Categories: Politics

Srirangam Andavan Ashramam replies to PGurus post, rejects allegations

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Response to PGurus article on SrirangamAndavan Ashram

We are publishing the response received to the article titled “SrirangamAndavan Ashram – Are business interests taking over the religious institution?” which appeared in our website on July 26, 2018. The response was received in an email which we are reproducing here in full.

It has been written by Shri. R Rajagopal who is the Chairman, National Executive Committee of Srirangam Andavan Asramam.

Letter:

I write to place certain facts about the PGurus article published which is false, biased & one-sided.

It’s very disturbing to read the PGurus article on Srirangam Andavan Ashramam, we believe and respect PGurus always for the courageous & transparent articles, but on this specific one, we feel the PGurus was misguided & misinformed.

1)           The article mentions about self-appointed committee, which is totally & absolutely false propaganda. All committees, trusts exist for many decades, are formed by our late Acharya, HH SrimadSrimushnamAndavan& His Predecessors. Periodically, the committee is reconstituted with different office bearers. The recent Will Committee was appointed by HH SrimadAndavan Swami himself in December 2015 when he was in absolutely good health.

2)           The Will Executors Committee has distinguished members from the Shishyas who are serving Ashram for more than 30 years selflessly. I, the chairman of NEC is the Managing Partner of an 80-year Firm (Aravind Laboratories, manufacturer of EYETEX Group of Cosmetics), have been a Trustee since 1986 & Chairman from 1999 and have no personal interest as I come from a very wealthy background. The committee has Shri N Gopalaswami, former CEC known to be a person of great integrity & his record of public service is unmatched, he is straight forward & a clean person. A retired Chief Commissioner of IT, Shri Ravichandran, long standing Trustees & Secretaries of the Public Charitable Trusts formed decades ago are the Will Committee Members & all of them have been Trustees for many years appointed by HH SrimadAndavanSwamigal. Also, there are other distinguished personalities performing their services to Ashram.

3)           There are few who are trying to fish in troubled waters post the SriVaikuntam attainment of HH SrimushnamAndavan, they want to take control of Ashram. As claimed by few Anti group of Ashram stated in the article, there are no such compromises on religious sanctity, even today the daily rituals as usual are being performed by the Ashram appointed Vedic scholars and all the major religious affairs, Ashram rituals are followed as per the directions given by the Late HH SrimathSrimushnamAndavan. The Vedic Scholars are always regarded with the highest respect and rewarded by SrirangamAndavan Ashram. Its beyond imagination to say that the ‘Will” written by HH SrimathAndavan is bogus. The latest Will was executed in December 2015 while HH SrimadAndavan was of sound mind & disposition & duly witnessed. A few days after executing the Will, HH Called Shri Gopalaswami specifically & informed him of the same & also that he, Shri NG, was appointed as an Executor.

4)           HH SrimathSrimushnamAndavan has very clearly written in the Will who should head the institution after him, Swamy has signed the Will with distinguished eminent Shishyas as the eye witness. The Will stands as very genuine &its the clear direction of HH Andavan on next Pontiff to be Dr. U Ve TSR Narayanachar Swamy. Unfortunately, last few months, Shri TSR Swamy has been threatened by few groups who want to install their choice as Andavan Swamy, even death threat has been issued to TSR Swamy & his family to get away from taking over. So obviously Shri. TSR Narayanachar Swamy, very Saathvik in nature, has been hesitant of taking over. Now Swamy has signalled that he would announce his clear decision within a week, the desperate Anti group is trying all their possible ways now to put maximum pressure to get it blocked.

