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
21 (of 57)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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which are not included in these lists and are cited as authority and on
that account, they do not cease to be the subjects of study.
The K奴rmapur膩峁嘺 mentions P膩帽car膩tra as not authoritative
along with P膩艣upata and other systems. This is a case of sheer
antagonism to the Agama tradition. That the Vedic and not any
other tradition is to be followed and glorifying the Vedas is the basis
for this objection.
An interesting objection raised in this context is, God is
believed to have revealed the Vedas and this being the case how can
he be admitted to have revealed the P膩帽car膩tra also which is held to
be non-vedic?
In answer to this, attention must be drawn to the word vakt膩 in
the statement "p膩帽car膩trasya k峁泃峁asya vakt膩 n膩r膩ya峁嘺岣� svayam'".
The word vakt膩 under discussion means 'speaker' and not
author. The word, therefore, means that Pa帽car膩tra is a great
1. Quoted in SBh II.ii.42
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