Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara – There is always an ongoing debate on whether women can chant Vishnu Sahasranamam and arguments like Smt. MS Subbulakshmi Amma has chanted why not us, etc. Well, here is Periyava’s response to those questions. One of those is that of an elderly lady’s direct experience with Maha Periyava. Upto us to take it or not. Rama Rama
Categories: Devotee Experiences
Today while I was reading Deivathin Kural, (Vol-7) I think found the answer for this query.
In the chapter பெண்களின் பாண்டித்யம் அக்கால – இக்கால மாறுபாடு.
Mahaperiyava says “இன்றைக்கு ஸ்த்ரீகள்தான் தங்களுக்கு மிஞ்சும் பொழுதையெல்லாம் நம்முடைய இதிஹாஸ-புராணங்கள், ஸ்தோத்ரப் புஸ்தகங்கள், அது மட்டுமில்லாமல் உசந்த காவ்யங்கள் ஆகியவற்றை நன்றாகப் படித்துத் தெரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும். அப்படிப் பண்ண முடியும் என்பது.
அவர்களுடைய பொழுது நல்ல விதமாகக் கழிவதற்கு இது வழி என்பது மாத்திரமில்லை. எத்தனையோ யுகத்துக்கு முன்னாலிருந்து ஆரம்பித்து, தொடர்ந்து வந்துள்ள நம்முடைய மஹத்தான கலாசாரத்துக்கு உயிரூட்டுகிற புஸ்தகங்கள் நம் காலத்தில் செத்துப் போய் விட்டன என்ற பெரிய பழி, மஹத்தான களங்கம் நமக்கு ஏற்படாமலிருக்க வேண்டுமானால் இப்படி ஸ்த்ரீகளாவது அவற்றைப் படித்துப் ப்ரயோஜனப்படுத்திக் கொண்டு ரக்ஷித்துக் கொடுப்பதுதான் வழி.
SO Mahaperiyava has specifically ordained Women to study the Ithihasas-Puranas-Shlokas and great literary works. Vishnu Sahasranama is part of this Ithihasas only.
And Mahaperiyava concludes the chapter with the following words :
நானும் இப்போது ஸ்த்ரீகளை வேதங்கள் படிக்கும்படியாகச் சொல்லவில்லை. வேதம் தவிர்த்து இதிஹாஸ-புராண-ஸ்தோத்ர-காவ்யாதிகள்தான் படித்துத் தெரிந்து கொள்ளச் சொல்கிறேன்.
இதை பாபமாகவோ அபசாரமாகவோ நினைக்காமல், இதற்கு ஆசார்யாள் ஆசீர்வாதம் பண்ணுவார் என்ற நம்பிக்கையுடனேயே சொல்கிறேன்.
ஆசார்யாள் பெயரிலுள்ள இந்த மடத்து த்வாராவே [மூலமாகவே] இப்படிப் பெண்கள் படித்துத் தெரிந்து கொள்வதற்கு எந்த விதமெல்லாம் உதவி செய்யலாமோ, இன்ஸென்டிவ் கொடுக்கலாமோ அவ்வளவும் அவருடைய ஆசீர்வாதத்துடனேயே செய்ய வேண்டுமென்று எனக்கு இருக்கிறது
Without knowing the context of what Maha Periyava told, we can not conclude that HH Maha Periyava was against the recitation of Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam by ladies. It is wise to get the formal clarification from Sri Bala Periyava of Kanchi Matam .
What Sri Maha Periyava said Is understood here in a different context for no fault of any one.
Sanskrit and Tamil words have built in divine sound like example OM….the first prenatal sound of the universe.This is true for all words.This is reason we add Om before all Mantras.Words have sound so they are called Mantras.Mantras need to be recited in a particular way.Now Coming to Sound,Sound has Inbuilt Image in them.example Om Shri Ganeshaya Namaha mind sees the picture of Sri Ganesha.This image is called Yantra.Now when we mix Word with sound or sound with image its called Tantra which is divine powers or befits we get from rendering it.Based on your mother tongue example Tamil Oldest language has certain alphabets which are NOT there in any other languages.The same is true with sanskrit,Telugu and Hindi too all have similar alphabets.Mantras MUST BE PRONOUNCED RIGHTLY AND PERFECTLY IN A PARTICULAR METER CALLED ANUSTUP CHANDAHA WHICH IS USED IN SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMA AND SRI LALITHA SAHASRANAMA.If we do not pronouce right the meaning changes and words loose their power and when meaning changes its like insulting the God without your knowledge.This is for a small Mantra or ashtotharam now image 30 pages of sahasranamam with 142 slokas total and Sri Vishnu Sahasranama along 1000names are in 108 Slokas.In my view This is the CAUTION OF SRI PERIYAVA WHEN HE SAID DO NOT CHANT SRI VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM.AS one who is into reserch into vedic studies with specific focus on music this is my view that Sri Vishnu Sahasranama can be chanted by ladies if they learn from a proper guru.
