I do not know how many of you are aware of the titles of the
Matathipathi of Sankara Matams. These titles are recited by people who consider
the Sankaracharya as their personal Guru.
Shad Dharsana sthanapachaya (Founder of all six dharshanas or
systems of Philosophy)
Sankyathraya prithipadaka (Establisher of Sankhya)
Vaidhika Marga Pravarthaka (engaged in Vaidhika marga)
Another sloka
Sasthram sarira Mimansa devasthu Parameswara
Acharya Sankaracharya santhu me janma janmani
Why did the Smartas do it? Tamil Smartas always talk about
Shanmadham, but not about Shad Dharshana.
The basic idea of Smarta religion was to reestablish Vaidic
practices. Vedas are non-sectarian unlike the Puranas. There are verses in praise of all Gods.
Indra, Varuna, and other Vaidic Gods. Then we have Rudraprasna, Narayana
Suktham and Sri Suktham among others. In these verses the god to whom the
verses are addressed is considered the Supreme God. Again the Vaidic practices
are basically from Karma Kanda and
follow Uttara Mimansa. Advaita is Gnana Kanda. Then Yoga has become a part and
parcel of Hinduism. Sankhya is the basic philosophy of the Sakthas.
You can not bring about a unity among different sects or
revive the Vaidic practices without bring together the six systems of
Philosophy.
So Smartaism became Shan Madha and Shad Dharshana. Though it
is not stated clearly, Smartas also absorbed the concept of Bhakthi. The
various slokas attributed to Sankaracharya are evidence of this.
The followers came from all the sects. Initially we did have
sub-classifications of Smarta-Saiva, Smarta-Vaishnava and Smarta-Sakthas. But
this disappeared over a period of time. The best part of Smarta religion is
that you could continue your sectarian worship. The Panchayathana Puja was a
compromise. But here the central deity could be Shiva, Vishnu, Sakthi, Skanda
or the Sun. The Smartas went to the extent of even allowing sectarian marks.
That is how we have Nama Iyers for example.
[To be continued]
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