Essay name: Diksha (initiation) in Pancharatra
Author:
Shanta Srinivasan
Affiliation: University of Madras / Department of Sanskrit
This English essay studies Diksha in Pancharatra with reference to important texts. Diksha refers to initiation ceremonies into a particular esoteric tradition which is given, for example, by the teacher (Guru) to the student (Shishya). Pancharatra refers to an ancient school of Vaishnavism based on ancient Tantra-like texts called Agamas which were commonly written in Sanskrit verse.
Chapter 1 - Introduction
16 (of 57)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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An inscription at Morawell (I Centuary A.D.) near Mathura was erected by a lady called Tosa Five vīras (heros) are stated here who are identified with Saṃkarṣaṇa, Vāsudeva, Pradyumna, Sāmba and Aniruddha by Lueders and T.N. Banerjee. It is hard to accept this identification as they do not reveal any Agama tradition being followed. The Nanaghat cave inscription (I Centuary A.D.) by Nāganikā, a queen of the Satavahana dynasty, contains the words “namo sankarṣaṇavāsudevānām. "2 The Tamil classic Paripadal³ of the second century A.D. contains six poems in honour of Vīras (heros). The third poem refers to Viṣṇu as glorified in the Agamas. The four vyūha deities Vasudeva, Sankarṣaṇa, Pradyumna and Aniruddha are mentioned and they L are identified by their colour*. Temples of Kṛṣṇa are referred to in this and in other Tamil classics also such as Silappatikāram and Puranānūru. references here to the Paripāḍal cause a problem. 1. ASIV pp. 185-186. 2. Ibid. p. 186 3. Quoted by K.C. Vardachari p. 179 ASIV. 4. Seṇkatkāri karunkan Vellai ponkatpaccai painkan māl. 16 The