devotional music can be split into following kinds:
devotional song sang like a light music song….
devotional song sang like classical keerthanam
devotional song sang like a mantra
devotional song sang by group like a chant or bhajan.
devotional song played in temple
finally devotional song with focus on our NEXT GENERATION TO LISTEN TO LEARN.
IF YOU NOTICE THE SONG SAHASRANAMAM IS SAME….BUT…IT CAN BE COMPOSED SANG BASED ON WHERE IT WILL BE PLAYED LOCATION AND WHY?
Sanatana Dharma is clear if mantras or ashtotharams or sahasranamams cannot be learnt then they will die in due course and lost.We must make even a child born abroad grew up there should be able to listen learn and sing sahasranamam divine 1000 names of our god.
lets not forget our vedic scripts to every thing has been passed for over 1.5 BILLION YEARS through shruthi
( music form) Smrithi ( written form).we did not allow so called scientists research people because they need EVIDENCE ON EVERYTHING.This is a belief system .
I apologize to every one here if they do not like my views.Iam a huge devote of Sri Periyava I compose,sing only sanskrit mantras including Sahasranamams and Iam making it easy for any one to listen and learn sanskrit pronunciation perfectly because I learnt sanskrit as my second language and so also classical and vedic music including Naadha Yoga music.
Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam is in 5 parts CALLED FULL SAHASRANAMAM
1 INNOVATION PRAYER
2 DHAYNAM FOCUS ON IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF SAHASRANAMAM WHAT IT CAN DO FOR YOU
3 SAHASRANAMA 1000 NAMES IN 108 SLOKAS
4 PHALA SHRUTHI- 32 AMAZING BENEFITS OF SAHASRANAMA FROM HEALTH TO PROSPERTIY
5 PRAYER AT COMPLETION
My view its better not to split the PARTS BECAUSE ONE IS BUSY IF YOU R BUSY JUST REPEATE 2 LINE MANTRA SRI RAMA RAMA RAMETHI-ITS EQUIVALENT TO REPEATING 1000 NAMES OF SRI vISHNU
AGAIN ITS YOUR BELIEF SYSTEM YOU DONT WANT TO SING THATS OK.
Hari Hi Om
Prana Kishore
There is a video in YouTube where Swami Omkarananda chants VS along with everyone including women. Also I remember this message circulated during the Siddhi of pudu periyava – ” Pujyashri Pudu Periyava will do adishtana pravesam around 8 a.m. Pujashri Bala Periyava has asked all of us to chant Vishnu Sahasranama, Bhagavat Gita, Rama Nama japam etc.” If anyone can give a clear answer, it will be helpful. Whenever Periyava says something, it will be from the Shastras; is there any bhasyam or sastra pramana pramana ?
First of all, we do not know what Mahaperiyava actually said. He has been quoted and mis-quoted many times in the past by even eminent people.
I had been visiting Mahaperiyava almost every month ever since 1985 till he cast of His body.
I have never seen HIM express any such opinions to anyone, though He was very strict on chanting of Vedas.
So I take this mami’s saying with a pinch of salt, in this respect. Probably it has been quoted out of context. Further all these arguments by these people, after almost 25 years of Mahaperiyava’s Siddhi, does not make any sense now.
Probably it would have had some meaning if the brahmins me had stuck to Vaideeka Dharma and Vedic Learning/Teaching. In that case all these Spiritual Treasures could have been safely carried to the next generation. Now 99% of the brahmins have deserted the Vedic Way of Life and almost forgot the Vedas and Stotras. They do not even know the basic Sandhyavandana Mantra. These men are experts only in passing negative comments without contributing anything towards our Hindu Dharma.
