[Advaita-l] mleccha-s not eligible to take Hinduism??

[S L Shivashankar]

Dear Sri Subramanian,

Thank you for your input! That´s interesting, and I didn´t know this about
the name "Ramanuja dasan". But the fact remains that my friend was never
critizised or anything by Sri Rangapriya Swami for having undergone
upanayanam. And it is common among Srivaishnavas acharyas to give a mantra
starting with "am" instead of pranava in cases where the initiate is a
non-dvija. Sri Rangapriya gave my friend a mantra starting with pranava.

Warmest regards
Shivashankar



> Dear Shri Shivashankar,
>
> From what I have heard extensively the talks of Sri Velukkudi Krishnan, the
> famous exponent of Vishistadvaita, the term 'Ramanuja dasan' goes with
> everyone of the Srivaishnava sampradaya without the varna/gender
> specification.  It does not require upanayana, shikha, etc.  Tripundra
> might be specified but not a must.  One who has Vishnu bhakti, one whose
> heart bleeds on the sight of his fellow beings' suffering, etc. are the
> qualities of a Vaishnava.  The scholar often cites the famous song rendered
> beautifully by M.S.Subbulakshmi  'Vaishnava jana to..' of the Gujarati poet
> Narsi Mehta to explain who a true Vaishnava is.  He has stressed that as a
> Ramanuja dasa there is no difference between one and another.  But he is
> also very clear about the varna-dharma that prevails within the
> srivaishnava sampradaya regarding right to veda study and such other
> matters.
>
> What I wish to say is just that a 'Ramanuja dasa' can be anyone without
> having to be of a particular jati or nationality or gender.
>
> Regards
> subrahmanian.v
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