Vedic influence on the Sun-worship in the Puranas

by Goswami Mitali | 2018 | 68,171 words

This page relates ‘Non-Vedic Elements in the Puranic Religion’ of the study on the Vedic influence of Sun-worship in the Puranas, conducted by Goswami Mitali in 2018. The tradition of observing Agnihotra sacrifice and the Sandhya, etc., is frequently observed among the Hindus. Another important innovation of the Sun-worship in the Puranas is the installation of the images of the Sun in the temples.—This section belongs to the series “General Characteristics of the Puranic Religion and its Link with the Vedic Tradition”.

Part 9 - Non-Vedic Elements in the Purāṇic Religion

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As the Purāṇic religion is a composite religion, besides the Vedic elements, in the Purāṇas, elements of Śaivism, Śaktism, Tantricism, etc., are found.

The influence of Tantricism in the Purāṇas can be apprehended with the references of worshipping the gods and of Viṣṇu in Vaidikī, Tāntrikī or Miśra mode of worship:

vaidikastāntriko miśro viṣṇorvai trividho makhaḥ/
trayāṇāmīpsitenaikavidhinā harimarcayet//^[1]

Of these, the first and the third are prescribed for the three higher varṇas, and the Tāntrikī for the Śūdras. References are found of Tāntrikī Dīkṣā also in the Purāṇas.^[2] Again, Mantra-nyāsa,^[3] the drawing of coloured lotuses or circle during worship or observance of vows, consecration,^[4] etc. prove the existence of Tāntrika elements in the Purāṇic religion. The method of bath without which no one can take participation in any religious performances is indeed full of Tāntric practices.^[5] Furthermore, the Agnipurāṇa contains a list of articles required for Vaśīkaraṇa.^[6] The growth of sectarianism is one of the special features in the Purāṇic religion. The Vaiṣṇavism, Śaktism, etc., are developed into individual cult in the Purāṇic period. The direct influence of these are found in the Vaiṣṇava, Śaiva and Śākta Purāṇas