DEIVATHIN KURAL # 102 (Vol # 3) Dated 28 June 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 102 (Vol # 3) Dated 28 June 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the second Para on page 464 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

62. More than advocates of any disciplines of science such as physics, chemistry, medicine or psychology, our ancient ancestors were aware of extremely subtle ideas, principles and concepts. This they could do without the assistance of laboratories, instruments and modern scientific gadgets! This they could do because of being capable of using the human mind as a fine tuned instrument! A capability that they got as God's blessing, due to their ascetism, discipline and penance. Many areas not yet known to science were made clear to their understanding either by a direct visitation of God or by way of instinct and intuition. The source of such knowledge has always been the inner self, which they could access at will, as an eternal repository of ideas, concepts and truth.

63. In what they revealed to the world, there are things which make the modern scientist flabbergasted at their depth and range of knowledge and insight. There are also things not yet within the grasp of the modern day world! Some within our comprehension and many beyond our understanding and so seemingly blind beliefs. Human advancement in science and applied science are certainly extremely complex and highly sophisticated. But the fact remains that those ancients were capable of far greater subtlety and intricacy! The ease with which those ancients were capable of such sophistry, should make us humble that it is stupid enough on our part to think of their concepts and ideas as blind beliefs!

64. I was talking about the cows. We could decorate it by applying turmeric and kumkum on its face. You could tie multi colored buntings to its horns, flower garlands around its neck and some tinkling bells. All that would give us some artistic satisfaction. But, when it comes to doing 'Archana' that is paying our obeisance to it by showering it with flower petals and grains of 'Atchadai', it should be done not on its face but, at the back side. There is no question of our liking or not liking, understanding or not understanding. The self same Rishi-s who created / initiated all these aachaaraa-s, some of which are now becoming clear to our understanding, are the ones who said, "Do not do Pooja to the face of the cow, but to its back side where resides the Goddess Lakshmi."

65. We have to do that pooja to the rear of the cow with faith. Then She, the Goddess will become apparent and evident. Whether we are satisfied psychologically or in any other method, we have to learn to be sub-servient to the Saastraa-s. More than any other satisfaction, saastraa-s are meant for inner satisfaction of the soul! All other satisfactions will fly off in a few moments and land us squarely in the lap of dis-satisfaction. If the inner self is to be satisfied, full and contented, we have to be prepared to sacrifice all other satisfactions!

66. Say we are going to the temple. On the way there is a hospital in which our sister is admitted and we have the news that she has delivered a baby only the previous night. It is but natural for us to be keen to see the mother and baby. She will also be looking forward to our visit. But it is wrong to visit her and then go to the temple, with the 'prasava theettu'. She is supposed to be unclean for 11 days after delivery. By visiting her we are also subject to that lack of cleanliness known as 'theettu'. We should not be visiting the temple, immediately after visiting the hospital unless we are able to have a bath and change of dress.

67. In this example there is an alternative available. You could always visit the hospital after having been to the temple, with Kumkum, Vibhuti and other Prasadam-s from the temple to be handed over to our sister! The point I am making is that, as we unquestioningly obey the Doctor's orders in the hospital, we should obey the Saastraa-s without diluting the purport of the injunctions.

68. It is futile to ask questions such as, "Are they following such 'Theettu' in other countries, when a child is born? Do they keep the woman folk on a sort of a quarantine when they have their periods? Is any body else following our Aachaara-s and Samskaaraa-s?" The only answer I can give for such questions is that, all learneds and intellectuals from all the countries other than Bharath, uniformly agree that, in matters of spirituality and self awareness, this country stands foremost. If you want a clear understanding of the eternal reality of existence and meaning and purpose of life irrespective of space and time, (that is, then, now or ever; here-this country, there-that country or anywhere); the only condition to be met with is that, you abide with the Aachaaraa-s as per the Saastraa-s!

69. Moreover, in the whole world, it is Bharath Desh that is meant to be the Karma Bhoomi, by God's Will! When we construct a house we have different rooms for different activities such as a drawing /dining /pooja or prayers / bathing and sleeping. In a factory we have a shop floor, store room, canteen and so on. Exactly similarly, this country of Bharath Varsh is meant for Vedic Saastraa-s, Aacharaa-s and religious and spiritual refinement! All that seems difficult and hard are meant for our eternal benefit only!

(To be continued.)

Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 101 (Vol # 3) Dated 21 June 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 101 (Vol # 3) Dated 21 June 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the middle of page 460 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

53. When Dr King of Indian Medical Service, was appreciative of the Aachaara-s of Indian customs and traditions of the orthodox Hindus, science had progressed only up to discovering genes, bacteria and virus. The methods of safe guarding against them were not yet known. Psychology and Para-psychology were only later day developments. It was only much later that it was found that every individual has a unique vibration and that around each is an aura of one's own! In the name of equality, if you mix all this up the growth of each will be adversely affected. This fact was not known then.

54. One should not sleep in another's bed or wear others dresses. One should not drink in a glass used by another. Such rules were meant to save one's personal magnetism and mental power from contamination, as far as possible. When you are involved in a common activity such as construction of the walls for the temple, digging a well or pond for common usage or singing devotional songs in praise of God, the common purpose of the assemblage more than compensates for the individual variation in personal magnetism and mental power!

55. Women have their periods. There is a physical lack of cleanliness during that. Though the modern trend nowadays is to make it possible for them to participate in all activities, as though they are all OK, given the option, every woman would like to have a few days off from her normal schedule of activities. Other than the physical fact of not being clean, it is said that she is carrying a fraction of Indra's 'paapa' during that period! This will not be seen even when her aura is photographed!

56. While talking about how to protect one's mental acumen from contamination, another idea occurs to my mind. One gentleman had written about wearing a dhoti with or without 'kacham'. (In this the ends of the cloth are not let loose but are hidden inside through a number of folds.) He was commenting that for the one wearing the cloth with loose ends out in the open, his mental powers are likely to be wasted and this does not happen in 'kacham'. May be the Muslims stitch the ends of the cloth together as done in a 'lungi' for this reason only!

