[Advaita-l] Chanting Gayatri overseas

[Venkatesh Murthy]

Namaste

https://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=3065

'The difference of practice on the issue among the various Hindu
denominations is based on the scriptures each considers authoritative.
Harsha Ramamurthy in his erudite article on the issue (
kamakshi16.tripod.com/samudrayana.html
<https://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/kamakshi16.tripod.com/samudrayana.html>),
explains that, according to Baudhayana Sutra, the highest authority in
deciding a question of dharma is shruti, our primary scriptures, the Vedas
and Agamas. Next is the smriti, the secondary scriptures, which include the
Dharma Shastras. Third is sampradaya, the teachings and practices of a
specific lineage. He concludes, "Though there seems to be no direct ban on
ocean travel in shruti, because of the bans in smriti and sampradaya, such
travel is considered a banned activity." He said in communication with
Hinduism Today that the ban is observed both by the Madhva Sampradaya and
Smarta Sampradaya (which includes the Shankaracharyas of Sringeri, Kanchi,
etc.), as both adhere closely to the Dharma Shastras. He added that the ban
applies to all three upper castes, and not just brahmins. It also applies
to sannyasins, who--in his tradition--can only be from the brahmin caste.
He pointed out that other Vaishnava Sampradayas, such as the Srivaishnavas,
who follow the Pancharatra Agama, travel freely. He gave the example of
Chinna Jeeyar (www.chinnajeeyar.org/), a follower of Visishtadvaita, who
travels extensively. Similarly, the swamis of the Vaishnava Swaminarayana
sect travel extensively.'
<https://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/www.chinnajeeyar.org/>

'In the Baudhayana Sutra, the ban is discussed in the context of a
description of the geographical limits of India which concludes that within
its boundary "spiritual preeminence is found." Generally, two reasons are
given by scholars for the ban. The first is that it is impossible to
maintain one's required daily religious observances on a ship, particularly
thrice-daily personal worship. The second is that one will incur the sin of
mleccha samparka, usually politely translated as mixing with foreigners.'

'Dr. A.V. Ramana Dikshitulu, head priest of the Balaji Temple in Tirumala,
one of India's most respected and popular pilgrimage destinations, said,
"None of our priests who serve in the main sanctum can cross the ocean.
Neither I nor any member of my family have done so, despite lucrative
offers from abroad. Serving the Lord here is most important to us. The
Balaji Temple is governed by the Vaikhanasa Agama. It says that the people
outside India are akin to mlecchas, barbarians, who do not follow any rules
or code of conduct, and therefore it forbids visiting such places. These
places have habits, food, relationships and other things which could make
us corrupt and impure."

"According to the Agama, all brahmins are supposed to worship at sunrise,
midday and sunset, called trikal gayatri sandhya," he explained. "This
trikal sandhya cannot be performed on a plane or ship; it must be done on
the earth." Dr. Ramana Dikshitulu does not specifically rule out "crossing"
an ocean, for he himself flies occasionally from Chennai to Kolkata, a
flight which goes out over the Bay of Bengal. But as that flight is only
two hours long, he does not miss his trikal sandhya as he would on a longer
flight or a voyage by ship, and he does not land outside India.'

