In Hinduism

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: Wisdom Library: Pāñcarātra

Pramāṇārthanirūpaṇa (प्रमाणार्थनिरूपण) [=pramāṇārthanirūpaṇam] is the name of the thirteenth chapter of the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā: an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama scripture dealing with the symbology of the Sudarśana weapon while also dealing with iconography, philosophy and Vaiṣṇava rituals.

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Pramāṇārthanirūpaṇa (प्रमाणार्थनिरूपण) (lit. “regarding the significance of proof”) is the name of the thirteenth chapter of the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā, a Pāñcarātra work in 60 chapters dealing with topics such as Viṣṇu’s discus-power, the processes of creation and esoteric practices related to Sudarśana (such as mantras and yantras).

Description of the chapter [pramāṇārthanirūpaṇa]: Nārada asks Śiva to explain further his previous statements (1-4a), and he is told that everything—stated in its simplest form—rests with Viṣṇu’s desire (saṃkalpa). As for all the proofs and reflections themselves, they exist mainly to be of help to people, a point which is made in Śiva’s derivation of the word “pramāṇa”. Indeed, these proofs and reflections sum up all that is best in life, and they indicate the ultimate goal or summum bonum for all (4b-11). Not only is an ideal found therein, but also a two-fold technique of jñāna and dharma to reach the ultimate goal. The practice (dharma) of ideal behaviour anticipates the full comprehension and appreciation of the means and end? Practice (in the form of a worshipful attitude ) may also itself be of two kinds—that wherein one is reverent to all reality without distinction (avyavahita), and that wherein one is devoted to particular forms or manifestations of the cosmic reality as deity (vyavahita) (12-22)”.

Śiva then turns to an evaluation of the better-known systems of philosophy and ways of life in terms of their direct or indirect access to the final goal. Among those which he classifies as avyavahita are the systems founded by certain sages who established an uninflected mode of apprehending ultimate reality—e.g., Pāñcarātra and (possibly?) Sāṃkhya—while those which are vyavahita are systems founded by certain sages who established a mediated or indirect apprehension of ultimate reality—e.g., Veda, Vedānta, Pāśupata (23-31). As for the various ways of life one sees—artha, dharma, kāma and mokṣa—the first three are to be used by the successful as means only to achieve the fourth and final one, mokṣa (32-45).

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Pramanartha, Nirupana.

Full-text: Pramanartha, Samkalpa, Avyavahita, Vyavahita.

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