Siddhanta Sangraha of Sri Sailacharya
by E. Sowmya Narayanan | 2008 | 30,562 words
Siddhanta Sangraha Chapter 36 (English translation), entitled “the validity of shri pancaratra” as included in the critical edition and study. The Siddhanta Samgraha is a Sanskrit philosophical text dealing with Vishishtadvaita in five hundred Sanskrit verses. It was written by Shri Shailacarya (18th century) and closely follows the philosophy of Vedanta Deshika (13th century).
Chapter 36 - The Validity of Śrī Pañcarātra
371.Śrī Pāñcarātra is accepted as self-valid because it is manifested by the grace of God for the welfare of the Universe.
372. There is no contradiction between the Vedas and the Pāñcarātra when they explain the tattvas. But they may differ in the practical usages (karmānstānas). Both Vedas and Pāñcarātra may differ in their anuṣṭāna in the statement of the acceptance and non-acceptance of ṣoḍaśa (ṣoḍaśa grahaṇa).
373. The Pāñcarātra texts are treated as self-valid. The contents of the Pāñcarātra are not contradictory to the Vedas. It is self-valid because it is revealed by the Supreme Lord Himself, whose knowledge is unlike the knowledge of the seers.
374. When there is a contradiction between the Pāñcarātra and smṛti texts, only the statements of the Pāñcarātra text should be taken as valid. On the basis of the statement “virodhe tu anapekṣyam syāt”.
375-376. The author of the brahmasūtra, while critically examined and finally rejected the views of Sāṅkhya, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika, Bauddha, Jaina and Pāśupata in the second adhyāya, second quarter, finally discusses the validity of the Pāñcarātra. There he clearly establishes the validity of the Pāñcarātra.[1] Therefore, the statements of the Lord in the Gīta and the Pāñcarātra are self-valid.
377. So, they cannot be treated as invalid in any aspect. Therefore, in the non-vedic statements, it is only the statements of a trustworthy person become valid.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
See Śrī Bhāṣya, Vol-II, II, (ii)-39, pp.323 ff.
Other Vedanta Concepts:
Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘The Validity of Sri Pancaratra’. Further sources in the context of Vedanta might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:
Brahmasutra, Supreme Lord, Smriti-text, Trustworthy person, Knowledge of the seer, Contradiction statements.
Conclusion:
This concludes The Validity of Shri Pancaratra according to Vishishtadvaita philosophy explained by Shri Shailacarya. This book follows the model of Vedanta Deshika although the Vishishta Advaita school was originally expounded by Shri Ramanuja. Vishishta-Advaita is one of the various sub-schools of Vedanta which itself represents one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu Philosophy. They highlight the importance of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and the Brahma Sutras.