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 4 - The Process of Diksha
16 (of 44)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Sound having different letters is to be known as the group of four vy奴ha deities. This takes the form of continous knowledge for those who are free from the five Kosas' and adhvans and who have realised their existence. This is var峁嚹乨hvan. It is from 'a' to 'sa' while rising and from 'ha' to a in the state of maintenance. The letters 'a' and 'ha' is the same as Dv膩da艣膩nta. Among them letters 鈥樐�' to 'sa' become twelve divisions each having four letters. In the reverse 'ha' to 'a' become divided into twelve group and ha is Dv膩da艣膩nta. In this division the four groups are known as vi艣r膩ma, udaya, vy膩pti and vyakti. Vi艣rama means the separate existence of letters. Udaya is the stage of pa艣yant墨, vy膩pti is madhyam膩, and vyakti is vaikhar墨. In these divisions represented by group of four letters the forms of Vasudev膩 and others are represented. 1. Ibid. 151 132