On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 8:36 AM, Venkatesh Murthy <vmurthy36 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Namaste
>
> 'The Baudhayana Sutra
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baudhayana#The_Dharmas.C5.ABtra>, one of
> the Hindu Dharma Shastras
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharma%C5%9B%C4%81stra>, says that "making
> voyages by sea" (II.1.2.2)
> <http://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/hinduism/dharma/baudh2.asp#fr_1078>
> is an offense which will cause *pataniya*, loss of caste. It offers a
> rather difficult penance: "They shall eat every fourth mealtime a little
> food, bathe at the time of the three libations (morning, noon and evening),
> passing the day standing and the night sitting. After the lapse of three
> years, they throw off their guilt."
>
> On Tue, Oct 3, 2017 at 11:19 PM, Sujal Upadhyay via Advaita-l <
> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
>> Pranams
>>
>> Have a look at biographies of priests
>> http://svbf.org/our-priests
>>
>> Also noted that they perform shrādha either at temple or at home. You can
>> check second last page of calender. They also have rates card which
>> mentions seva-s like  different kinds of pUja-s, homa-s, and also shrAdha
>>
>> All these in a matha in USA which it says is affiliated with sringeri
>> matha.
>>
>> Confused, surprised, happy, sad all mixed emotions in me. What to say!!!!
>>
>> Sorry Sri Vidyasankar ji for mentioning your name. Never took it
>> sarcastically. No offenses please. I personally feel you did a great
>> service. I am saying it from the bottom of my heart.
>>
>> Secondly, Sri Rajiv Malhotra ji is working very hard to defend our dharma.
>> Now Indian Govt is helping him indirectly. Sri Ravi Sankar Prasad, a
>> cabinet Minister gave a speech in his conference .
>>
>>  Importantly he is getting support from Sri Mani Dravid Srastringal and
>> his
>> students. He even gave awards to him or may be his disciples for their
>> contribution. Rajivji lives in USA and he has given award to Disciples of
>> Sri Mani Dravid Srastringal. They accepted this award.
>>
>> What traditionalists could not do he did it. He opposed Wendy and her
>> children I.e. her disciples, shendon Pollack and others. But he may be
>> impure as per our shāstras.
>>
>> Can't go against shāstras. Can't stop appreciating his hard work. Problem
>> hai. What to do.
>>
>> On a lighter note Sriramji, I am reminded how much you love Dr. Zakir Naik
>> (PBUH). Even my blood used to boil when I saw his videos. I guess
>> traditionalists didn't responded well or did They or they are not required
>> to?
>>
>> Honestly it is always west that stood up against such attacks on our
>> dharma.
>>
>> Look at the site dedicated to Srila Prabhupada. They have done hard work
>> to
>> upload bhagavat Purana and others scriptures. Nothing if that kind from
>> India for a long time. There is fit a supersite.  Still there is no
>> bhagavat Purana in a way it is put by them. It's s western effort.
>>
>> Yes it has nothing to do with nitya karma or rules laid down by shāstras
>> but practically it counts. Such portals are an assets for those interested
>> in comparative study or to study our own dharma and find references.
>>
>> OM
>> Sujal
>>
>> On Oct 3, 2017 10:45 PM, "Sujal Upadhyay" <sujal.u at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Pranams
>> > Please find link of sringeri matha USA
>> > http://svbf.org/contact
>> > It's in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Detroit and Texas. Those living in USA
>> > can talk to them. Have a look at the activities carried out by them.
>> Have
>> > look at calender. It can be downloaded from home page.
>> >
>> > Also note that the prestigious work to put our AchArya's prasthAntrayI
>> > commentaries (which includes Brahms sUtra-s) is also supported by some
>> > volunteers living in foreign land.
>> >
>> > One of them, if I remember is our very own Sri Vidyasankar jio, who
>> lives
>> > in USA.
>> >
>> > Any thoughts on this ??
>> >
>> > Hari OM
>> > Sujal
>> >
>> >
>> > On Oct 3, 2017 8:15 PM, "Sujal Upadhyay" <sujal.u at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > Pranams Sri Sriramji
>> > I cannot understand Telugu or any South Indian language
>> > I am Gujarati.  I can understand Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi and English
>> >
>> > Please either translate the essence or kindly give Hindi translation of
>> > video
>> >
>> > Thank you
>> > OM
>> > Sujal
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On Oct 3, 2017 3:48 PM, "Venkata sriram P via Advaita-l" <
>> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>> >
>> > Dear Sujalji,
>> >
>> > Our Sarma Sastrigal's plea to NRIs
>> >
>> > ..............
>> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At6tnQbZWhg&t=417s
>> > ..........
>> >
>> > regs,
>> > sriram
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>
>
> --
> Regards
>
> -Venkatesh
>



-- 
Regards

-Venkatesh