Essay name: Srikara Bhashya (commentary)
Author: C. Hayavadana Rao
The Srikara Bhashya, authored by Sripati Panditacharya in the 15th century, presents a comprehensive commentary on the Vedanta-Sutras of Badarayana (also known as the Brahmasutra). These pages represent the introduction portion of the publication by C. Hayavadana Rao.
Page 322 of: Srikara Bhashya (commentary)
322 (of 953)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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INTRODUCTION 261 of always worshipping the linga, one who is confined
(sutaki) and one who is observing the courses (rajasval膩)
are a crore of times purer than the sun, fire and the wind
(ravi, agni and v膩ju岣�). Further, the same works lay
down that neither at the time of birth nor at the time of
death should Sivapuja be abandoned. These statements
prove that the body which bears the linga on it is never
polluted and is quite free to offer worship to the linga at
all times without a break.
Next is the fact that customs contrary to these texts
exist do not take away from their validity. (The customs
lack support and so cannot be held to nullify the texts.)
The validity of the Srauta rules is not affected by the
existence of customs sanctioning the offer of animal
sacrifices at the Jy艒tisht艒ma, Atir膩tra and Paundar墨ka
rites, the partaking of animal food and the drinking of
Sur膩 (S艒ma juice) at them, and the enjoyment of conjugal
felicities by Brahmacharins during day time with dasis-
though these are manifestly against the morals of the world
and against 盲ch膩ra as declared in the Srutis.
Next, as Saivas are thus free from pollutions of these
five kinds-birth, death, rajasval膩, etc. (pancha s奴tak膩bh膩v膿)
_they are superior to the four Varnas (Varnachatush峁璦-
y膩t墨tatva). It is just that the food touched by them should
be partaken of. To say--as some say-that those who
follow the Vedic injunctions should not have intercourse with
Lingadh膩ris who, following the Saiva S膩stras, do not
observe the five kinds of pollution, is not correct. (The
suggestion is that such a statement is lacking in support.)
For it is said in the (Saiva) Siddhantas, Agamas and other
authorities that just as one during the time the sacrificial
fire is being installed need not observe (the pollution result-
ing from) the courses of his wife, similarly one who wears on
his body the linga, which he worships of his free will (i.e.,
with sincere devotion) is unaffected by pollution. Just as
the tongue should not be touched by the hand for fear of
pollution but still the mantra pronounced by the tongue is
still very holy and produces holy results, so a Saiva has no
