AN ARTICLE APPEARED IN A MALAYALAM LEADING NEWS PAPER “ MATHRUBHOOMI”
BANGALORE EDITION DATED 19th November, 2008.

ബ്രാഹ്മണവാദം വെറും മിഥ്യ

ബ്രാഹ്മണ്യവും ക്ഷേത്രപൂജയുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെട്ട് മുഖ്യമായും
പരിഗണിക്കേണ്ടചില വസ്തുക്കളുണ്ട്..

1. വേദമന്ത്രങ്ങള്‍ പ്രയോഗിക്കുന്നുണ്ടെങ്കിലും ക്ഷേത്രപൂജ
വൈദീകമല്ല. താന്ത്രീകമാണ്. വിഗ്രഹാരാധന വേദാനുസാരിയല്ല
ജാതിയും കുലവും തന്ത്രത്തിന്‍റെ വിഷയവുമല്ല.

2. പുരുഷസൂക്തത്തിലെ ”ബ്രാഹ്മണോസ്യമുഖമാസീദ്…….”
എന്ന മന്ത്രം നാലു വിഭാഗങ്ങളെ ഈശ്വരന്‍ സൃഷ്ട്ടിച്ച
വിവരണമല്ല.

3. വര്‍ണ്ണവ്യവസ്ഥ ഇല്ലാതായിട്ട് നൂററാണ്ടുകളായി എന്നിരിക്കേ
സമൂഹത്തില്‍ ഒരു വര്‍ണ്ണത്തെ മാത്രം നില നിര്‍ത്തുന്നതില്‍
പ്രസക്തിഉണ്ടൊ. വര്‍ണ്ണം എന്നാല്‍ വരിക്കുന്നത് - സ്വീകരിക്കുന്നത്
എന്നര്‍ഥം. ജന്‍മനാ എവനും ശൂദ്രനാണ്. അന്നന്നത്തേക്കു ഭിക്ഷ
വാങ്ങി മിച്ചം മുഴുവന്‍ ദാനം ചെയ്തും വേദം പഠിച്ചും ജീവി
ക്കേണ്‍ടവനാണു ബ്രാഹ്മണന്‍.

4. ചിലദശാബ്ദങ്ങള്‍ക്കു മുന്‍പുവരെ നല്ലൊരുശതമാനം ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളിlലും
പൂജ നടത്തിയിരുന്നത് നംപൂതിരിമാരായിരുന്നില്ല. പ്രശസ്തമായ പല
ക്ഷേത്രങ്ങളിലും നായരും പുലയനും അരയനും ഉള്ളാടനും പുള്ളുവനും
ഒക്കെയായിരുന്നു പൂജാരികള്‍.

5. ക്ഷേത്ര പൂജ തന്ത്രത്തിന്‍റെ ഭാഗമാണ്. വൈദിക ബ്രാഹ്മണന്‍ ഇതിന്നധി
കാരിയല്ല എന്നാല്‍ പഠിച്ച ഏവനും പൂജാകര്‍മ്മം ചെയ്യാന്‍
അവകാശമുണ്ടായിരിക്കണം ‍

- പി. പ്രസന്നന്‍

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Friends,

The above one is an article published in a leading News Paper, MATHRUBHOOMI, in Malayalam. It has become a fashion now-a –days to criticize Brahmins as a whole since a majority of us are all sober in nature and do not fight even for our rights.

