--- In [email protected], "Marek Reavis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > See message #49947.
Well, let's reproduce it here for those who don't want to be bothered going back to the original: --- In [email protected], "Marek" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I've been pretty spotty in following posts for awhile but noticed > discussion re Maharishi assigning that title to himself. > > In Jay Randolph Coplin's online chapters of his PhD. dissertation > on the SRM, specifically Chapter 3, footnote 49 > (http://members.aol.com/drcoplin/Chapter3.html) he writes: > > **49. This is given by the titles "Maharishi Bala Brahmachari Mahesh > Yogi Maharaj" by which he was addressed at the Spiritual Development > Conference in Cochin (1955). When asked about the sources of > Maharishi's status designations, the Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math > replied, "From his sadhana(discipline for spiritual growth). Given by > the society. He followed the teachings, sadhana, devoted completely to > Guru Dev's teachings. He became equal in sorrow and pain and > happiness. Thus the people realized him, that he has achieved the > qualities of a Maharishi. It is an honor by the pitha(matha), and by > the society." (Interview of June 11, 1983, at Joshimath)** > > The Shankaracharya of Jyotir Math at that time (taking into account > Swami Swaroopananda's rival and ascendent claims to the seat) [Swaroopananda is the shankaracharya in the Kropinski interview quoted in Vaj's recent post.--JS] was > Swami Shantanand's designated successor, Swami Vishnudevananda, also a > direct disciple of Guru Dev. Since the title of Maharishi was already > in place in 1955 it can be assumed that it had been bestowed probably > by Swami Shantanand after he became Shankaracharya in 1953. > > A lot of titles and spiritual designations in India of different > "holy" personages are the result of virtually arbitrary choice that > sometimes receive popular acclaim. Ramana Maharishi's title of > Maharishi was bestowed upon him by one of his first disciples, > Ganapati Muni, who recognized in him the spiritual depths in which he > was constantly immersed. The title/name stuck. In our training under > Maharishi we learned to refer to Guru Dev as "His Divinity", a title > that Maharishi writes was conferred on Guru Dev when he was > Shankaracharya by his own disciples. That's the way they saw Guru > Dev. Many of us do, too. > > All the titles, of course, don't "mean" anything other than draw your > own attention to That. If the title or designation doesn't do > anything for you, no need to use it. Mahesh Yogi is also a wonderful > moniker and points directly to That. These designations are for the > disciples who like the feeling of them or feel the need to elevate the > person in their own minds. It makes no difference other than that. > But, although I'm sure that Maharishi did not demure or decline the > designation of Maharishi, it appears, if Dr. Coplin is correct, as if > it was "bestowed" by an "authority" other than himself. > > Marek > > *** > > --- In [email protected], "authfriend" <jstein@> wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], "jim_flanegin" <jflanegi@> > > wrote: > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "peterklutz" <peterklutz@> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > In the ongoing battle at wikipedia certain editors have taken to > > the > > > > practice of referring to MMY as simply Mahesh. > > > > > > > > Aside the fact that the only name MMY has been known by for the > > last > > > > fifty or so years is MMY, I was under the impression that he has > > > > actually been given this name in keeping with the tradition he > > comes > > > > from. > > > > > > > > I.e. Mahesh was given the full name Maharishi Mahesh Yogi when his > > > > peers/tradition over fifty years ago cognized him to be (1) a > > yogi as > > > > well as (2) a great seer. > > > > > > > > Anyone? > > > > > > > I read recently that Mahesh was another name for Shiva, and I'm as > > > they say down wit' dat > > > > Yeah, but it's a common Indian family name, not a > > spiritual title. > > > > To call him "Mahesh" is implicitly to show disrespect, > > to indicate one does not believe he deserves the title > > "Maharishi" (Great Seer). > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/SISQkA/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/UlWolB/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/
