[Advaita-l] Shiva = Supreme

[V Subrahmanian]

On Mon, Mar 7, 2016 at 5:45 PM, Srirudra via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> Dear
> There is no specific reason.But there is some unverified instance in Sri
> Ramanuja's life that He refused to take shelter inside a Shiva's temple to
> avoid getting wet in pouring rain.He seems to have said that He is like a
> pathivratha sthree who will only live with her husband or something like
> that.


I have heard this stated by Sri Velukkudi Kannan Swami himself.  But no one
has thought about the following:

Rukmini, the Mahā pativratā, on the eve of her slated wedding (to
Shishupala), went to the temples of Shiva, Ambikkā (Parvati) and Ganesha
and worshiped them devoutly.  She observed the mouna vrata (even today many
non-Tamil brahmin weddings have this Gowri puja on the wedding day).  The
Srimad Bhagavatam gives a lot of details about how Rukmini prayed to Gouri,
Shiva, to grant her wishes.  Sri Viraraghavachariar, a Srivaishnava
commentator, has clearly said that Rukmini went to that temple complex and
worshiped those deities stated above.  He adds: Rukmini (verily Lakshmi)
had no real need to pray, etc. She did that only to be a role model to
others (यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठः....).  That means: Her intention is to teach
the people at large that going to Shiva temple worshiping and praying to
the Shiva parivāra is a commendable practice.

This episode of the Bhagavatam is to be contrasted with what Ramanuja
reportedly did.

subrahmanian.v


> How far it is true is not known .So the Vaishnavas who have Sri Ramanuja
> as their Acharya follow his foot steps.Sri Velukudi Swamigal is an example.
> R.Krishnamoorthy.
>
>