Very valid point
As traditional religious sects have turned into jaded establishments that are a pale shadow of what they once were, new institutions take their place
As traditional religious sects have turned into jaded establishments that are a pale shadow of what they once were, new institutions take their place
An anecdote to illustrate why I think the "traditional" institutions are not vibrant and adaptive enough -
A relative of mine visited the Ahobila Matham in Thiruvallur a couple of years ago
A relative of mine visited the Ahobila Matham in Thiruvallur a couple of years ago
Some background - Ahobila Matham is one of the greatest and most distinguished of Sri-Vaishnava mathas in the country, with an unbroken history of nearly 600 years or more.
She settled down along with her relatives for a meal in the maTha served by the institution's kitchen (madappalli)
The leaves were all laid out. Just as the serving was about to begin, a few ladies began to murmur about a couple of other ladies at the corner of the row
The leaves were all laid out. Just as the serving was about to begin, a few ladies began to murmur about a couple of other ladies at the corner of the row
The murmur was that those ladies seated at the corner were not brahmin
The cook stopped the serving. A couple of other mAth ppl emerged from inside
And asked the ladies in the corner to leave!
The cook stopped the serving. A couple of other mAth ppl emerged from inside
And asked the ladies in the corner to leave!
I am not exaggerating any part of this little anecdote that a close relative was witness to in Ahobila Matham
This is how our institutions work.
And then we wonder why cant they provide the communal warmth that these Sai-temples provide.
It's not such a big riddle
This is how our institutions work.
And then we wonder why cant they provide the communal warmth that these Sai-temples provide.
It's not such a big riddle
Being a part of the same sect and having a soft-corner for the maTha, I may take a charitable view and say
These are old fogeys stuck in old ways about madapalli rules
But will someone at the receiving end of this take it the same way?
No. They'll label you a casteist bigot
These are old fogeys stuck in old ways about madapalli rules
But will someone at the receiving end of this take it the same way?
No. They'll label you a casteist bigot
