Are GODs just symbolic ???

[Srikrishna Ghadiyaram]

Hari Om !!

I appreciate these answers. Would you have any
(direct)references in line with these answers in our
scriptures, and other Apta vakyas.

Om Namo Narayanaya !!

Srikrishna

--- MSR <miinalochanii at YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> Answers is NO. devata-s are as real as we are. They
> are not *just*
> symbolic. People who espouse such views  (that they
> mere symbolic) do a
> greater harm to our religion than outsiders.
>
> The way we understand devata-s in advaita-vedaanta
> is
>
> a) Our main concern is to attain liberation which is
> non-dual state and
> that is realizing our identity with brahman by
> discarding avidya.
>
> b) In vyAvahAra, different worlds and different
> devata-s do exist. We
> need not feel shy or embarassed at this fact looking
> at mono-theistic
> religions like Islam or Christianity.
>
> c) How we approach the underlying unity is driven
> into our head day
> after day in sandhya in the step called aikya
> anusandhaanam -- were we
> say "aasavaadityo brahma, brahmaiva satyam,
> brahmaivaahamasmi". When
> the upaadhis are removed, the underlying what
> remains is true and that
> is the non-dual brahman only. And the upaadhi-s are
> not real from an
> absolute stand point.  It would be incorrect to say
> I am same as
> aaditya. There are so many differences between me
> and aaditya. These
> differences are caused by upaadhi-s and they are
> mithya. That is what
> causes the differences.  As long as I am in the
> spell of avidya and
> suffer in this duality -- to me devata-s as real as
> I am.
>
> d) Withing this framework, we have aditya, soma,
> raahu, ketu etc as
> real as we are. And we propitiate them as we do our
> superiors etc.
>
> e) In addition, it is OK to think of there symbolic
> presence interally
> within ourselves. That will help us to internalize
> our worship. But to
> call they are all just symbolic is unacceptable.
>
>
> f)Many modern day swami-s operate under various
> constraints (such as
> appeasing their western devotees etc.) One should
> carefully consider
> their views and in the light of their overall
> philosophy and life.
> Typically, people say that of all varNa-s brahmana-s
> are the most
> corrupted these days. I would extend that to say of
> all ashrama-s
> sannyaasa ashrama is the MOST corrupted these days.
> Of course there
> are always exceptions. This is my view and feel free
> to disagree with
> me.
>
> My 2c.
>
> Ravi
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- Srikrishna Ghadiyaram
> <srikrishna_ghadiyaram at YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> > Hari Om !!
> >
> > Yes, I meant Swami Dayananda of Arsha Vidya
> Gurukulam.
> > However Sri Rajesh Sarin's posting is a welcome
> > information.
> >
> > I would urge the knowledgeable members of this
> list to
> > comment on the topic of 'mere symbolic status of
> Gods'
> > as per Advaita view. Comments from other Acharyas
> are
> > also appreciated.
> >
> > Om Namo Narayanaya !!
> >
> > Srikrishna
> >
> > --- Ashish Chandra <ramkisno at HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > > On Thu, 18 Jul 2002 17:04:12 +0530, Rajesh Sarin
> > > <Rajesh_Sarin at RIL.COM>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Namaskar !
> > > >
> > > >In response to the query by Sh. Srikrishna
> > > Ghadiyaram :
> > > >"Have any of you heard similar ideas from Swami
> > > Dayananda"
> > > >
> > > >I am sending a few ideas gathered from reading
> one
> > > of the
> > > >Books "SATYAARTHA PRAKASH" by Swami Dayanand
> > > Saraswati.
> > > >
> > >
> > > Rajesh
> > >
> > > I think the Swamiji intended here is Swami
> Dayananda
> > > Sarasvati of the Arsha
> > > Vidya Gurukulam of Pennsylvania and not the
> Swamiji
> > > who authored Satyartha
> > > Prakash.
> > >
> > > Your other remarks can be answered by others
> more
> > > conversant with the Veda.
> > >
> > > namaste
> > > ashish
> >
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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>
> =====
> ambaaL daasan
>
> Ravi
>
> sharaNAgata raxakI nivEyani sadA ninnu nammiti
> mInAxI
>
> http://www.ambaa.org/
> http://www.advaita-vedanta.org
>
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