57. As we are coming to understand the meaning and logic of these aachaaraa-s through science, we should simply learn to accept them all as it is. As the Hindu-s have so much reverence to the waters of the Ganges, some one tested the waters of the river at a place where a dead body of someone who had died of cholera had been given 'jala samadhi'! It was a miracle to note that the water contained no cholera germs! This I have read some time back in the news papers! Ganga is revered not only for its properties of killing disease causing germs and viruses but is also capable of destroying your demerits of behaviour known as 'Paapa' but also save from the never ending cycle of 'birth-death-birth' and so on! Anyhow these concepts of Paapam, Punyam, Narakam, Moksham and such will never come within the ambit of experiments in the laboratory!

58. Once we understand this we will not be deluded to think that once scientifically you have protected yourself, that is the end of it! I am saying this because, there is something by the name of 'ever- silver' which seems to have become all purpose material for making utensils. The lamp lighted in the temple, the Kalasam pot is all made of this ever-silver. If the objection to iron was only based on its getting rusted, by making it rust free, you may think that the 'dosha' is not there any more. But it still does not become acceptable to the Saastraa-s. The reason for its not being acceptable is based on its being receptive to demonic evil spirits. Anyhow its bio-degradability is rather poor! (KTSV adds:- Had Periyaval been alive now, I am sure he would have added the ubiquitous plastic in the list of things to be avoided for its poorer that iron bio-degradability.)

59. Similarly, the 'homa dravyaani' used in havan-s, such as the 'samit and varatti' (arasa/palaa twigs and cakes of cow-dung dried), are not only meant for cleansing the atmosphere of pollution but, more for chasing away the demonic forces. If you find a more potent chemical disinfectant, it does not mean that 'samit and varatti' could be replaced as material to be used in homa!

60. They say many of the rules of the Saastraa-s may be appreciated psychologically. The cow provides the milk, ghee, curd, dung and its urine; all used in some way in Yaaga Shaala. It is but natural that we look at the Cow not simply as an animal but, a provider of all our requirements. Out of our sense of gratitude, we think of the cow as a mother and that is satisfying psychologically alright. But, the divinity of the cow is beyond the confines of psychology. It is the divinity which is the reason for its being revered in our religion. Those who kill it to eat its meat, calling it a special name of beef, cannot understand our devotional relationship with the cow.

61. Other than the usefulness of the milk products and the germicidal capability of dung and urine, our ancestors had also identified that 'pancha kavyam' the five items (very small quantities of the cow's milk, curd, ghee, dung and urine,) made into a mixed concoction, was capable of cleansing a man of all the effects of his past sins! This when done with the mantra-s, it's potency is much increased. Partaking of it has been related to the Aachaara of 'Punyaha vaachanam', an act of sanctifying a place or premises and or a person! (To be continued.) Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 100 (Vol # 3) Dated 19 June 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 100 (Vol # 3) Dated 19 June 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from page 457 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

46. There was a proverb in vogue to the effect that, ‘come what may, we should not be sleeping with our heads towards North!’ As usual we rediculed all our old habits and beliefs and so this was yet another cause for a dig at our ways, as recently as some two decades back. Now people have come to realise that in the human body, maximum electro magnetic activity are centered around the brain and spinal cord, forming the nervous system. The Earth itself is a magnet with a powerful flux around the North Pole. When you lie in your bed with the head towards North, the small magnetic field around your body is in some way adversely affected by the bigger magnetic field of the Earth. It has been found by the scientists that this can lead to avoidable aberrations of the human brain! This has not yet been analysed fully.

47. However it is noticed that when you sit for Japa, Dhyana and or meditation, it is best done facing the North. In the English language, mind is said to be the seat of awareness, thought, volition and feeling. In Sanskrit, this mind is identified variously as, ‘manas, chitta, buddhi and ahankara’ with different functions. In sleep the body is tired. The buddhi and manas without being under our control, imagines all sorts of things causing the dreams. At such times if this small human magnet is affected by the earth’s magnetism, imbalances are likelyto occur.

48. Whereas when you sit down for meditation, though we may not be able to keep our minds under control, as the intension is divine, God who is all natural universal powers makes the magnetism of the Earth beneficial to us humans! The same electrical power which gives us shock when imperfectly connected, can do many useful functions when properly connected. Similarly there is much difference in the passage of Prana Shakti, between the power centers of the body while asleep and while sitting for meditation. So when you face towards North, you are getting the benevolent vibrations of all the Yogi-s and Gnani-s said to be in Mount Meru in the North. Thus our inner being spreads love and compassion without any apparent equipments for their broadcast. It is possible for the mind to mind contacts sans phones through telepathy! These things have now become acceptable to science. There is so much meaning in doing meditation facing towards North and not sleeping with ones head towards North!

49. But in Saastraa-s it would not talk about magnetism. In Purana-s there will be some allegorical story about this. It will say something like, 'there was a man living in a no-land country, who lived without life and went to sleep with his head towards North and so he died without death and his fame and name were never known to the world'. It will not dilate upon the scientific principles involved. A knife is useful for many things. But you should not be giving it to a child as a play thing! Similarly, all the scientific principles and their applications should not be made known to all. We are to think of these stories of Purana-s also to be true in some not easily understood ways. Purana-s include the known and some not yet known principles of science also!

50. As more and more ideas and cocepts not known earlier become known to science, more and more rituals which were the cause for ribald jokes, become matters for surprise, admiration and appreciation! Drinking bed-coffee without brushing one's teeth, wearing suit and coat without taking a bath are all against the atmospheric conditions of this country, that can only lead to sweat, dirt and diseases. Saastraa-s are not only meant for preventing diseases; but it is the medicine for the most dreaded disease of repeated birth and deaths. That this is the most important effect of Saastraa-s, is never to be lost sight of! If the only reason for observing the aachaaraa-s is it's concern with health, then we are likely to observe those suitable for good health and let go by default those not so suitable.