In most places, it is these dedicated women who carry aloft this Bharavatha-Dharma, through their Shloka classes. I feel it is only our women, who can carry this legacy to the next generation.
So Quoting what Mahaperiyava said or did not say (as quoted by the great men or women) in the present days of declining Dharma is superficial.
Vishnu Sahasranama is a Highly Potent Mantra and can be chanted by everyone irrespective of caste, nativity or gender.
I find this a bit confusing. Vishnu Sahasranamam is found not only in Mahabharata but 3 other versions are there in Padma, Skanda and Garuda puranas. Only the Mahabharata version has been restricted by Periyava ? Or all 4 versions also ? I remember in 163rd VU viedo of VDSP Sabha which is about Vishnu Sahasranama, Brahmashri Kannamani Dikshitar (near 01:28:00) describes about an incident where a lady asks Maha Periyava about the method to chant VS to get the desired results. In that incident, Periyava didn’t object to reciting VS but rather guided her about the method. I’ve have come across sastras and puranas which describe about veda restriction for women but not for VS. My intention is not to hurt anyone but is there a similar restriction for Siva Sahasranamam also? Since it is also in Mahabharata. Kindly guide.
Second devotee got an upadesh indirectly from MahaPeriyava..”Sri Ramaaannu sollu podhum”..
Blessed Devotee
Dear Mahesh Sir,
Please see this video and paste it will conclude the discussion
Please find the following interview. Here also Mahaperiyava mentioned ladies not to tell Vishnu Sahasranama. Also, Mahaperiyva told MS Subbulakshmi is rishi so we should not compare with here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NpSU1exgdI from 10:40
So thoughtful of you to share such a profound message from Mahaperiyavaa which as you said will conclude this discussion
Some Mantras are very virile and may not be suitable to Female Physiology. Imagine testosterone levels getting increased for Women by chanting some mantras. For men,it is good but not for women.
May be that reason..
Periyava tells means,it is like Perumal telling..
No further arguments please…
Ofcourse for Believers..
If People want to follow their own ways,why ask Him?
Gita states do not criticize others way. So follow your dharma and stop commenting on others way.
Dharma is difficult per Bhishma. On totality chanting Vishnu sahasranamam is better than chanting rajini , techinology , stock market, samayal sahasranamam , name your interest
விஷ்ணு சஹஸ்ரநாமம் அனைவரும்(பெண்கள் உட்பட ) தாராளமாக பாராயணம் செய்யலாம் என ஜீயர் ஸ்வாமிகள் கூறி உள்ளார்
I did not understand one point in the interview, Mami says Phalastuthi is allowed to be recited or Not? Someone please clarify?
Yes, it is to be recited to get effective results
No ..watch the interview closely
Mahesh garu, although I strictly follow whatever Maha Periva said, the effect of Kali will start debate on this point also, I am afraid.
Please find the following interview. Here also Mahaperiyava mentioned ladies not to tell Vishnu Sahasranama. Also, Mahaperiyva told MS Subbulakshmi is rishi so we should not compare with here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NpSU1exgdI from 10:40
I had visited Shivasthanam for the darshan of Mahaperiyava in February, 1972, During the course of his interaction with the assembled devotees, his mood suddenly changed and he asked that Vishnu Sahasranamam be recited. Saying this he took a Tulsi garland which was there in front of him, and keeping it on his head, closed his eyes and went into deep dhyana. The pundits present there started reciting the Sahasranamam, in which some devotees also joined. But when some ladies also started reciting it, the pundits said that ladies should not recite it. Some ladies did argue, mentioning M.S. Subbulakshmi’s LP record ( It was released in 1970), but they were simply asked to keep quiet by the pundits and the devotees, by a show of hands. So this question was not resolved on that day. It is good that Sri Chandramauli Sastrigal has clarified the point, from the horse’s mouth.
So many Vedic and other mantras are now recorded by any body, and recorded in any tune, with basically commercial intent. This is due to advancing Kali age-
“Kali kalmasha chittaanaam, papa dravya jeevinam”, as Bhagavannama Bodhendra said it.
Interesting to note that the Paramacharya was against stris reciting Sahasranama and ladies are reciting Vedas these days with gay abandon!!!!
True Paramacharya has given his opinion on this and it is up to people to take it or leave it .In the age of Internet and youtube lot of stotras and mantras are available freely on the net and many people learn those mantras .Better to find a qualified person to learn these stotras properly