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
4 (of 44)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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.2 BAD OMENS The following are the bad dreams that indicate ill omens- earthquake, meteor, thunder adversely affecting the mind, entry into a pit, cooked rice mixed up with curd, eating the boiled flesh, destruction of a chariot, fall of teeth, monkey, ass, camel, excessive fun, forest surrounded with monkeys, lion, bears. A place with snake, a place that is burnt, men wearing black clothes, river getting dried up, stream flowing in the reverse direction, drowning of a boat, vehicle, falling flag, umbrella and the descent of a hill or tree, sight of a corpse, smearing with fat soot, oil and ghee, stay in mine, buffalo, serpents, black men going in the southern direction, hunger, cutting of nails and plucking of hairs etc. When good omens occur, worship of God and homa are to be done, which would destroy the inauspicious occurences. 4.3 PRELIMINERIES OF D陌K峁⒛� God is to be invoked and is to be pleased with P奴r峁嚹乭uti'. The pupil who had taken bath should wear fresh clothes, garland and has to do Ny膩s膩. He shall then be made to sit in the ma峁囜笉ala, square or rectangular, which is already prepared in the North or West of the hall of sacrifice. The Ac膩rya shall then look at him and shall 1. SS XIX 27-35 120