51. For example, when there is a gathering of many people for some reason, there is a likelyhood of infection. So it is good to cleanse oneself with a bath when you come back home. This is an acceptable habit recommended by Aachaaraa. But when you meet for 'Rathotsavam', where a mass of people are involved in the massive task of pulling the huge temple chariot with 'Utsava Moorthy' around the outer environs of the temple, you are not to wash of the dirt, with a bath! Here the Saastraa-s are contrary to the requirements of hygiene! In the temple pond, however full it my be of moss, you are not to hesitate in taking a bath. However dirty,a Mahan's (great human being's) dust of his feet is welcome to be sprinkled over oneself! There is a custom that where Bhagawatha-s (those poets and singers who happen to be devotees of Vishnu), have partaken their food, people used to wallow in the left overs to smear their bodies with it! That was the level of veneration extended to the devotees of God! These aachaaraa-s cannot be very acceptable to the rules of health and hygiene!

52. Aachaaram is meant for 'Punyam', spiritual merits. That is not within the comprehension of Buddhi and Science. Not to keep physically touching others in day to day activities, keeping a distance form others, not to eat anything in a house where there has been a death, to wash one's clothes after visiting a patient; are all Aachaaraa-s highly appreciated by Dr. King I.M.S. ( Like the I.A.S., there used to be this all India Medical Services. )

(To be continued.)

Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 99 (Vol # 3) Dated 17 June 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 99 (Vol # 3) Dated 17 June 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the middle of page 453 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

38. Majority of people will be those who have no control over their minds. When science spreads to all and they are said to be progressing, we are witnessing the fact that, Dharma, that is morality, is correspondingly decreasing. This has been the pertinent observation made by Bhoja Raja in the Samarangana Soothram. In that treatise there is mention of aircrafts called, 'vyomayaanam'! Having given a brief description of the theoretical concept, it does not talk about the engineering of it. But it does not mean that they did not know about it those days. He goes on to say that the reason for not giving that information is that, such free availability of information will lead to misuse of knowledge.

39. This has been practically seen to be true during the II World War and subsequent confrontations between warring nations, over the years. The wars instead of remaining confined to the battle fields have spread to the towns, cities and villages adding a third and fourth dimensions to conflicts. If use of air was the third dimension, killing of innocent civilians was the fourth dimension! Before the heart is cleansed, if the brains and intellect advance, it can only lead to aberrations galore! We are practically seeing this in the unbridled growth of science in the modern world, where a whole array of weapons and systems for mass destruction are in the hands of unscrupulous individuals! That is why, our fore fathers had kept many areas of knowledge available only to people of maturity with unconditional universal love as the only driving force!

40. In recent times I said that, once they identified that many aspects of the Saastraa-s are mutually complimentary with science, certain amount of acceptance of Saastraa-s and Vedic principles came into being, in the minds of educated people. When science was in its infancy, they made fun of our rituals and practices. They have started accepting some of them now with the growth of science. When in future science grows more, acceptance of Vedic principles and concepts is bound to become more, as they will be found to be based on irrefutable logic.

41. But I want to emphasize here that, all our Aachaaraa-s cannot be brought under the purview of what is science! To bring all the aachaaraa-s within the parameters of what is science and then expect them to be proved, is simply convoluted thinking. It is wrong to expect that our aachaaraa-s should be amenable to the dictates of science or social ideology or any other discipline for that matter! The truth of the Saastraa-s are already in them inherently. What the Rishi-s have given us is superior to all sciences. They are the basis for everything else. To expect that their worth should be proved on the basis of something else is reverse logic! The social concepts evolved out of the limited understanding and comprehension of human beings should preferably be amenable to the Saastraa-s and not the other way around!

42. Yes, there is much science in the Saastraa-s. But, that does not mean that they should be totally acceptable to the concepts of science. Saastraa-s are for ever, while science undergoes changes every other day! What were thought to be rituals based on blind beliefs in Saastraa-s, have been found to be based on sound logic in recent times. We should have the humility that as the days go by more and more of the Aachaaraa-s based on Saastraa-s will be borne out to be absolutely logical, to understand which Science will have to evolve to further higher reaches!

43. With the seen 'drushtam' there is much unseen 'adrushtam' which is unknown and unknowable too. Our fore fathers were far advanced in Bhakti and Gnaana, because of their implicit obedience of the Saastraa-s, deserving world wide praise and adulation. Ever since leaving the Saastraa-s and their Aachaaraa-s, despite all our progress in all the fields knowledge, science and industry, we are running from pallor to post without satisfaction, to the ridicule of all and sundry! We should get the true understanding that all that is said in the Saastraa-s are absolutely true.

44. If we start looking at the Aachaaraa-s as an adjunct of the science as known to us, we are likely to think as to why not make our Aacharaa-s suitably amended? If we think that using the cow dung to coat the surface of working areas is for the reasons of its anti-septic quality, we are likely to think as to why not use phenyl or carbolic acid to clean up the place of Yagna or Pooja! Then the suggestion will be as to why not use poly vinyl cushions instead of the wooden plank for a seat and rubber gloves instead of 'pavitram'!

45. While talking about this I am reminded of the fact that recently it has been identified that all brain function and passage of messages between the body parts and the brain involving spinal cord, are impulses based on electro magnetism! Our experts of Saastraa-s were aware of the fact that there is electricity in our body. That is why bad conductors were used for storing and preventing loss, while good conductors were used for receiving the electrical power generated by chanting of Mantra's and conduct of Yaagaa-s. You were seated on a wooden plank, using wooden spoons and Darba grass. On the other side we used copper plates and utensils and silk cloths, good conductors of electricity.

