[Advaita-l] Sannyasa and Ramana (was Re: Sankara on sannyAsa for Steadiness in GYAna)

[S Jayanarayanan]

--- On Thu, 10/22/09, D.V.N. Sarma <dvnsarma at gmail.com> wrote:

> On 10/22/09, S Jayanarayanan <sjayana at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
> > --- On Wed, 10/21/09, D.V.N. Sarma <dvnsarma at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> >> Has anybody any information about
> >> vedic rishis like Vasishta,
> >> Vamadeva, Bhrigu, Viswamitra
> >> etc., taking sannyasa?
> >>
> >
> > Apastamba Dharma Sutra 2.6.13 reads:
> >
> > http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/sbe02/sbe0248.htm
> >
> > 8. Transgression of the law and violence are found
> amongst the ancient
> > (sages).
> > 9. They committed no sin on account of the greatness
> of their lustre.
> > 10. A man of later times who seeing their (deeds)
> follows them, falls.
> >
>
> Therefore as per this Bhagavan Ramana
> and sri Ramakrishna
> are fallen.
> 

Extracts from Sri Ramana Leela, widely recognized as the most important biography of Ramana Maharshi (first published in 1936 while Bhagavan Ramana was still living):

1) Description of the Sannyasa of Ramana:

  "The yagnopaveetam (sacred thread) is indicative of a
  Brahmin birth and culture – this indicated that
  Venkataraman was a Brahmin, son of Sundaram Iyer.
  Henceforth he was the son of the Universal Father,
  Arunachaleswara. He was beyond all caste distinctions.
  The sacred thread could also cause a sense of superiority.
  Hence, he got rid of it.
  After his tonsure he did not want the luxury of a
  bath, but would the guru Arunachaleswara allow any
  violation of convention? Venkataraman took to sannyasa
  in the midst of water. As he was returning to the temple,
  there was a heavy downpour drenching him. The heavens
  themselves provided the bath."

2) Ramana Maharshi refers to his lifestyle as a Sannyasi:

  "Naturally the thieves
  were disappointed and showed it; one of them raised a
  stick and threatening Bhagavan, said “Where have you
  kept all your money?” “We are poor sannyasis, we survive
  on what others give us. We never had any money at all,”
  said Bhagavan. However much the thieves pressed, that
  was the only reply they could get. The thieves left
  disappointed."

> regards,
> Sarma.
> 

Regards,
Kartik