Varnashramam 3

 Our vasanas decide the direction in which we will lead our life.  If in one's past life one was addicted to alcohol, such vasana will not vanish on one's death. It will continue on his next birth also.  So according to one's vasana the soul takes next birth in such an atmosphere which is conducive for its growth.

So it is only logical that only God decides our birth atmosphere, since we mortals have little knowledge about our vasanas.    That said, with faith in God, the given varna should be accepted. 

As a shudra, i am free to travel abroad for material prosperity. It is not allowed for other varnam people.   Though Ovvayar says "Thiraikadal oodiyum thiraviyam thedu" , Manudhrmam recommends staying with in dharma bhoomi for these three varnams.

In spiritual terms, to a shudra and also to a woman,  bhakthimargam is open freely. We see immense love of Kannappar and Nandanar towards God.  

In Nandanar puranam, Nandanar reaches Chidambaram. But he is unable to enter the city as through out the city priests are conducting homams and yagyams. As an outcast, Nandanar does not have courage to enter the city. He circumabulates the city and sleeps out of exhaustion.  

Lord Shiva instructs the priests in their dreams  to  lit fire and expect Nandanars arrival. At the  same time, He  instructs Nandanar to enter the pyre to purify his body and to come out as a brahmin, so that he can enter the temple.

This point troubled me heavily. Why should God dislike shudra body? Why brahmin body is required to enter temple? If brahmins say that, we can understand that as a lowly act of a group of people. But why did God insist on such an act?

Gnana margam is open to all other varnams. They can learn vedam and acquire knowledge through vedantic analysis. But as an outcast, Nandanar reached God through pure love.  The only thing which separated him and God was Gnana.  

Here the  brahmins symbolise gnanam.  By making him go through the pyre, God bestowed Him with Gnana. As a person with Gnanam and bhakthi, Nandanar took a new birth as brahmin. Here brahminhood only symbolises Gnanam, just as coconut and flowers symbolises prosperity. Coconuts and flowers are in no way superior to the person doing worship, but they are required for worship. Similarly, the Chidambaram brahmins were in no way superior to Nandanar. Brahminhood simply symbolised attainment of Gnana by Nandanar.

I  front of very eyes of all brahmins, Nandanar became one with God.

Varnashramam 2

Veda is eternal truth. We find it difficult to believe in it because we have comfortably lowered our standards.  

Four varnas are for concentrated growth of human beings. It is dharma which is important, not the material comforts or recognition or respect from society.   

If i am a shudra, i may accept my low status if i see higher qualities in people of other varnam. Only when the whole society moves together towards God, varnashrama dharma can be understood properly.

Let us take this following Thirukkural.

உலகத்தோ டொட்ட ஒழுகல் பலகற்றுங்

கல்லா ரறிவிலா தார்.

 Its meaning "those who know not how to act agreeably to the world, though they have learnt many things, are still ignorant".

In current terms, will it be relevant? None wants to give. None wants to help. Even if we follow our religious custom vigorously, we are seen as strange creatures. 

But Parimelazhagar explains the world உலகம். 

Ulagam means people with wisdom and not common people.

In earlier days, when we followed our dharma, society was filled with dharmic people.  

Thus though we outwardly think that shudras are abandoned by Veda, actually it did not.  The rest of the society which followed dharma were morally and ethically taken care, so that shudra is not abused or teased.  Moving one varna upper means living more disciplined and righteous life. 

Still if an yearning person was born in shudra community, it was tough for him.  As long as we grow within the system, things will be smooth. When we want to grow beyond the system, we have to face challenges.  Such a challenge was definitely faced by every yearning shudra of those times.  Nandanar is a classic example for it. 

But exceptional people strived. 

Will continue....

Varnashramam

 Sanskrit and Tamil are beautiful as a couple.  One devoid of other always causes confusion.  Anyone wanting to learn Hindu religion should learn these two together.  

Hinduism, as we call now, insists on varnashrama dharma.  Progressive growth is ensured by varnashrama dharma.  

In our present materialistic life also, there is discrimation. It is based on material possessions and prosperity. We accept it because, everyone is given an opportinity to compete in material world.

But Hinduism does not believe in competing for worldy comforts. Even if we want to compete materialistically, we need basic training and transformation.  A mean and characterless man with welath is dangerous, according to our shastram.  

Initially, desires should be controlled by doing karma. That is practised by a Shudra. The animal instincts in a man should be killed by obedience and karma.  If the discrimation done by God is accepted by shudra, he accepts it to over come his weakness.

It is ok for a Shudra to consume meat and alcohol early in the morning. Shasthram does not condemn them only because the inherent weakness in human being is recognised by it. That is why sashthram eliminates them from  vedic rituals.

But how their spiritual growth is ensured?  The traditions and custom followed ensures their spiritual growth.  

  God reaches out to them more lucidly. They have village God or Goddess who accept whatever they eat. There are temples which allow bali poojai. We even witness people possessed by village deity and giving guidance to others. 

While a rational mind negates all this, it has to be understood that when our heart is full of obedience and faith, devoid of any reservations caused by knowledge, it is easier for higher force to direct the human being.  

So while shasthram disowns them, God possesses them.  It can be understood only when we live with village people.

Does that mean that all shudras are people with low qualities? Definitely not.  Nandanar is one such example. Though there are many.

 Will continue..