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.
Conclusion
14 (of 32)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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uruhasta Lord Venkteswara of Tirumali and oppiliyappan koil has varada hasta pose and Å«ruhasta. The deities at Tiruvahindrapuram and KÅ«dal Alagar shrine at Madurai have Kaá¹ihasta pose. The PÄncarÄtra Ä€gama prescribe abhaya for the right hand and the left hand to have club. These features are found in many temples in South India. From this it becomes clear the VaikhÄnasa Ä€gama was in vogue for centuries and PancarÄtra is a late comer to the south, from Kashmir. This is perhaps the reason for the VaikhÄnasa to have derogatory references to the pancarÄtra while the earlier texts do not refer to the VaikhÄnasa except by giving them a place of honour. These features apply mainly to the dhruva bera. The utsava bera too have them as a rule. Again it is in the pÄñcarÄtra texts the consorts of Viá¹£nu are called ÅšrÄ« and puá¹£á¹i in earlier texts and as ÅšriÄ« and Ä€di devi in later texts. The pÄñcarÄtra does not have much influence on the practices of vaikhÄnasa. The vaikhanasa texts do not treat pañcasamskÄra as essential sacrament and so have given it up. The followers of vaikhÄnasa system follow the direction contained in the vaikhÄnasa 174