(To be continued.)

Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 98 (Vol # 3) Dated 13 June 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 98 (Vol # 3) Dated 13 June 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the second para on page 449 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

29. In fact every one of us have accumulated an enormous load of demerits by our actions over many life times. If we are to escape from all that unscathed while simultaneously also dissolve our load of demerits, we have to sweat it out by virtual hard labour, doing a lot of good actions for the benefit of others and the society. That is why the Saastraa-s are full of hundreds of thousands of Do’s and Don'ts, rules and regulations, tying us up in knots. The same God who is accuser, police, prosecutor, judge and the jail warden rolled into one, is also our Father, Mother and benefactor. When we some times by chance make a slip up in our strict adherence to the schedule of observance of the aachaaraa-s and we expiate our sin by simply taking God's name, then He exonerates us out of His extreme kindness. If you happen to be rather regular in your defaults and expect to get away scot free sorry, you have a second thought coming! Then the advice, 'Do not take the God's name in vain' holds sway!

30. Without recourse to much hard labour, to just think of God or even take His name is enough to invoke His Motherly love. He immediately pardons all our sins including the ones of not adhering to the aachaara-s, say our ancestors! But it does not mean that He is easily duped or exploited! A lazy man cannot hope to take advantage of His largesse by simply saying 'Hare Rama'. But if you say 'Hare Rama' in all sincerity with your heart in total supplication, then He does not stand on formalities! There have been many similar occasions in which He has benignly influenced the situation in devotee's favour!

31. That particular caste which has been entrusted the duty of safe guarding the Veda Mantra-s from losing their effectiveness, have to exercise their minds and heart with more discipline and hard wok. That is why they are required to observe more elaborate aachaaraa-s with the necessary mantra-s. Other castes who are required to carry out more physical jobs in soldiering or policing or service with physical hard labour, have much less aachaaraa-s assigned to them. They are to work out their Karma and attain to 'Chitta Shuddhi' through that only. Hence they do not have arduous aachaaraa-s required to be performed. Neither do they have elaborate mantra-s to be chanted. For them chanting of the names of God and or prayer songs are good enough!

32. I reiterate that Aachaaraa-s are meant to give us both the seen and unseen effects. Amongst that it is wrong to take or adopt those only giving the apparently seen effects and discard those which do not seem to have immediate apparent benefits!

33. Subtle Points of Science in Aachaaraa-s. Recently I notice that the present generation of youngsters are having a little more respect towards our Aachaaraa-s than what used to be the case some time back. Then, once you are educated in the English medium, all our rituals used to be considered as hog wash! But in the recent past I am seeing a change in the attitude of scientists towards our rituals! Though seemingly science and spirituality are not mutually complimentary, as more and more discoveries are being made, there is a clear rethink about scientists' attitude about the Indian Religion and our beliefs of yore! They are flabbergasted to notice that, what they consider as modern discoveries, some how seem to be known to the Indian Seers thousands of years back! That too, their findings are without any of the modern instruments or devices!

34. You may have noticed some time back in the news papers, there was a right up about a finding by the Russian scientists. You know that Russians are Communists and agnosts. Here in India we comment negatively about the smoke created by Yaagaa-s and Yagnaa-s and the apparent wastage of materials such as cow's ghee and other materials put in the fire as oblation! Now the Russian scientists tell us that this smoke from the dried cakes of cow dung have the capacity to counter pollutions including atomic radiations!
35. Similarly, the smoke from the Samit twigs, Darba grass, Tulasi and Bilva have not only antiseptic effects but are also beneficial in more ways than one. Earlier people used to make fun of our habit of putting pieces of Darba grass in all kitchen utensils containing provisions such as cereals, pulses, oils and perishables, during Sun or Moon eclipses. They used to deride our custom saying, "It seems that the Sun is being swallowed by a snake. To cut the snake's tongue, they are putting the Darba grass! Yuk and Ugh!" Now we are told that at the time of eclipse, there are some contamination caused by radiations in the atmosphere, troposphere, stratosphere and ionosphere respectively. That it affects the child in the womb of pregnant women. So the age old custom of fasting sufficiently prior to the timing of the eclipse, so that there may not be any yet to be digested food in the stomach has much sense! The fact that without any tools or instruments, that Indians could calculate exactly the timings of such eclipses was and remains a mystery known only to those who have studied 'Jyotisham' a part of the Veda-s! I also have come to know from qualified scientists that Darba grass has the capability to counter act the effect of such radiations.

36. If every one is taught all the knowledge of all the sciences will lead to every one having a access to an atom bomb. So the common man was duped with stories of the Sun being swallowed by a snake. This is the logic put forward by some. I will not fully subscribe to such an explanation either. Rahu and Ketu are not real planets in the material sense. They are known as 'shadow planets'! In God's play they are also important characters on occasions such as eclipse! It is better to retain humility, however vast our knowledge base may be!

37. Some people allege that our ancestors out of vested interest, were keen that all our knowledge should remain in a limited circle of confidantes. Rest of the world should be kept out of such knowledge base and that is reason for many of the cock and bull stories. This is totally a wrong accusation. Knowledge should be available to those who have discipline of the mind. If the access to knowledge is uncontrolled, it can only lead to misuse!

(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 97 (Vol # 3) Dated 10 June 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 97 (Vol # 3) Dated 10 June 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the last para on page 444 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

20. Whatever are the portions of the Aachaara that are seemingly suiting science to the extent that we understand and as per ethics to the extent we prefer; are those we accept as OK ones. All other such customs and traditions are discarded out of hand as 'superstitions'! This is just sheer idiocy! Things that we understand and like are those whose effects are seen directly. If we do not brush our teeth, our mouth smells and we get diseases of the teeth. If we consume alcohol we get habituated, suffer delusion leading to many family, social and financial problems. To accept Aachaara-s which have practical, immediate and direct effects; and not accept those whose effects are not immediately seen or not directly discernible; is being daft, to say the least!

