You have probably seen it: the mangala arati is over and the Tulasi puja is about to start; from the devotees in attendance one reaches the mat on which he will stand and then removes the socks, spectacularly flinging them to the nearest wall--possibly ten meters away--from which they bounce and come to rest as crumpled balls.
Having witnessed this cherished liturgy for a number of years and in a number of places, I ask myself?
Is this ritual of removing the socks necessary (independently if they are thrown or not)?
Who introduced or promoted it?
What's wrong with the devotees' socks at 5:00 am? Already dirty?
If they are attempting to maintain a brahminical standard of puja attire, which mandates the removal of all sewn clothing, why they keep the t-shirts, kurtas, sweaters, jackets and so on?
Is it an offense to offer puja to Tulasi Devi wearing socks? If yes, in which scriptural text or commentary is it mentioned?
To me the tradition appears as superfluous, in a similar league with "the cat in the basket" and "the Kumbha-mela excrement shrine."
PS - I remain completely open to be convinced that is necessary to remove the socks, if someone explains it to me with sastric evidence or/and common sense.
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6 comments:
Haribol! I think I have read it in the Pancaratra Pradipa, that whenever you do arati you shouldnt wear socks. I will have to look it up to be sure.
Thank you Mataji.
So far the only socks-related statement that I found in Pancaratra Pradipa is this:
"One should not wear socks or stockings in the Deity room."
Dear Prabhuji
From the picture these socks are hand-knitted and as a knitter of socks they are not sewn. In the 70's a knit a cashmere pair from Prabhupada and for the duration of his stay at New Dwarka received the honor of also washing them. For the life of me and my poor memory, I can't recall if Prabhupada wore them into the temple room. All the pictures of Prabhupada sitting on the Vyasasana show his bare feet - the more for us to worship.
Don't know if this helps at all.
your servant, Anavadyangi devi dasi (ACBSP)
Thank you very much, all glories to your service!
It would seem that your analysis of the particular socks in the photo would support the "theory" (or rather the doubt) that at least these socks need not be taken off (at least according to the norm about avoiding sewn clothes). But the research continues of course.
Dear Mother Anavadyangi, my obeisances, just for the historical record, there are instances in which Srila Prabhupada did wear socks while on the vyasasana (although perhaps not in Los Angeles).
These links show a couple of examples:
http://www.thekrishnastore.com/catalog/
B6RS843_b.jpg
http://www.thekrishnastore.com/catalog/
B6RS829_b.jpg
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