5)           Dr. TSR Narayanachar Swamy is a very learned expert, holds a Doctorate in Vedic studies (PhD in MimamsaSaastra) & is a Professor in the highly reputed Vedic University in Tirupati (AP), he is known for his Gnanam, Anushtanam& simplicity. These are the obvious reasons why HH has selected the said Swamy as next pontiff in his Will very clearly. Also against the false claim by the Anti group, so called Shishya Sabha that doesn’t hold any legitimacy & not the representative of all Ashram followers,

6) Dr. TSR Swamy is the grandson’s grandson – direct lineage through sons – not through daughters of one of our great Acharyans, HH SrimadChinnAndavan (the 5th Peetathipathi of the Asramam, 1885-1895) so claiming that he doesn’t belong to our Ashram is totally baseless & false. Under his guidance &Acharyakam, the basic tenets of the lineage, namely Gnanam, Anushtanam, Vairakya, AsrithaVatsalyam, peace & universal brotherhood will be embellished & enhanced for the public good. SrirangamSrimadAndavan Ashram has a great lineage of Acharya Guru Parampara& is one of leading institutes in Sanatana Dharma involved in extensive services not just religious, but also in education for poor students, Annadanam, Skill development etc. all over India

7)           The Asramam has centres all over India & abroad with lakhs of followers & well-wishers who revere HH SrimadAndavan as a living God & His word on His Successor vis His Will is sacrosanct. Shri TSR Narayanachariar is NOT the personal candidate of any Will Executor but the Prime Nominee of Late HH SrimadAndavan.

8)           My humble request is not to believe in rumours being spread with vested interest by few individuals. In case required, you could personally talk to Shri. Gopalaswami or I for better understanding on the current crisis. This sensitive crisis should be resolved internally without outside interference & external publicity that could bring in disrepute to SrirangamAndavan Ashram & more trouble in addition to the existing issues of Ashram.

Warmest regards

Dhanyosmi!

Recent Message by Shri. U Ve TSR Narayanachar Swamy.

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View Comments

  • Now Narayanachar has point blankly rejected their request and denied to ascend to the peetam .Now what are the next move .NEC should step down and hand over to shishya dabha

  • THIS POST IS IN RESPONSE TO SRIRANGAM SRIMAD ANDAVAN ASHRAM COMMITTEE'S REPLY .
    IN THE FIRST INSTANCE I WOULD LIKE TO THANK SRI RR NEC CHAIRMAN FOR THE AGILITY IN RESPONDING TO YOUR POST.WE ARE ALSO THANKFUL TO HIM FOR MAKING US AWARE OF OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS NAME TO SISHYAS WHICH MANY OF SISHYAS WERE NOT AWARE.ALL THESE YEARS IT WAS PROJECTED THAT ASHRAM MEANS RR AND VICEVERSA.WE WOULD BE MORE HAPPY HAS HE TREATED AND RESPONDED TO SISHYAS GENUINE CONCERN.
    IT IS NOT FOR THE NEC COMMITTEE TO DRUMBEAT THE REPUTATION OF ANDAVAN ASHRAM AND SRI TSR NARAYANACHAR, PRIME NOMINEE WHOSE NAME OUR REVERED ACHARYAN HAS RECOMMENDED IN PURPORTED WILL SELECTING FEW AS EXECUTORS TO IMPLEMENT HIS WISH.
    THE MAIN QUESTION IS WHY IT IS NOT IMPLEMENTED TILL DATE?
    MORE THAN 130DAYS HAVE PASSED WHERE ALL MAIN RELIGIOUS MATTERS PERTAINING TO SISHYAS ATMA ABIVRUDDHI IS NOT TAKING PLACE.THIS WAS THE CONDITIONS SINCE LAST ONE AND HALF YEARS AS OUR BELOVED ACHARYAN WAS NOT IN GOOD HEALTH,WHICH IS A DIFFERENT MATTER.
    TO ADD TO THE CONFUSION MANAGEMENT SPARSELY COMMUNICATED WITH SISHYAS ABOUT ACHARYAN'S HEALTH.
    EVEN WITH RESPECT TO CURRENT SITUATION IN ASHRAM MANAGEMENT NEVER TOOK ANY EFFORTS TO HAVE A DIALOGUE WITH SISHYAS WHO RAISED OBJECTIONS TO THEIR NOMINEE.
    THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY IN ASHRAM ADMINISTRATION. NO COMMUNICATION EXCEPT WHEN MAKING APPEAL FOR COLLECTION OF FUNDS,WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT FUND,SISHYAS SHOULD REMAIN SILENT.
    NO ACCOUNTABILITY ON MANAGEMENT SIDE.NEC CHAIRMAN HAS COMPLETELY MISHANDLED AND HE HIMSELF SHOULD OWE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SITUATION IN ASHRAM. HE IS A GOOD HUMBLE MAN WHO NEVER LIKES TO TAKE CREDIT FOR ANYTHING HAPPENING IN OUR ASHRAM.WE WISH THAT HE SHOULD COME FORWARD TO TAKE THE CREDIT FOR BRINGING ASHRAMS REPUTATION AND GOODWILL TO SUCH A PASS.
    WE HOPE AND WISH THAT HE WILL KEEP ASIDE HIS PERSONAL PRESTIGE AND WILL TRY TO FIND OUT AN AMICABLE SOLUTION WITH CONSENT OF ALL SISHYAS.
    WE ALSO SPECIALLY THANK HIM FOR HAVING REALISED THE EXISTENCE OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AT BRANCHES.WE SALUTE THEM FOR EXTRACTING SIGNATURES COMPELLING THEM TO SIGN AS PER NEC DIKTAT.
    PLEASE STOP ALL THESE TRICKS AND ALLOW SRIKARYAM, VIDWANS,KAINKARYAPARAS OF ALL BRANCHES TO SELECT NEW ACHARYAN WITHOUT REMAINING A STUMBLING BLOCK.
    DASAN
    KESAVAN VADYAR.