21. All actions have a direct and opposite reaction alright but not all of them are seen apparently. In the background there are also side effects and indirect effects of the good and bad actions; not directly seen to be related! The seen effects are 'Drushtam' and the unseen effects are 'Adrushtam'! Adrushtam in Tamil has come to mean luck. But the real meaning is 'unseen'!

22 'prata: snanam prasamsanti drushtat adrushta phalam', is a statement from the Saastraa-s. Here it says that, 'two types of effects are said to be caused by the early morning bath, both seen and unseen for which people praise it'. One 'nazhigai' is equivalent to 24 minutes. 'prata: kalam' means 3 & 3/4 nazhigai (that is 90 minutes), prior to sun rise. To have a cold water bath at that time is 'prata: snanam'! Whether you have a bath in the river or pond or well or at home from the tap, you should wet your hair too. (Ladies need not wet their hair daily. They need to do so only on days of fasting or anniversary of some elder's passing away! On all other days, it is enough if they symbolically sprinkle a few drops of water on their heads.

23. The effect of this cold water bath early in the morning is that, with the cleansing of the body, muddle headedness, sleepishness and laziness vanish. With wakefulness, attentiveness, awareness, problem solving capabilities and mental acumen are brightened. Medical science confirms that this morning bath in cold water would strengthen the nervous systems that, it would get rid of most of the mental diseases with which the younger generation of people are affected these days! The psychological effect is that senses and feelings are also cooled and evened, by this early morning cold bath!

24. More than all these advantages of hygiene, medical value and psychological effects, this morning bath if done with specific mantra-s meant for that or while chanting the names of God, it cleanses your inner being and that is far more important. Cleaning your body and cooling of the senses are the direct effects seen - 'drushtam'. Strengthening of the nervous system will be noticed over a period. The inner cleansing of your being will become part of your nature that, you may never notice the change! The effect of the mantra or chanting of God's names will remain unseen - 'adrushtam'! That effect is the aim of all aachaaraa-s. All the seen immediate effects known as 'drushtam' are only of secondary importance.

25. Where we cannot directly relate the cause and effect, they are the 'adrushta phala-s'. They are resultant out of God's will. He does everything behind the scenes. To create and sustain 'Maya' is his job! This Mayavi the Magician, shows some of his playful capabilities to great Rishi-s and Saints out of His infinite compassion! They have written these in the saastraa-s with abundant love and compassion for the common man's benefit. This is how the great Saints have written the details of the Aachaaraa-s which give us the Adrushta Phala-s. In this there are may not be any directly seen benefits noticeable. They may not be having practical proof of effectiveness. There may not be any scientific basis for them within our comprehension. But to discard them on these grounds of lack of scientific basis and practical proof will not be correct! There are many areas beyond our comprehension and understanding, which could be easily within God's omniscience and omnipotence! We should have no doubts that the great Rishi-s of yore who were part and parcel of that Universal One, could learn, absorb and impart some of that wisdom for the benefit of the future generations of mankind! For this we should have deep devotion and sincere faith. Aachaaraa-s should not be just observed mechanically out of rote. Instead, with physical labour, mind's devoted involvement should be there without which you will not have the necessary benefits.

26. Thus to make every one of our day to day activities God oriented is the purpose of all mantra-s. Either they are all addressed directly to Him or the various deities who are His representatives / bureaucracy. Thus the normal morning bath becomes a meaningful ritual. Instead of its being simply soaping and shampooing the human body, it becomes an act of cleansing the mind and take us closer to the inner being, At that time we should take a clutch of ‘arugam pul’ that is a type of grass and some clean peace of earth on our heads. That clutch of grass is to be understood to be divine as revered by the Veda-s by a mantra known as, ‘doorva suktam’. So also the piece of earth is to be recognized as holy as representing the Bhumaa Devi, a consort of Sriman Narayana, the God as Vishnu! For Her there is the ‘mruttika suktam’. These two sukta-s are chanted while bathing.

27. During bathing we should also chant, ‘agamarshana suktam’ for cleansing our inner being, the soul itself. The Self is not smudgeable! The Atma the Self can never become dirty. All that dirt is limited to our minds only. ‘Agam’ means sin and ‘marshanam’ is cleaning it. (Surprisingly the english word ‘immersion’ seems to be very close. A matter for philologists to pursue!) So you cleanse your Soul of all dirt while you bathe, by chanting the ‘agamarshana suktam’. Those who are not entitled or not initiated to Veda Mantras, may simply chanta the name of Sri Govinda. It is said, “...govindeti sadaa snaanam...”, meaning bathe while chanting the name of Govinda!

28. You should not do ‘kutarkam’ to say that since Govinda’s name itself is as good as the waters of a sacred river, by simply chanting ‘Govinda Govinda!’ we can obviate the need for bathing!

(To be continued.)
Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 96 (Vol # 3) Dated 05 June 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 96 (Vol # 3) Dated 05 June 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from page 440 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

10. Samanya Dharma-s. These are such dharma-s common for all Varna and Aashrama, that is for all Castes and Ashrama-s such as Brhmacharya, Gruhasta, Vanaprasta and Sanyasa. Of course in Sanyasa Ashrama one is generally beyond all rules and regulations. But by then you have possibly imbibed these character qualities to the extent that they have become your second nature! For all castes in all walks of life, Manu Smruti talks of five common character qualities. First is Ahimsa, second is Satyam, third is Astheyam, (that is not stealing and not coveting), fourth is the Chousam that is cleanliness and finally, Indriya Nigraham that is reigning in of the senses. Though normally all Aachaaram seems to come under the one Dharma of Chousam, on deeper analysis you will recognize that all these five common dharma-s are covered by the activities of Aachaara-s!

