Guruji's teachings
A disciple of Guruji recalls a talk with a sannyasi who wanted Sri Vidya kept in Sanskrit, and why he chose to share it with everyone.
An excerpt from the book The Goddess Lives in Upstate New York by Corinne G. Dempsey, in which Aiya, a disciple of Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati (Guruji), speaks. Shared on Guruji's blog, posted by Vira Chandra on 24 April 2016. Originally published at amritananda-natha-saraswati.blogspot.com.
This post is a short excerpt from a book by an outside writer, so it is summarised here and not copied in full. The full excerpt is on Guruji's blog.
Aiya tells Corinne that nearly everyone accepted his Tamil book of Sri Vidya rituals. The one exception was an ochre-robed sannyasi in Madras, who said the book should never have been written in Tamil and that interested people must study Sanskrit.
Aiya answered that Sanskrit is usually taught only to brahmin children, who in turn do not teach it to others. He asked whether the Mother was meant to be open only to that community. The sannyasi would not say yes or no. Aiya added that at least five hundred people to his knowledge were now doing the puja at home. When asked how he knew they did it right, Aiya asked how he knew the sannyasi did.
Aiya says his own Guruji sat beside him and had always told him to stand up when someone denies knowledge to sincere seekers. He told the sannyasi that only the Mother can say whether a puja is right, and that he had promised his guru at initiation to share the vidya with anyone who wanted it. He ends by saying he is glad Hinduism has no single head, and that Guruji smiled and told him, "You carry on."
If you find that somebody is denying knowledge to really interested seekers, you have to stand up.
Short quote, as recalled by Aiya of Guruji's advice. From The Goddess Lives in Upstate New York by Corinne G. Dempsey. Shared on Guruji's blog: "Against the Gatekeeping of the Mother", 24 April 2016, posted by Vira Chandra.
In the Kaula way, the Mother is not kept for one group. Guruji's teaching stressed that sincere seekers should be able to reach the Goddess, whatever their birth, background or language.
The post also puts weight on the heart over rules. Aiya says that only the Mother can judge a puja. This fits the Kaula idea that worship is a living relationship, not a test to pass.
This is one student's story of a talk with a sannyasi. It is not a rule book, and it does not say that guidance from a teacher is unneeded. If you want to explore, the best step is a conversation with a teacher you trust.
The excerpt says he wanted more people to have access to the puja. He said at least five hundred people he knew were doing it at home because of the book.
He said Aiya should not have written the book in Tamil, and that people who are interested must study Sanskrit.
He said Sanskrit is mostly taught to brahmin children, so the rule would keep the Mother open to one community only.
In the excerpt, Aiya says only the Mother can judge this, and it is not for people to judge each other.
Aiya says Guruji had always told him to stand up when knowledge is denied to sincere seekers, and that Guruji smiled and told him to carry on.
Read the original: Against the Gatekeeping of the Mother, on Guruji's blog.
If something in this teaching landed for you, the best next step is a short private conversation.
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