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
18 (of 32)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Vijñānabhiksu (c1500 AD) held the view that among the vyūha manifestation Vasudeva is eternal. Sankarṣana and other are his manifestations. These are some important vaiśñava sects above and all of them admit Pāñcarātra doctrine in a way. Worship of Viṣṇu is compulsory for the devotees but dīkṣā does not appear to have been recognised as essential. Indeed Pañcarātra is admitted in some form or other as essential for performing worship. Tantra is the name given to a body of text contain the mantras to attain spiritual wisdom. External objects operate in the narrow spheres of usage and convention gets transformed into cult, śakti (power) and ananda. Nyasa Bhutaśuddhi Prāṇayama,dhyāna mānasa yoga and internal yogas help in the transformation of the worship of the object of worship. Sakti (power) wields enormous influence over them and nature. It is verily a goddess. Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and siva are subordinated to it. Hence, the tantra is called sakti. In fact sakti and siva are fused together to become one reality. 178
