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Re: ARTICLE : Bhagavata and Padma Puranas (was Re: REQUEST : What
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Subject: Re: ARTICLE : Bhagavata and Padma Puranas (was Re: REQUEST : What
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From: jaldhar@braincells.com (Jaldhar H. Vyas)
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Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 04:04:22 GMT
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Apparently-To: soc-religion-hindu@uunet.uu.net
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Newsgroups: soc.religion.hindu
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References: <ghenDy9Ftq.81H@netcom.com> <ghenDyFCoo.25J@netcom.com>
H. Krishna Susarla (susarla.krishna@tumora.swmed.edu) wrote:
: I don't know if there is an *explicit* restriction for people in the lower
: modes against studying the shruti. I do know that such people are likely to
: misunderstand these texts, and get at most a superficial understanding of
: their purport.
There is not an explicit restriction on people of lower modes, but there
is definitely one on people of lower castes.
: > BTW, how do you define a "twice-born"? As one who has undergone the
: upanayana
: > ceremony?
:
: Twice-born means those who are born again into spiritual life. They are
: twice-born by virtue of the fact that they accept a qualified guru and are
: properly trained in living according to Vedic standards of conduct. I don't
: accept that birth confers upon anyone such a status, nor do I think many of
: the caste brahmins of today really qualify either.
:
The shastras are very clear on this (see for example Yagnavalkya Smrti
Brahmachari Prakaranam) A Dvija refers to a Brahman (in theory
Kshatriya's and Vaishyas too but in practice just Brahmans) who has
received Upanayana sanskara. It doesn't imply any moral status. For
instance we have the example in the Bhagavat Purana of Ajamila who is
refered to as being both evil and and a Dvija not reforming until his
dying breath. On the other hand we have the examples of exemplary people
such as Mahatma Vidura who are never refered to as Dvija.
--
Jaldhar H. Vyas [jaldhar@braincells.com] o- beable .-_|\
Consolidated Braincells Inc. / \
http://www.braincells.com/jaldhar/ Perth Amboy-> *.--._/
"Witty quote" - Dead Guy finger me for PGP key v McQ!
