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Re: Research in Vienna, Austria

From the Bhakti List Archives

Malolan Cadambi • October 30, 2002 


Dear Dr.Huesken,

> There is one excellent book on the Vaikhanasa Agamas in French by Prof.
> Gerard Colas from Paris. I can give you the details if you want. Prof.
Colas has,
> however, also published
> many articles on the Vaikhanasa Agamas in English. Details available with
> me. The Late Rompicarla Parthasarathi Bhattacarya, Vaikhanasagama Pandit
in
> Tirumalai, also published some articles in English (and Sanskrit and
Telugu) in
> the Journal of the Oriental Institute of the Venkateshwara University in
> Tirupati.

It would be great if you could write a brief introductory note about
Vaikhanasa Agamam,
esp how Vaikhanasa is related to Pancharatra and Visisthadvaita.

> I totally agree that Pancaratra and Vishishtatvaita should not be
confused.
> Usually I refer to the relation between these two systems as "Pancaratra
can
> be called the ritual substratum of the Vishishtadvata (whose
representatives
> are the Shrivaishnavas)".
>
> Are there other modes of characterizing this relation?

It is interesting to note that the following temples follow Vaikhansa
Agamam:

1.) Sriperumbudur (Ramanuja's birthplace)
2.) Oppiliappan Sannidhi
3.) Thiruvahindrapuram (It is also intersting to note that Swami Desikan was
the author of Pancharatra Raksha)
4.) Triplicane
5.) Tirupathi

I had the pleasure of speaking with the scholar, U Ve V N Gopala Desikachari
at Oppiliappan sannidhi during August this year. He informs me that both
agamams are equally accepted and pointed out that in SharanAgathi Diipikai,
Swami desikan extols that both of them are valid.

He classifies the Vaikhanasam as being more ritualistic in outlook than the
pAncharatram. This explains why there is difference in srI-tatvam, rahasya
trayams between the Vaikhanasa and Pancharatra.

I have very few sources and information about the Agamams. I find it that
this information is quite hard to come by. It would be great if you could
post your thoughts on this.

Regards,

Malolan Cadambi





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