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
4 (of 32)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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On the whole, this text expects the Acarya to have full control of himself so that many arts could be done mentally as it requires much concentration. The whole text is full of the methodology for using mantra for good purposes. In a way, the text can be treated as of tantra nature. The Īśvāra samhita has inherited the principles of the sattvata samhita. It must however be remembered that with the exception of ch 21 which deals with dīkṣ� there is much more to believe that this text is outside the purview of the sāttvata saṃhitā. The Jayākhya Saṃhitā follow a slightly different way of approach not only to dīksā but other important topics. The striking features are briefly as follows:- Mantra, Mudrās, internal and external worship, Agnikārya, external purificatory rites, śrāddha, prāyścitta, and mantra śuddhi. While the Sāttvata saṃhitā classifies 164
