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Re: Austrian research on Visishtadvaita

From the Bhakti List Archives

Malolan Cadambi • October 25, 2002 


>The chief scholar appears to be one Gerhard Oberhammer.  He and
>his associates have written several volumes on several rare
>Visishtadvaita texts such as Vatsya Varadacharya's Prameyamala
>and Parashara Bhattar's Tattvaratnakara. They also appear to have
>done extensive study on the role and evolution of of Pancaratra
>philosophy.

Impressive! Prof.Oberhammer was closely associated with the late Dr
Varadachary who was an authority on the Agamas. Not much research has been
done in this field. What is more surprising is that this part of the canon
is generally avoided by a certain group.

The pAncharatra philosophy is so vast and covers all the intricate details
of visisthAdvaita within the realm of tantra (phenomenology).  Dr
Varadachary also mentions that pAncharatA deals with rites of passage such
as antima kramams, shathAbhishekam etc. This is generally covered by the
grhya sutras and the dharma sAstras. He mentions that pAncharatrA is to be
treated as highly elevated as a smriti and that it's validity is considered
as a shruthi within the Sri Vaishnava sampradAyam.

Dr Varadachary's book, "Pancaratragama" which was recently published by TTD
is an excellent introduction. However, I have not been able to find english
books on the Vaikhanasa agamam.

The only vaikhAnasa sutram I am aware of is the one that belongs to the
Yajur Vedam. Are both the sutram and the agamam of the same origin? Any info
on the Vaikhanasa agamam is highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Malolan Cadambi

[ To my knowledge, Pancaratra is not considered as Sruti or Veda 
  within the tradition, since it is an authored text. -- Moderator ]




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