Antiquity of our Scriptures- Pancharatra

  The most intriguing part of our ancient Hindu scriptures is that of their secrecy and effectiveness. These are age-old and have withstood test of time. Today, all our knowledge is derived from this single source of shastra. Even the modern materialist science has its source in these and the shastra has clearly laid down the doctrine of "Oneness". The observer and the observed are one! The latest observation of the scientists is that "the black hole exists because of the observer!. Nothing exists without an observer to observe it? "The very eye sight of the observer is capable of altering things observed!" Pancharatra has brought out the idol worship on the basis of this doctrine.

   There are many views expressed regarding the 250 and odd samhitas that come under the Pancharatra literature. Many old manuscripts have been accessed by Prof. Surendranath Dasgupta and beautiful account of some of these are given by him in his 5 volumes of "A History of Indian Philosophy". This is a landmark in the publications by the MLBD. These came to me for review and I am thankful to the Author and the Publishers, Moti Lal Banarsi Das Pvt Ltd., Delhi. Cambridge 1922, Delhi, 1975, 2012, 

   The Pancharatra literature deal with Vaishnava, Shaiva, and the Shakta systems and there is no evidence as to their source; in fact these are said to be the source of a number of later texts, including the Veda? The Vaishnavas who hold Bhagavata, Mahabharata, and Vishnu Purana do not appreciate the same Texts that uphold the views of Shaivites praising Rudra, or even the Shaktas who praise Mahalakshmi as in lakshmi Tantra. This is some thing very strange since the Pancharatra describe at length the system of idol worship, and even give details of the shilpa shastra, temple architecture and the Veda mantra to propitiate these Temple Gods! The  worst thing about a section of the people who called themselves puritan Vedic pundits did not even sit with the Bhagavats for lunch although bot followed the same spiritual texts!

   Even today, the Vaishnavites, particularly the Chaitanya School and the Ramanuja School practice the Pancharatra texts, but with a great difference. Chaitanya School is of Bhakti school whereas the Yamuna- Ramanuja School lay stress on jnyan, knowledge-based bhakti). The Madhva School, however ignores both these and hold on to tarka, logic, philosophy and sacrifice even yoga, very much emphasised by the Pancharatra scripts. 

   Hence, the present commentary on these various philosophies, ritual-based schools of thought, the bhakti,jnyana, vairagya Schools of thought have to be carefully understood without forgetting the main theme, goal of life, ie, the Mukti or Moksha of the embodied, embedded, enslaved jiva of pure soul at its core  merged in the mire of mundane materialistic worldly sensuous life.   

   (to be contd..)