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 4 - The Process of Diksha
2 (of 44)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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to the aspirant, the fruit of them is salvation(kaivalya), salvation and enjoyment and enjoyment exclusively (bhoga). The ācārya shall test the aspirant who approaches him for dīksā and administer to him at first one among these. He shall get up at mid-night goes out of the pavilion and do acamana with the water. He shall enter the pavilion and thinks of astra mantra which would make him have bath mentally. He shall fix pegs on allsides of the maṇḍala and chant the mantra¹ inorder to avoid evil spirits getting into it. He shall sleep in the pavilion. Getting up in the morning he shall ask the pupil to narrate him the nature of the dream he had during sleep. The following, indicates good result. The group of four murties stationed (in a row in the sitting or rising posture) in their respective directions, are one tattva, namely bhagavan assembled 1. Vīryāya astrāya huṃ phaṇ 118
