Narada Pancharatra.

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NARADA PANCHARATRAM:

SANKARSHANA SAMHITA

 

Edited by Acharyasri Vrajvallabha Dwivedi. Published by Svaminarayan

Akshara Pith, Sahibaug, Ahmedabad 380004. Year 2004. Price : Rs

250/-

 

PANCHARATRA and VAIKHANASA are the two main branches of the VAISHNAVA AGAMA

literature. The modes of worship slightly differ in these traditions

although the main God worshipped is VISHNU. The PANCHARATRA agama literature

is very vast, running to several hundred works. Several PANCHARATARTA agama

texts appeared in print so far, although several works remain yet

unpublished.

 

Some of the titles of these texts are mere names sto us. The name

Pancharatra is interpreted in several ways: as the traditions handed down by

Lord Vishnu Himself to five different persons in five nights; as that system

which describes the five aspects of the Lord viz., Para, Vyuha, Vibhava,

Antaryamin and Archa, and as that tradition which divides the day into five

units for the purpose of worshipping the Lord such as Abhigamana, Upadana,

Ijya, Svadhyaya and Yoga. The temple was and is still considered in our

country as the nucleus of all religious, cultural and social activities.

 

This agama literature deals with a variety of topics such as 'tilling the

land' (Karshana) selected to build the temple, laying the first brick, step

by step details of constructing the temple, and installation (Pratishtha) of

images. They give an elaborate description of the conduct of various rituals

and festivals conducted in the temples. Normally these agma-s have a

fourfold classification of their contents - JNANA PADA, KRIYA PADA, CHARYA

PADA and YOGA PADA. The first PADA gives an idea of the basic knowledge of

the nature of God and the world, the nature of creation and the like. KRIYA

PADA details the methods of building the temple, preparing the images,

installing them and the like. CHARYA PADA deals with the elaborate ritual

performance. The last PADA deals with the way of practicing yoga or

mediation for the overall spiritual benefit of the worshipper. The volume

under review known as NARADA PANCHARATRA, was, according to tradition,

revealed to Sage NARADA, by Lord NARAYANA. The text provided here is based

upon the manuscripts available in GUJARAT. The chapters in this agama are

named differently as JNANA RATRA, MANTA RATRA, ACHARA RATRA, ARCHANA RATRA

and PRAYASCITTA RATRA. The last chapter deals with atonements

(prayaschittas) to be made when there are errors of commission and omission

in the course of carrying out the rituals and festivals.

 

The SVAMI NARAYANA AKSHARA PITHA deserves appreciation for the splendid way

in which it has brought out this Volume. ACHARYA SRI VRAJVALLABHA DVIVEDI

deserves our grateful thanks for his erudite introduction. Dr. KKA

VENKATACHARI'S Foreword is informative and thought-provoking.