  • Looking at all the whatsapp/social media messages coming through, it is becoming clearer that there is solid line demarcating prominent vaidikas & vidhwans on one side and those who have been on the administrative side of the ashramam for the past few years. Bearing in mind the fact that this is a spiritual institution and not a corporate bank & business, it is important to continue nurturing Srimad Andavan Ashramam as a spiritual centre of excellence. It is also becoming clearer that the administrative group has been taking an increasingly autocratic stance with their non-inclusive approach where Srikaryam swami and other prominent vidhwans seems to be left out of counsel. I would only like to remind people that the essence of Ramanuja sampradaya is to respect all others be humble. If the NEC members remember this & give due respect to the vidhwans of the ashramam, we should be able to come out of this self-inflicted crisis. I pray to the padukas of Lord Ranganatha to do justice to this ashramam and it's sishyas.

    Dasan,
    Sudharshan

  • In our sampradhaya, Acharyan's mere wish or a word is sacrosanct and has to be treated as such without demur. When such is the case, a written will with executants of absolute integrity and devotion like former CEC Shri.N.Gopalswamy and others selected by our Acharyan should be treated like the last word on the matter. Anything contrary will be a sheer and blatant desecration of HH Srimad Srimushnam Andavan, our great Acharyan. Though it is understandable that Sishyas are dismayed by the delay, it is the utmost duty of Sishyas that the WILL as ordained by our Acharyan is carried out at the earliest. This alone is the need of the hour and the prime duty of all Sishyas and Abhimaanis. Hope by our Acharyan's grace and Poorvacharyaas, the right thing is carried out forthwith.

    • Unfortunatley the will that you are referring is the point of contention. Veracity of it itself is a question mark

  • Srirangam Shrimad Andavan Ashramam in itself is a sacred ashramam led by great mahans. After our beloved ,Shrimad Shrimushnam Andavan vaikunta prapthi, ashramam's condition was completely exploited by business minded people and taken for granted. Our poorvacharyas never toiled for this. Adiyen pray for the early anointment of next Andavan who has real interest in sishyas athma kshemam and welfare and sanctity of the ashramam

  • Good reply hope the other side dont make it as issue and mess up the whole system for just personal interest rather than any spiritual interest

  • If the will of Srimushnam Aandavan swamy states three selections of the future Peedathipathi for this Ashramam, then why should the Will Executive Committee waited and wasted 130 days in implementing the same.
    The will copy should be shown to the Shisya sabha Office bearers.
    It is also the duty of the NEC members to organise meetings of the Shisyaas and ironout the differences among shisyaas.
    This is a Religious, Vaidheeha peedam & Acharya admits a sishya to Vaishna thru Pancha samskara and give refuge for the sishya and thro 'saranagathi' he takes his shisyaa to God.
    No external pressure from committee should be enforced on Vaidhaga matters.

