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.
Chapter 2 - Aspects of Diksa
9 (of 41)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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1
I
Vasistha samhita, Viśvāmitrā samhita,² Visvaksena samhita³ and
Sānḍilya saṃhita contains chapters on dikṣa. They cover only these
topics which are elaborately given in the Sattvata and Jayākhya
samhitās³,6
At the outset there are two broad divisions of dikṣā.
1. Applicable to the object to be adored. They may be a form of
God or more especially, the mantras which play a significant
role, and
2. Related to the aspirant who are divided according to various
factors-such as social status, birth in the higher or lower class of
human being and so on.
1. Ch8
2.
Ch 9
3. Ch9
4. Ch10
5. Ch 8
6. Ch5
Vibhava Vyūḥa and Para (sūkṣma) are the dīkṣā which come
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