More comments from Dana: ------ Forwarded Message From: Dana Sawyer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wed, 07 Sep 2005 12:35:49 -0400 To: Rick Archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: FW: [FairfieldLife] Re: The facts about 'The Maharishi' biography
Rick, here are a few more comments. >> The cook was Shantanand, I beleive, who was first on the list, and >> became Shankarachara -- yes. > > >> ...I think that Shantanand was GD's cook is the best >> established of the facts. he was. > > >Guru Dev didn't have a cook - Sannyasins of the Shankaracharya order >don't eat food cooked by others. Actually, this is wrong. Not only was Shantananda the cook, as everyone agrees, but dandi samnyasis (and, if fact, all swamis of the Shankaracarya orders) can ONLY eat food cooked by others. Part of the samnyas is to never do any work, including cooking, and they are doubly prevented by the fact that they also vow never to touch fire (which is why TM teachers turn away from the photo of Brahmananda when they kindle fire during puja). Swamis only eat food cooked by others. > > >> And it appears from some testimony regarding the will, that GD was >> not very lucid in his last days. All agree on this. > > >> Plausibly the effect of sudden poisons introduced. Yes, plausibly, but we'll never know. > > >According to the coroners report Guru Dev died of natural causes - no >mention of poisons in the Indian press at the time. But no autopsy was ever performed and so we'll never know. > > >> But hypothetically, if a signed "list" appeared, it would give >> enough nominal clearance during the chaos of GD's passing, to enable >> a new shankaracharaya to be rushed into GD's quarters. Which is what >> happened. yes, this is correct. > > >According to the Times of India Shantanand was installed as the new >Shankaracharya with all due pomp and ceremony in a public coronation >that lasted for days. But was also poorly attended due to the controvery which immediately occured. Only TMers think that everything was hunky dory when Shantananda took over the properties. > > >> Then it became a game of "possession is 9/10s of the law". right again. > > >Shantanand, as Guru Dev's succussor, inherited the Shankaracharya >title, the Jyotirmath, the property, and all the accoutrements of the >office. Swami Vasudevananda Saraswati is the current Shankaracharya at >Jyotirmath. This person is obviously a major Shantananda supporter because facts seem to be of no concern. Vasudevananda cannot even publicly claim to be Shankaracarya without risking jail. The properties he inherited are meager and in disrepair. On the other hand, Swarupananda's properties have greatly increased and he is the personage backed by the other Shankaracaryas and the general population. > > >> And GD's clerk or secretary would be the person to prepare such a >> list. And could have had GD sign it, at GD's request, or in the >> confusion of his non-lucidity, if that occurred. Mahesh did prepare and present the will. > > >Apparently Guru Dev's last will and command was written in Hindi by >Guru Dev himself. No, it was dictacted to Mahesh. >The will has never been contested, according to >published reports. Which pulished reports? Do you mean contested in court or simply publicly contested? Either way this is a wrong statement. It has been greatly contested in public (and from the immediate time of Brahmananda's death) and once in court. Dana ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/JjtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