  • I find it interesting that there is a so called WILL committee that is supposedly interested in promoting sri TSR as the next Acharya of the Ashram. However, there are problems with the so called WILL.
    - Since the Acharya is the spiritual father of all the sisyas, why has the so called WILL not been made public for everyone to see?
    - Srimad Andavan is a sanyasi. As such, his only wealth is spiritual in nature. WILL is something that deals with material belongings. Did he really leave a WILL? I am skeptical.
    - The only public utterance from Sri TSR so far has been that he want remain a sisya and does not want the exalted state of becoming an Acharya. Why still persist in promoting Sri TSR Swamy? What is to be gained by this?

    It is unfortunate that we still do not have an acharya after more than 4 months. The ashram is rich in Vedic tradition and even a casual glimpse of the Guru Parampara lists the qualities that are inherent in the leader of this Ashram. We need someone who is
    - Rich in Vedic knowledge.
    - Thinks of the sisyas of the Ashram.
    - Acts as a parent and is full of compassion concerned with the welfare of the sisyas.
    - AND IS WILLING TO BE THE NEXT GREAT ACHARYA.
    WE NEED THE ACHARYA NOW...

    We do not need someone who thinks so poorly about the desires of our Acharya (the so called WILL) and has already publicly decline this great honor months ago. We need someone NOW.

    Eagerly waiting to greet the next great Acharya so we can offer our services to Him and who can lead us all to SALVATION and MOKSHAM.

    With humble pranams
    Raja Srinivasan

  • ANDAVAN ASHRAM IS A REPUTED RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION. NO ONE NEED TO CERTIFY ITS REPUTATION AND ON ITS PONTIFF. THE MOOT QUESTION NOW IS WHY IS THIS IMPASSE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SORDID AFFAIRS .PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE SELECTION OF A NEW PONTIFF. SOME SECTION OF SISHYAS HAD DIFFERENT OPINION FROM THE MANAGEMENT SIDE.PRUDENT MANAGEMENT WOULD HAVE CALLED FOR A MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE INSTEAD OF RUNNING DOWN THEM.INSTEAD OF TAKING EFFORTS TO SORT OUT THIS DIFFERENCE THEY RAN A MOTIVATED CAMPAIGN TO MALIGN MAMY REPUTED,IMPORTANT SISHYAS WHO HAVE RENDERED AND STILL RENDERINGYEOMAN SERVICES TO ASHRAM GROWTH.IN THIS THEY DIDN'T EVEN SPARE SRIKARYAM WHO IS CONSIDERED NEXT IN LINE TO PONTIFF.THEY STARTED BRANDING EVERYBODY AS ACHARYA/ASHRAMA DROHI WHICH IS NOT TRUE.THERE WAS LOT OF MUD SLINGING AND NAME CALLING THRU SOCIAL MEDIA.ALL THRU THESE PERIOD MANAGEMENT EITHER KEPT SILENT OR THEY ALSO AGGRAVATED THESE MUD SLINGIG WAR BRINGING DISREPUTE TO ASHRAM.MANAGEMENT HAS TOTALLY MISHANDLED THE SITUATION AND HAS ALLOWED TO LINGER THIS STATUS.THERE IS HARDLY ANY TRANSPARENCY OR ACCOUNTABILITY FROM MANAGEMENT SIDE.THEY BEHAVED IN AN AUTOCRATIC WAY THINKING THAT THEY COULD RUN DOWN SISHYAS GENUINE CONCERN.THEY STARTED TREATING THEM AS REBELS AND TERRORISTS WHO HAVE COME TO USURP THEIR POWER.PRESENT MANAGEMENT IS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FIASCO.THEY SHOULD OWE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CURRENT SORDID STATE IN ASHRAM AND COMMITTEE SHOULD RESIGN ENBLOCK TO RESTORE THE ASHRAM'S REPUTATION IN TACT.

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