11. While talking of clean dietary habits, all animal meat including fish and birds are forbidden. This means that the first samanya dharma Ahimsa is included in Aachaara. Since Satyam is at the top of all dharma-s, that is also an aachaara. I will tell you one more logic of how Satyam is part of Aachaara. Once a person is punished by the King, he becomes Doshi or stigmatized. He is supposed to be socially an outcast till he does the act of 'Prayaschittam' that is the act of atonement! {Not that he was punished twice for the same offence. Till he did an act of atonement, he was not entitled to do the Aachaara Anushtaanaa-s. Relate this to the number of people elected in the Legislative while continuing to be Known Delinquents in the present day India!}

12. Crimes as you know are of two types, civil and criminal. Mostly these civil cases are about cheating, fraud and contractual failures to keep a promise. In civil cases normally a man goes to jail on grounds of Asatyam! So, in civil cases if some one is not to be sent to jail, as per Saastraa-s / Aachaara-s, he should be very strictly maintaining the next samanya dharma of Satyam. Normally these cases of untruth will generally involve not returning a loan or unfairly appropriating another man's property forcibly or misappropriation by forgery and such. All these cases come under the third samanya dharma of Astheyam Theft and robbery are Stheyam and refraining from such activities is Astheyam. Prostitution, stealing the affections of another man's wife and such will come under yet another samanya dharma of Indriya Nigraham. In addition anyhow a debauch is unfit for conducting or supervising any of the Karma as per the Saastraa-s.

13. Thus with the rules on the standards of 'Chousam' that is, cleanliness to be maintained, all these Satyam, compassion, sacrifice, lack of greed and covetousness, Ahimsa are all inextricably directly emphasized. Further in many places it is said that, "the person who does not observe this particular aachaara is liable for as much Paapa as someone who has failed to keep his word of promise or having uttered a hundred lies or having been cruel to an animal or stolen others property or stolen the affection of another's wife; and so will suffer for it. The simple word 'Madi' has so many connotations that he is uncorrupted by any of these sins! To be clean means the one is unpolluted by any of these sins and the resultant Paapa (demerit) that accrues!

14. Till a person is under tuition for Veda-s that is Adhyayana, he is to observe celibacy called 'Brhma charyam'. Thus the Ashrama itself gets the same name of Brhmacharyam, for that duration till he decides to get married. Then after marriage, he has many duties towards his family and society as part of Aachaaraa-s. The couple are not to indulge in sex on the days such as Ekadasi, Pradosha, Sivaratri, Pithru-s days and so on. Thus Indriya Nigraham, i.e., control of the sensual urges was part of Aacharaa-s with special emphasis on avoidance. Thus all Samanya Dharma-s were part of Aachaara-s.

15. This could be said in a different way too. 'For Dharma that is the medicine, Aachaaram is the 'Patyam' i.e., the dietary controls. For the disease to be got rid of, it is not enough to take medicines. You have to control the inputs of food, drinks and other sensory inputs too, into the system! Otherwise the effect of medicine will be offset. Thus the Dharma-medicine dependent on inner correct attitude and outer good behaviour, will not be effective without the Aachaaram. In fact Aachaaram is meant not only for outer show of cleanliness, but equally for inner clarity.

16 I will give you an example for how Aachaaram is the Patyam for the Medicine of Dharma. Pithru Tarpanam is a Dharma to be done by people of all castes. This is required to be done , with our thoughts on the forefathers who are dead and gone, with Veda Mantra-s, with due veneration, wearing a suitable dress of respect, facing the Southern direction, with the Poonool i.e., Yagnopaveetam on the left shoulder abnormally. Contrary to this, if you do it differently, there will be no effect of your action at all!

17. These two aspects of Aachaaram and Dharma are so intermingled to give raise to such statements as, "Aachaaram is a part of Dharma; or Dharma is itself Aachaaram; or Dharma is born of Aachaaram; or Aachaara: prabhavo dharma:" Satpurusha-s are those who meticulously observe the Aachaara Niyama-s, we say. So, their actions are Sad-aachaaram and Sishta-aachaaram. Similarly the actions of bad characters who do not follow the dictates of Aachaara is called, 'Dur-aachaaram'!

18. All Inclusive. As we say that in Aachaaram all Samanya Dharma-s are included, it also contains within it's ambit many other matters. There is fairness and morality, health and hygiene, mutual love and respect, humaneness and compassion, loyalty and faithfulness; while all this enable to raise the individual from the ordinary to the highest pinnacles of greatness! For example if only we strictly abide with Aachaara, such heinous social evils such as, pre-adult pregnancies, extra marital sex, prostitution, and the dreaded AIDS can be obviated!

19. Drushta and Adrushta Effects. Drushta means seen and Adrushta means unseen, (wrongly taken as Lucky). The Aachara-s agreeable to Science & Ethics to the extent that we understand, are considered to be OK. Rest of the Aachaara-s are discarded out of hand on the grounds of being blind beliefs! This is objectionably wrong! (To be continued.) Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 95 (Vol # 3) Dated 03 June 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 95 (Vol # 3) Dated 03 June 2009

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from page 435 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)

DEFINITION OF AACHAARA

1, We have been talking about this subject 'Aachaara' for so may issues of Deivathin Kural, that it is interesting to note that we have not clarified exactly as to what these are, except in Vol 1 & 2 of Deivathin Kural series. We have talked about how we are better warned not to become a 'Patitan' by reneging on the set of Aachaara to which we are born! Generally if someone is maintaining his family traditions, we understand that he cares for maintaining some standard for cleanliness of the body and mind, called 'Madi and Vizhuppu'. Here 'Madi' means clean and 'Vizhuppu' means not yet clean. A person is 'Madi', when he has washed and bathed; wearing clean clothes; wearing the dhotie in a particular way known as 'pancha kaccham'; his hair is shaved in the front part of the head; he has long hair at the back of the head known as 'kudumi'; has applied the 'Namam or Vibhuti' in the fore head; wearing his 'Poonool' the sacred thread; for important activities he consults the astrologer or refers to the Panchangam himself; does not frequent the clubs or hotels; does not eat the forbidden foods; or use the forbidden eversilver utensils because it is only made of iron; such a person is understood to be a person of Aachaaram! This is rather a crude definition!