In his opening sentence itself, what he has said is wrong and without any base. The PUja in temples conducted by Brahmins are very much in accordance with Hindu Principles “Agama is from the root "gam" which means to come. Sruti, the eternal word, is of two forms - Nigama (Veda) and Agama. Origin of portions of Agamas could be traced to the Vedic literature, and are regarded by those like Vyasa. Veda is said to be Prabhu-sammitam (The Kinglike Authority), and Agama could be called Aptavakya (dear one's word). Narada Pancaratra, a Vaishnava Agama, could be traced back to the Santi Parva of Mahabharata. Agamas extensively contain samputikaranas and many of the mantras used could be found in the Veda.” “Mantra is the word-form of energy. It is the means/basis for both Yantra and Tantra.” Tantra is a procedure, which puts mantra to specific use. It is the method as well as philosophy (Tatva-Mantra samanvaya). It elaborates procedures that a sadhaka should follow, and the results of each practice. Thus Tantra is the superset and is therefore synonymous to Agama.
Regarding Idol Worship “Idol worship is for the beginners, and for the experienced it is not mandatory. [It] is the starting step of the search, to recognize that the God is omnipresent." Sri. Prasannan might be from a class of people who are above “the beginners. ”Eko Devah sarwabhoothesh gooda, sarva vyaapee sarva bhoothaandaraatma, Karmaadhyaksha sarva bhootheshu vaasa saaksee chetho kevalO nirguNaschaH” This is the definition of God. But , then why we worship many Gods, Shankara said that you worship God in any shape that ultimately will reach the real God as water which comes from the sky( rain water ) ultimately reaches the sea, all type of worship and worship of God by different names ultimately reach the Supreme God.
“There are three divisions in Tantra, dakshina vama and madhyama. They are said to be the satwic, rajasic and tamasic forms of Tantra respectively. Dakshinacara prescribes practices of mind. Vamacara involves physical codes and practices to vitalize energy centers in the body. The panca makaras, matsya, mamsa, maithuna, madya and mudra are also practiced in some vamacara Tantras.
Thus mantra, Yantra and Tantra are not exclusive; they are interconnected. Mantra is the energy. Yantras are geometric shapes that define the workings of various kinds of energies. Tantra deals with the philosophy and methods. However, both Yantra and Tantra use Mantras. Tantra involves methods and practices through which the practitioner uses the energy to serve a purpose, while Yantra uses tools/shapes that are charged by the power of mantra. Thus, Agamas are procedures for serving various purposes, along with means and methods.
Agamas expound a variety of subjects and could be called the guides to a huge range of Hindu practices “including the treatise on worship in temples. Sri. Prasannan says that caste system is not in vogue since centuries. I think, Shri. Prasannan, the author of the above article , is possessed by half baked knowledge of Hinduism.
Sri. Prasannan has not understood what is written in” PURUSHA SOOKTHA “. Although , all my learned friends know the meaning of the verse “ brAhmanOsya mukhamAseed bAhurAjanyakruthA, UrU thadasya yadvaisya, padbhyAgum ShUdrO ajAyatha” This verse is to show that as all parts of the body are useful to man and are interdependant, the four VARNAS are interdependant .Sri. Sathya Sai Baaba also has endorsed this point. Of course, Bhagavan in Bhagavat Githa has said “chAthurvarNyam mayA srushtam gunakama vibhAgaSaH : thasyakarthAramapi mAM vidhyakarthAramavyayam.”Chapt 3 Sloka 13.
I would like Sri. P.Prasannan to note that this was necessary and perhaps practicable during DwApara Yuga. This is Kaliyuga and Hinduism is not a static religion but highly dynamic.Hindu populatin has increased mor than double. Although we belong to certain castes, we are compelled, due to the present circumstances where SHUDRAS and other castes do not perform their duties , to deviate from our duties and hence the onus is on his side to disprove this fact.
Another point he has raised is that we should not consider only one VARNA i.e Brahmins as a privilidged class.. It is not because of BRAHMINS. Brahmins in general are in minority and as I said before are mild in nature . I like to questin Sri. Prasannan as to why he has raised such a foolish question when he himself says that there are temples where other caste persons are PRIESTS. I am in total agreement with Sri. Prasannan, there were temples for DRAVIDIAN GODS, even before the so called Aryan came.. Even, many dravidians performed Thantra. Among Muslims and Christians also there are persons who are familiar with the art of Thantra.. Thantra is an eminent science having many many principles.
There are certain temples which are constructed after the so called aryan invasion. The meaning of ARYAN as I learnt is “Aryan is an English word derived from the Sanskrit "Ārya" meaning "noble" or "honorable". These temples have priests who are Brahmins who are well versed in this art of worship. The author of the above article, Sri. Prasannan, might have read the ignomany the Shabari Mala Thanthri sufferred , for not knowng or possessing the required knowledge to be a Thantri. I, therefore , request all brahmins to face the threat posed by such writers to our community boldly and establish our right.
I, therefore, request all brahmins to unite to save our privilageous or many PRASANNANNS will try to point their fingers on us. Let us all join Brahmin Association without considering whether we are from South, North, West or East and without any considerations for sub-castes, like vadama. Bruhathcharana, Iyer, Iyengar,Madhwa,Namboothiri etc.
Regards to ONE AND ALL,
P.R.RADHAKRISHNAN
Note : The Sanskrit lexicon Amarakosha (c. AD 450) defines Arya as mahākula kulīnārya "being of a noble family", sabhya "having gentle or refined behavior and demeanor", sajjana "being well-born and respectable", and sādhava "being virtuous, honourable, or righteous". In Hinduism, the religiously initiated Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishyas were arya, a title of honor and respect given to certain people for noble behaviour. This word is used by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Zoroastrians to mean noble or spiritual.[5], for example, Four Noble Truths (Pali: Cattāri ariyasaccāni, Sanskrit: Catvāri āryasatyāni), and Noble Eightfold Path (Pāli: Ariyo aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo; Sanskrit: Ārya 'ṣṭāṅga mārgaḥ - Ref. :ARYAN WIKIPEDIA