Translation of the Pancaratraraksa

[Guest guest]

Dear Bhagavatas,

 

As a part of the project " Venkatanatha´s significance for the school

of Ramanuja " (See the project description below), Prof. Marion

Rastelli plans to translate the Pancaratraraksa. At this time, a

publication date for the translation has not been determined. The

translation will be in German. Prof. Marion Rastelli has done

extensive research on the Pancaratra Agama.

 

Regards,

 

granthapustaka

 

 

http://www.fwf.ac.at/en/abstracts/abstract.asp?L=E & PROJ=P15409

 

 

Project number Stand-alone Projects P15409

Title Venkatanatha´s significance for the school of Ramanuja

Principal investigator Gerhard OBERHAMMER

Approval date 26.11.2001

University / Research institution Institut für Kultur- und

Geistesgeschichte Asiens, Österreichische Akademie der

Wissenschaften

Scientific field(s)

Keywords VISISTADVAITA-VEDANTA; INDISCHE RELIGIONSGESCHICHTE;

PANCARATRA; VENKATANATHA; INTERRELIGIÖSE KOMMUNIKATION

 

 

Venkatanatha or Vedantadesika, traditionally dated 1270-1369, is one

of the most important representatives of the South-Indian school of

Ramanuja. He systematized the tradition's teachings and laid down

the doctrines which are authoritative for the Vatakalai, the

tradition's northern, Sanskrit orientated sub-sect, whose

development he effected. He wrote more than a hundred works in the

three languages Sanskrit, Tamil and Manipravala including theology,

philosophy, dramas, and poetry.

Despite Venkatanatha's great significance, only a few of his works

have been translated or examined. The project's aim is to translate

and investigate texts of Venkatanatha that deal with his theological

teachings on the one hand, and with his view of the religious ritual

on the other, and thus to contribute to the history of the school of

Ramanuja.

The research into Venkatanatha's theology will start with the third

chapter of the Nyaya-siddhanjana, which deals with the nature of God

and discusses the relevant teachings in contrast to those of his

opponents who belong to other Vedanta traditions. The expositions of

the Nyaya-siddhanjana will be supplemented with the corresponding

chapters of the Sarvarthasiddhi and the Satadusani, which also

include teachings about the Absolute and its nature, and also with

relevant statements from other texts, and thus Venkatanatha's

theological teachings will be illustrated and exemplified.

With regard to the religious ritual of the followers of the school

of Ramanuja, which is molded by the tradition of Pancaratra, a

translation and examination of the Pancaratraraksa is planned. This

text deals first with the proof of the Pancaratra's validity. Then

it shows that the performance of the religious rites during the

day's five periods of time (pancakalavidhi), which consist of

approaching [God] (abhigamana), appropriating [the materials used

for worship] (upadana), worship (ijya), studying (svadhyaya), and

yoga, and which structures the whole day, is obligatory for every

follower of the Pancaratra. Finally, the performance of the

religious rites during the day's five periods of time is described

by means of numerous quotations from Pancaratra and Smriti works.

The translations of the texts mentioned, and the research on the

teachings dealt with in them in the context of the history of the

school of Ramanuja, are planned to be published in form of

monographs.