2. These are only the outer signs. All the Do's and Don'ts of a religion are Aachaaraa-s. All the rules and regulations of outer indications, behaviour and inner attitudes are included in it! It is wrong to assume that only the outer signs and behaviour constitutes Aachaaram. The inner attitudes and understanding the why of it are equally or even more important than the outer how of it! Aachaaram mainly contributes to cleanse, ennoble and raise the inner person through the outer activities and rituals. Aachaaram can be translated as, 'ozhukkam' in Tamil, which Thiruvalluvar considers as more important than even ones life! Aachaaram is that path of Dharma which encompasses the inner and outer life so uniformly that it should be guarded as more precious than our life itself! The nearest synonym is a mix of character and conduct, both of which are good and positive. Morality and ethics are mainly concerned with this world of transactions. If you can now include the inner attitudinal aspects to morality and ethics, then you are very close to what we refer as 'Aachaaram'! That includes all actions, signs, rituals, traditions with the rules and regulations of Do's and Don'ts. These seemingly outer actions and behaviour which contributes for inner flowering of the human in his individual, family and social capacities; as evolved by our ancestors is what is 'Aachaaram'!

3. Outer to the Inner. In the philosophical vedanta way, it is the human body which is the outermost. The innermost is the Atma. So, the outermost sphere the body, is the 'anna maya sarira'. The Maha Gnani-s have almost always ignored this outer sphere of exitence. They were so lost to their identity with the body that, they were almost unaware of it. We hear of so many greats, who were dirty, untidy,without bathing or properly dressing up. (Compare this with the amount of time and money we spend on cosmetics these days, in actual life, in the print media, television and the big screen!)

4. Contrary to this, Aachaara requires us to pay attention to physical cleanliness. That one should take bath, wear clean fresh clothes. That we should take clean vegetarian food, neatly and freshly cooked, which is not too spicy and that too in moderate quantities. Over eating and spices that would excite the senses are to be avoided. Thus it starts off with much emphasis on the outer cleanliness and inputs in to the system. Only with such care and control we could one day hope to reach that level of total unconcern for the physical being. With that aim of reaching the inner world of Atma, we start with strict control over the cleanliness of the body, house, surroundings and so on.

5. If we start off with thinking as to what is the need for all this, then it can end only in neither being here nor there! Yes, it is true that Aachaaram on its own does not create or make apparent our inner reality as a direct effect. But one day if we are to reach that level of inner perfection, then it has to begin with bodily, family and social cleanliness, discipline and strict control! Without Aachaaram, it can only end in making that ideal unattainable!

6. It is said that, "...aachaara heenam na punanti vedaa:...". For a person devoid of Aachaaram can never hope to become cleansed to purity through any amount of study of the Veda-s! However much sacred the waters of the Ganges or some such Teerta Sthan, in an utencil of skull bone it will still be cause for abhorrance only! However good the milk, in a bag of animal skin, it will still be undrinkable! However well read you may be in the Saastraa-s, all your expertise is only a waste for your self and the world, without the moderating influences of the good actions of Aachaara-s say the Saastraa-s.

7. Some modern Swamiji-s talk very knowlegeably about the Veda-s and Upanishad-s. With much research and analysis, books are written with extensive cross references of quotable quotes! But that alone cannot give them the authority without the cleansing influences of the Aachaaraa-s in their inner attitude and outer behaviour. Having themselves left the practices of the Aachaara-s there is no value in their advices either. The value of your speech has to be borne by your exemplary behaviour too. For generations after generations a whole pantheon of great Rishis and Saints have shown the path by living it. That is how the words 'Sadaachaaram and Sishtaachaaram' have evolved to indicate the rigorous practice by excellent people of a very high order of discipline and noble intensions of self abnegation for purposes of common good! That is the human asset which endowed India with Sruti Smruti and Purana-s and nurtured the Sanatana Dharma of Hinduism!

8. Whatever anyone may say, the inner self realization through Gnaana and experiencing of God through devotion are both unattainable unless, through intense 'tapasya' one has arrived at that level of inner and outer purity, like Gold being rid of dross through intense heating! Those who say that all Aachaara is about outer peripheral show off, can talk but not come any where near, let alone reach!

9. The Samanya Dharma-s in Aachaara. Out of the five common points of Samnya Dharma, 'Chousam' that is cleanliness is the fourth. The five principles common for all people are 'Ahimsa, Satyam, Astheyam, Chousam and Indriya Nigraham'.

(To be continued. In the meanwhile you may refer to Deivathin Kural (Vol 1) under, "Samanya Dharma-s"; and in (Vol 2) under "40 Samskara-s".

Sambhomahadeva.

