Cities in India become populated and famous by the temples, culture and trade around the area.
Chennai is famous for Kapaleeswara temple in Mylapore and Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane. The area was full of Mangrove forests on the coast and mango forests in the area where I live.
Then came the British in the name of East India Company. They destroyed the main fabric of a classless and Dharmic society into a totally materialistic and an Anglo appeasing people. To a major extent this change from simple living to complex Westernised life style came thanks to the Brahmins community. Brahmins forgot the Manu Dharma and studied Law at Barrister not to earn money but gain false respect in the eyes of the English. This was due to fear of oppression by the English also. Instead of fighting they got defeated mentally first and people followed them. Learning English and doing the Office job was most respected. The other communities doing business labour and non-profit work started following the learned Vedic Pundits, the Brahmins. I am not, nor does the Vedanta say pursuing material end is a sin. But it should be balanced and spiritual pursuit gives supreme happiness, peace and knowledge and wealth also.
The Brahmins learned and started practicing Law of and for the British first and gained respect. Then they started earning and purchased lands and built big houses near Mylapore. Some became Judges and the others Vakil gumasthas. Some joined the big English firms like the Constructions, Audit, Chemicals, Medical, Trading, Importers and Textiles. Some joined Government offices and Police.Some companies had offices or factories in Bombay or Calcutta. They mingled with the English bosses and gained access to unhealthy habits of wine, women and gambling. These vices are looked down upon by the common man who knows the hidden meaning of Ramayana and Mahabharatha. Thus the city of temples had become a jungle of lust and disease with the Kali Purush being blamed. Before the Chennaites could even realize, The change in the past 10 years had completely made him run away from the city.
Most of the Chennai Brahmins migrated from the Holy Cauvery Banks. And the next generation migrated to the Western countries, Bombay and North India. Now the third generation Brahmins are into catering and conduction of marriage business on a contract business for the sons and daughters of the NRIs. Is the Learning of Vedas and Vedic way of Life dead? No, as the sense, respect and the knowledge that Vedas can protect itself and the One who protects it are still there. And people feel that donating money to Vedic Learning Centers is enough.
The Civilization of Cauvery will not come to Chennai or California. The man has to go the Cauvery in Tamilnadu or Karnataks to become a Brahmin. Forget the Chennai Brahmins. They wear and change only once a year, the Poonul or the sacred thread as the external additional garment.
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