Deivathin Kural Series - 33

Om Namah Sivaya.
Deivathin Kural # 33 of 24 July 2006.

1.These e-mails are translations of talks given by the erstwhile Pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over more than sixty years, published by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, India, in ten volumes, in the Tamil language. The english version is likely to be available very soon. These e-mails are simply an effort on the part of the sender, to share some of his bliss, as it is said, 'Yam perra peru peruga ivvaiyagam'.

2. To-day's e-mail is the translation of what is given in pages, 154 to 157, in volume I, under the heading, 'Darmangalin Pagupadu' ie.,'Religeous Division of Work'. (As you know, Man herein includesWoman and vice versa except when specially mentioned.)
3. For the society's well being, a lot of work is to be done. Some by brain and some by brawn. In them, many varieties are there. All of that is for the society as a whole. It is completely wrong, to consider some as higher and some as lower. All the families need many items, such as food, grocery, clothes, furniture, medicines, electronics, communications, roads, rail, automobiles, air-crafts and so on. For this, all of us cannot be manufacturing everything. Can all of us be involved in, agriculture, trade and commerce, defence, and administration and management? The farmer works for everybody's sake. The cloth manufacturer is not making clothes for his own sake only. Some are in the Police, for the sake of law and order. Some work in the Defence Forces, for the Nation. Similarly, it is essential for some people to be involved in, prayers and devotional activities, for everyone's sake. This mutual sharing of work, has been beautifully streamlined, for the sake of social amity, by our Dharma Sastras.
4. How to do the distribution of work? If it has to be based on capabilities, every one thinks of his or her own capability as very high indeed. If it is to be based on their aptitudes, then every one would prefer to have positions of high status. Then what happens to the jobs not so preferred? How to distribute the human - resources all over the society, and fit them to the jobs? It is not enough to do it once. It has to be done and up-dated, constantly, from generation to generation, ad infinitum. (A big H R D problem, of inhuman proportions!) How can the assessment of worth and aptitude of any person be done from outside? Even if we make an assessment, how correct is it going to be. If everyone can compete for all jobs, how can this be possible? Who to assess? Who should do the distribution of work? So the works were distributed based on heriditory capabilities and aptitudes; thus Varna Dharmam was created.
5. Whatever the work, that work that we get, by heridity, if we take it as God given order, and do it with the understanding that it is for the general welfare of the the Society at large, the same work becomes the most appropriate for our personal benefit also.
The job content, in each type of work, is such that, it will automatically cater for the double requirement of His own and the Society's
Well being. If we tell a man who has to work in the fields, to fast, it will not be appropriate. As against this, a man who has to use his brains more than his brawn, should have more restrictions, requiring Him to fast. He is required to bathe, observe fasts or subsist on less, etc., aimed at making him, less and less dependent on bodily identification. The point to clearly understand is that, all the religious observances are in relation to the type of work the individual is required to do. In this connection, one may recall as to how, Narada's bloated self esteem, was deflated by Baghwan Vishnu, by pointing out that His greatest Devotee was, not Narada but a farmer whose only act of devotion everyday, was to utter, 'Narayana', sincerely once while going out for work and once before going to sleep
6. Even when we do not understand the reason why, if we sincerely observe the minimum duties as required of us, in that particular Varna Dharma, later with understanding, we will find them very useful. We should observe our Dharma as enjoined and assisst others to do so. Instead of leaving our own Dharma, or joining others in their's; we should be enabling others to stick to their own.
7. In work. we are equal. For the smooth functioning of the society, the work has been distributed. Sticking to Varna Dharma, can and does contribute towards general welfare, while simultaneously aiding self cleansing. If everyone goes about doing his own thing, the public works will suffer. Because, to-day everybody wants others money to flow in to their own purse. 'More the merrier', is the motto. In the name of reform, we should not deform the society.
8. Whosoever does whatsoever work, the Government is duty bound to make available the essentials such as, food, clothing and living space. But, if we keep on increasing our needs, it leads to competetiveness and jealousy. The present situation is complicated because of the fact that all sense of satisfaction has somehow been interpreted as money based. Instead, if we look forward to self-satisfaction through doing ones duty, we will have the feeling of being Master on one's own destiny. Then ther will be peace everywhere.
9. There are many eatables. There are many Ragas. Same way, there are many works. Because there is salt in Rasam, we cannot add salt, to other dishes meant to be sweet. That will become Rasaabasam, (ie., incongrous monstrosity). If we mix ragas, or use one swara even, not meant to be in that Raga, it will become Rasaabasam. Now-a-days, people have lost taste for Rasa. Learned Pundits, in between serious talks on Puranas, tend to add jokes and people laugh and appreciate. When there are many healthy things to partake, people use the unhealthy, tasteless, tobacco for nasal inhalation, or chewing, or smoking. These are small Rasaabasams. The biggest Rasaabasam is to make a meaningless mix and mockery of Varna Dharmam, which in real fact is the best arrangement for common welfare.
10. KTSV adds. To-days topic, is the first one on Varna Dharmam. When I think of the present day situation, as related to the conditions obtaining about five to six decades back, my blood starts boiling. With Cine actress affronting the entire masses of devotees, to go and do the stupid thing of touching Ayyappa Statue, at Sabari; Tamil Nadu Government actively trying to make the Priest's job in all temples, open to Non-Brahmins; as Periyaval says in para 7 above, they are deforming the society in the name of reforming. I do not know whom to get annoyed with. Then I remember hearing or reading somewhere, that only five thousand years of Kali Yuga is over. Balance is three lac 27 thousand years. That means that we are going to witness much more Rasaabasa. In the meantime, I am going to keep reading and translating and sending You these e-mails.
Sambhomahadeva.