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 94 (Vol # 3) Dated 01 June 2009

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 94 (Vol # 3) Dated 01 June 2009
(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the middle of page 429 of Vol 3 of the Tamil original. The readers are reminded that herein 'man/he' includes 'woman/she' too, mostly. These e-mails are all available at http://advaitham. blogspot. com constantly updated.)
50. Some Exceptions. There have been some great saints who transgressed all existing norms of their times, without being aware of doing so. Their authority was their ‘uncommon inner experience’, which brooked no opposition! We cannot take them as role models. Neither can we delude ourselves to have reached their stage of maturity. Based on their ‘uncommon inner experience’, there have been some who simply did not know as to how to argue out their principled stand point of view. But they have gone ahead with their nonchalant behavior uncaring for any social or family norms.
51. Mira Bai amongst the Rajputs who used to be devotees of Chandika, is a case in point. She was a Krishna devotee of an exceptional order. Rajput women were famous for their very high devotion to their husbands. ‘Sati’ as a custom evolved amongst them that, when their menfolk fought against the muslim hoards, they used to walk into the funeral pyre of their husbands, without any hesitation whatsoever! Having come from such a background, Mira Bai had the temerity to not only go against her husband's wishes, but declared herself to be the wife of Giri Dhar Gopal only. In that ‘Turiya’ bhava, she has sung so many songs of love for her Krishna Kanhaia of exceptional literary merit that could create a mass movement of Bhakti. Any and all the efforts on the part of conservative Rajput royalty was of no avail, in diffusing the situation. She was administered poison on orders of Rana, her husband. She laughingly consumed that also and continued her singing! The poison had no effect on her. The point to uderstand here is that, she did not do it as a challenge. She did not pray to her beloved Gopal to save her from the poison either. She was in such a state of high elation out of her devotion that she was not even aware that she is being done away with. It was later that she became aware of the fact. By that time she was also aware that none of these things could hurt her!
52. There were also some Mahatmaa-s who could understand deep and subtle philosophical concepts and had the capability to argue their point of view in a debate. They also were well established in the supreme state of 'Atma Anubhava of Tureeya!' There have been cases of such people going against their Kula Aachaara to which they were born! There was one Hara Datta Sivachariyar a well known Siva Bhakta. He was born as a Vaishnavite in Kanjanur. He proved his Siva Bhakti by holding in his bare hands a red hot iron 'Mazhu' a weapon said to be held by Siva in His hnads! Similarly there was one Thiru Mazhisai Aazhvar, one of the 12 famous Vishnu devotees known as Azhvar-s. Earlier he was known as an ardent Siva Bhakta called 'Siva Vakkiya Siddhar'! These are not the rule but only exceptions We cannot take them as examples.
53. There was one Kumarila Bhattar. ( KTSV adds:- You have all read about him in the first volume of Deivathin Kural, as one of the incarnations of Muruga, the second son of Siva and Parvathi. Adi Sankara won over him in debate, in proving the ascendency of Bhakti and Gnaana Marga over Karma Kandam. Prior to that, Kumarila Bhatta in his turn had established the ascendency of Vedic Sanatana Dharma over Buddhism, there by contributing in the work of Adi Sankara in re-establishment of cohesiveness within the Hindu religion!) For a period he was a Bhikku in a Buddha Vihara, when he was trying to learn their concepts and methods. He was said to have been doing his Nitya Karma Anushtana on the quiet in secret!
54. 'Koon Pandyan' was known by that name as he had a bent back. From being a Hindu Siva Devotee, he had embraced the 'Samana Matam' that is, Jainism as it used to be known in Tamil Nadu those days. His wife Mangaiyarku Arasi and Minister Kula Chiraiyar, used to remain devotees of Siva. They used to apply the Vibhuti on their bodies under their clothing, in secret. Though fully convinced of their belief in the Hinduism, they had to make a show as though they had also embraced the Jainism. Later they were responsible for inviting Thiru Gnaana Sambandar to visit Madurai and defeat the Jains in 'Anal Vaadam and Punal Vadam'. The Pandya King was rid of his disease of high fever knwon as 'Veppu Noi' and was also cured of the bent back. Thus he returned to the fold of the Hindu religion. That was the cause for the Hindu religion's revival in South India! The King from 'Koon Pandyan' became 'Ninra Seer Nedumaran', to mean the 'The Tall Long Maran who stood up!' The King, his minister Kulachiraiyar and the Queen Mangaiyarku Arasi; all three were revered as 'Nayanmar-s' to become famous as part of the 63 All Time Great Siva Devotees!
55. Evidently they were all far ahead of us in their level of maturity and devotion. Kumarila Bhattar had left his Kula Aachara for the purpose of learning all the concepts and subtle ideas of the Buddhists, to be able to defeat them in debates later! His aim was to re-establish his Kula Aachaara more firmly in the minds of the general masses. Despite that, He an Avatara of the very Subrahmanya Swami, considered his action of duping the Buddhists as a punishable sin, and so arranged to immolate Himself by surrounding his body with burning rice husk! A slow excrutiating death! He demonstrated by example as to how, 'one becomes a patitan by reneging one's kula Aachaara'! That is a lesson for us to carry home. Similarly the Queen of 'Koon Pandyan' demonstrated how a wife should abide with her husbands wishes, instead of openly defying him, despite her deep inner convictions of Siva Bhakti!
56. The Duty of the Faithful. As faithful followers of the religion, we should abide with the traditional activities of that family in which we are born. Even if we believe in the Siddhanta of another sub-division of the Vedic Religion, out wardly we should abide with the Aachaara-s as being followed with in our Kula and Family. This is important for the sake of discipline and the purpose of Chitta Shuddhi, which is well served still. Inwardly we could silently be a Muruga Bhakta or Hunumath Devotee or Ayyappa Follower. If our devotion is deep rooted enough, there will be occassion for open declaration of our convictions later, as done by Kumarila Bhattar and Mangaiyark Arasi.
57. The only objection to this can be one of what is seeming hipocracy. But the point is in the intensions. If the aim was selfishness and self aggrandisement at somebody else's cost, then the objection can stick! If we favour some one while causing disadvantage to some one else, then our action is sinful! Neither are we being cause for other's indiscipline. The point is that as far as possible, we should stick to the Kula Aachaaraa-s.
58. What we should all watch out for is that already there is a lot of indiscipline in the name of being liberal and not orthodox. Things are in a downward trend in the matter of religious tradition and following of rules and taboos. We should not become cause for further deterioration in discipline. So, to follow our traditional Aachaaraa-s should be our committment, with the clarity that God in whatever form will grant us His Grace, eventually if for nothing else but, atleast for our sincerity and good intentions!
Sambhomahadeva.