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
28 (of 32)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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In some text n峁涐梗imha is marked as having the name Mah膩. The s膩ttvata samhit膩 shows that the Putraka is to be chosen for Ac膩rya abhi峁ka. The commentator tries to support this, but no explanation is given as to why the order of the Acary膩 mentioned in the putraka is to be chosen. The Jay膩khya tells that each one samayi, putraka and s膩dhaka could get consecration but is not an Ac膩rya. Besides, Ac膩rya abhiseka is stated and glorified. The pupil who comes as Acarya should undergo nirv膩峁嘺 d墨k峁Ｄ� to get the status of 膧c膩rya. The mudr膩s play a dominant role in the process of d墨k峁Ｄ�. The mudras are mentioned in the sattvata sa峁僪it膩. The mudr膩s of the seed, tuft, kavaca, astra and netra are stated any. The Jay膩khya samhit膩 mentions the name of mudras but does not name this mudr膩s to be used in dik峁Ｄ�. The Isvara Sa峁僪it膩 denotes mudr膩s in chapter 24 and enumerates the names in chapter 25. 188
