Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami (JET America) performing “samaashrayanam” on a 11 year old child in Houston has hit the headlines in the local press in Texas, USA. It’s a Sri Vaishnava religious rite of passage. (It’s called “pancha samskaaram”) which all those who have faith in Sri Vaishnava sampradaayam willingly and voluntarily undergo at the hands of a qualified Acharya or guru.
Yes , there is “branding” which is part of the rite when the mark of “shankham” and “chakram” being the divine weapons of Sriman Naaraayana are etched on each of the upper arm of the person being initiated into the Sri Vaishnava faith. The rite is conducted by a Sri Vaishnava Acharya to the accompaniment of sacred mantras chanted and due religious rituals observed strictly as per ancient sastra laid down in this regard .
The branding is however done with the aid of very small hot-iron emblems of the divine insignia of Sriman Naaraayana. The iron is really so small and the branding pressure applied is so mild and so momentary that it usually leaves only a very small impression on the skin which also heals quickly in a few days . A soothing unguent and natural antiseptic is also immediately applied on the spots on the skin to quicken the healing process.
There’s a whole system of philosophy and lofty theology underpinning “pancha samskaaram”. it. It’s more than a thousand year old practice of piety and unique spiritual austerity … It’s been practiced by millions of the laity since the time of Sri Peria Azhwar (8-9th century CE) and Sri Ramanujacharya (11th century CE).
Thousands of Sri Vaishnavas today undergo it … and I’ve myself witnessed it right here in Chennai … I’ve seem so many parents getting their children administered this solemn right of passage under the benevolent guidance of Acharyas. There’s absolutely no coercion , no pain inflicted on anyone . And believe me, it’s no more pain than what one would feel if one were to singe one’s fingers by a matchstick flame or the accidental mishandling of a kettle of boiling water or milk in the kitchen .
The Acharyas who perform this “pancha samskaara” do not conduct it unless the disciples (on their own behalf or their wards) themselves request him in all humility to initiate them into the rite . There is no compulsion whatsoever. No one is compelled to undergo this rite against their will. Only those who have complete faith in Sri Vaishnava doctrine of “pancha samskaara” are impelled in fact to go and beseech an Acharya to administer it upon them.
This Houston news report seems to suggest that the branding was done without the consent of the child’s parents . This simply cannot be true at all.
Moreover , there is suggestion that the rite caused severe nearly third degree burn injuries on the skin. I have myself undergone this “samaashrayanam” and I can vouch that it is impossible to sustain such severe burn injury from it. In the Houston incident being reported, such injury caused must be medically proven since ordinarily this “samaashrayanam” leaves no more than a singed mark on the skin .
The Houston newspaper report has all the hallmark of some mischief mongering in America by some malicious anti-Hindu elements (or maybe anti-sectarian elements) who probably conspire to project the image of Sri Vaishnavas as pagans and infidels practising voodoo in the heart of the Southern Bible Belt in America especially in Texas which is the capital of Baptist Evangelism.
I wonder why an innocuous sacrament of the Hindu sect called Sri Vaishnavism is being called illegal and dragged to Court. To me it seems like a sting operation carried out to defame and denigrate a Hindu sectarian religious practice and community. There seems to be some kind of hidden conspiracy behind the whole affair hatched by nefarious players.
I am left wondering what the leftist Wokes of America and the Christian Evangelical Rightists will have to say on the religious practice of performing “sunnath” (phallic circumcision) on infants and little children in the Muslim community of America . Will they dare to take that religion’s rite to Court?
Hindu Societies and religious groups in America hopefully will rush to the defence of Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami… unless of course the typical apathy and pusillanimity that afflicts Hindus the world over leaves them unconcerned, unbothered.
Sudarshan Madabushi