to Orissa.I visited
>> Puri,Konark and Bhuvaneshwar which has the famous Lingaraj temple.In all
>> these temples,erotic sculptures
>> are not only carved,but,also in solid form.I asked a Panda about the
>> sculptures.He said,"Ee Shraman hai"By his explanation,I could understand
>> that when Buddhism was spreading in these places,many youth abandoned 
>> homes
>> and family life and becames "Sramans"In order to discourage the youth 
>> from
>> turning to ascetism
>> ,these sculptures were carved.Also,Tantric rituals were practiced in 
>> these
>> temples.It was Ramanujacharya in the 12th century who tried to introduce
>> "Pancharatra"mode of worship.But,he could not succed.Even now,the
>> "Vaikhanasa'and Tantirc mode of worship is followed,without the "mithuna"
>> and "madhya"offering to the devotees.Instead of "madhya"devotees are 
>> given
>> tender coconut water.The "Devadasi"natya was also abolished
>> years before.
>> N.Srikanta.
>> _______________________________________________
>> Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
>> http://blog.gmane.org/gmane.culture.religion.advaita
>>
>> To unsubscribe or change your options:
>> http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
>>
>> For assistance, contact:
>> listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org <javascript:;>
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Archives: http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/archives/advaita-l/
> http://blog.gmane.org/gmane.culture.religion.advaita
>
> To unsubscribe or change your options:
> http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/advaita-l
>
> For assistance, contact:
> listmaster at advaita-vedanta.org