YouTube
In the above Youtube video-clip, if Sri. Rangaraja Narasimhan speaks not only the truth, but also the whole truth and nothing but the truth , and if he has really no other private agenda to pursue … then this stormy petrel of Sri Vaishnavism is perhaps right in raising a rather contentious issue of “sampradaayam” related to the great Sri Vaishnava temple at Tirukurungudi, Tamil Nadu.
I know little of Vaishnava Agama but just about enough to know that Deva Prashnam rite is a Tantric rite conducted only in Kerala temples where Tantra is applicable. In temples where the Vaishnava Agamas (Vaikhaanasa or Paancharaatra) apply, this Tantric rite is never resorted to in order to decide conclusively on any questions pertaining to the conduct of sacerdotal, liturgical or sacramental affairs of the temple.
Sri Rangarajan’s doughty poser now puts all the mattaadhipathis of the Sri Vaishnava muttams in a dharma-Sankatam … in a real spot indeed! He is openly challenging them to either step up to the plate and call out one among their own fraternity of “muttaadipathis” for a breach of “sampradaaya” or to regard themselves as complicit in the breaking of established tradition.
None of the pontiffs will likely come forward to meddle in this highly sensitive matter since it would invite from many different quarters of the community the old quip : “People living in glass houses cannot throw stones” .
Sri Rangarajan Narasimhan of course will continue jousting no doubt against the Sri Vaishnava establishmentarians . He himself says he will.
The stark reality however is that neither the community nor the community leaders , vaideeka or loukeeka, are going to be too bothered about acts of omission and commission in the nature of “saastra–virodham” that are being committed in Tirukurungudi temple as alleged by Sri Rangarajan. Such similar acts or lapses are in fact now quite widespread in all temples in Tamil Nadu and the Sri Vaishnava temples are no exception.
The general attitude of the average Sri Vaishnava of the present-day is to simply look the other way when confronted by “dharma-sankatam”. The general feeling in the community may be reticent or apathetic but it is very firm : this is the age of Kali and one must hence simply brace against such “a-saastra-ic” aberrations happening and learn to take them in stride . It is best to either turn a blind eye or to keep silent since “mounam sarvaartha saadhanam” – a delightful phrase in Sanskrit which is understood to mean many things and of which one is that silence may often accomplish in time what perhaps zealous action cannot .
As for Sri Rangarajan Narasimhan himself … I do have the greatest respect for his indomitable spirit in going about championing pro bono the cause of Sri Vaishnava temples and “sampradaayam”. He is truly the fearless Voltaire of our Sri Vaishnava community. He certainly does hold up a mirror to the face of the community revealing its warts, its laxity, laid-backedness and blemishes and all ….
However , personally speaking, I’m still unable to make up my mind whether he is to be regarded as a stormy petrel or a modern-day Don Quixote.
Sarvam sri krishnaarpanam
Sudarshan Madabushi