Questions tagged [agamas]
The term Agamas literally means tradition or "that which has come down"
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Tulu temple priests in kerala
Though Kerala was sankaracharyas bhoomi, many priests in temples earlier we're selected from madhwa tulu lands. These were directly done by rajas of cochin and travancore including many temples in ...
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Suprabhedāgama Text
I found one text of Suprabhedāgama, a Shaiva Agama text at https://vedicreserve.miu.edu/sthapatya_veda/suprabhedagama.pdf .
Is there any English/Hindi/Tamil/Telugu translation of it? Or any old ...
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What are the principal Saiva Tantras?
Saiva Agamaic literature has two divisions. One is Saiva Agamas. These are dualistic in nature. Mostly prevalent in Tamilnadu. Based on it Saiva Siddhanta Darshana was formed. However, apart from ...
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Agama prescribes that the dead bodies of Sannyasis should be buried. Then, why are the dead bodies of monks of the Ramakrishna Mission cremated?
Mahanirbana Tantra categorically says that
The corpse of an ascetic should on no account be cremated. It should be worshipped with scents and flowers, and then either buried or sunk into water. - ...
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Are there any Agamic temples outside the South?
In my experience, temples in the North are run more informally than Agamic temples in the South with a garbagriha that only the temple priests can enter and other regulations.
Are there temples ...
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Moksha According to Shiva and Vasihnav agamas
I have heard that the Vaishnava and Shaivite Agamas mention that the Jiva is different from the Param Atma and that during moksha, the Jivas main their individual personality. Can anyone provide these ...
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What are the important Vaikhānasa texts?
Vaiṣṇavas usually use Pāñcarātra āgamas. However, there is also another South Indian Vaiṣṇava tradition, that worships according to Vaikhānasa āgamas. What are the principal Vaikhānasa āgamas? If ...
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What are the 28 Śaiva Āgamas?
According to tradition, there are 108 Vaiṣṇava Pāñcarātra texts, 64 Śākta Tantras and 28 Śaiva Āgamas.
A few representative Śaiva Āgamas were mentioned in the book "The Hindu Tantric World" ...
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How to get initiated in Shaiva Agamas? What to ask and to whom?
I live in New Delhi. Are there any mutt nearby? Regardless of if there are... (I can travel some distance) then what do I tell them? How do I ask? Do I simply say "I want to learn Shaiva Agamas&...
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What is the status of Rudra (and the other trimurti) with respect to Sadashiva?
As per whatever Shaiva philosophy that I have come across, the unborn Parabrahma Shiva/ Sadashiva is different from the manifested Rudra Kailasapati. As stated here, the supreme Purusha shiva is ...
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Leaving keel shanthi post
There are many posts in temple - melshanthi, keelshanthi, brahmavahaka, tantri etc. It is said temple wud have given them umbuli land sealing a karanmai relationship that is serving the God till there ...
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Tamasic and sattvic roopas of Devi Durga
In temples around Udupi and Mangalore, there are many Durga Parameshwari temples in which Goddess Durga is portrayed in different forms and types.
Forms include :
Mahisha Mardini (killing the bull - ...
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What are the scriptural sources for the worship of Shiva in Murti form?
Worship of Shiva in Linga form is widely practiced. But in some places Murti Pooja is done in temples too. Is it a valid practice? What are the scriptural sources from Vedas/Puranas/Shaivaagamas about ...
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References for Shravan Maas Puja (श्रावण मास पूजा)
The time for Shravan maas is nearby. And the eagerness in the masses will spark to worship Shiva.
Is Shravan archana for Shiva mentioned in any Shastra like Purana, Itihasa or any Shaiva agamas? Or is ...
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Scriptural basis for the Shodashopchar Puja?
What is the earliest reference to Shodashopchar Puja in scriptures?
Which scriptures gives the exact details of its procedure?
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Worship of Lord Skanda in Varanasi
So there is a common story, in short, the one about Divodasa, in which the king removes Lord Shiva from his own city. All the devatas come one by one but end up staying in the city themselves. As ...
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Mantras for protection against evil beings
Could anyone tell me which Sanskrit texts (Agama/tantra Shashtras in particular) contain mantras for protection against (and/or to control) evil beings and influences?
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What is the procedure to carry out temple renovations or relocation?
I read that a lot of temples have been demolished in Kashi in an effort to make the place visitor friendly. And that the same temples are now being relocated elsewhere in the kashi kshetra
I would ...
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How big can circle of protection be for sadhna in the cremation grounds?
It is said that evil forces in the cremation ground will attack if you dont make a circle for protection. But how big can it be?
Is 3-4 metre circle effective?
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Are there any living traditions in the tantra and the agama today?
May I request members, if they get the time, to guide on the following:
A large number of sampradaya-s in the Tantra and Agama are vanishing/have disappeared, and are now historical details.
But ...
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Method/ philosophy to attain moksha, concept of Brahman in the Shaiva Agamas, and link to Vedas
Please read the main 3 questions, additional are secondary questions.
The Shaiva Agamas, 28 in number, having 204 supporting Upagamas, are said to be revealed by the five faces of Rudra Bhagavan ...
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Is there any pramana of 'evil eyes' existence in shastras? [duplicate]
People usually believe in casting a bad eye or evil eyes but is this believe authentic in the light of shastras ?
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Which Shaiva / Shaivite sect was started by or joined by Vishnu & Brahma?
According to Skanda Purana 1.3b.16 this happened after Shiva commanded his 2 creations - Vishnu & Brahma - to worship him as per the Agamas:-
Viṣṇu and Brahmā wore matted hair and applied sacred ...
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Vishnu & Brahma worshiped Shiva in which cremation grounds (Shamshan Ghat) for 16000 years?
Shiva's supremacy was established after the Fiery Linga incident and he commanded Vishnu & Brahma to worship him using the Agamas. They did so for sixteen thousand years. Skanda Purana 1.3b.16.62 :...
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Is there any original detailed treatise on the rituals (Kalpa Vedanga) of the Vedas other than the Kalpa Sutras and who is the propagating Rishi?
Understanding Scriptures - Part 2
Summary: The questions are right at the end indicated in big bold letters. One can get a summarised view by reading the question section. The logic and reason of ...
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What do Shastra say about building Temples outside of India?
I want to build a Temple in Europe. Which Shastra would I refer to? Vastu, Agama or something else?
Moreover I want to know what every geographical places carry as Karma Veda and if and how that ...
user22667
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Were ancient Hindu polytheists?
Only looking for Ancient Shastras and Agamic or Tantra or Rig Vedaic based on answers. Pre-Vedic based question.
For Ancient History of Sanatana Dharma Students and Scholars.
1.Where Hindu and can ...
user22667
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Origin of Brihaspati Agama
Is Brihaspati the author of Brihaspati Agama?
When did the scripture Brihaspati Agama has been revealed and what is the context?
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Do photographs or paintings of Gods undergo prana pratishthana?
As I understand from this question , through prana pratishthana ritual God comes and resides in the murti. And if not mistaken, the idols have to be sculpted in line with what is mentioned in Agamas ...
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References of Santatita Kala
Where is the exact reference about Santatita Kala in the Saivagamas?
Please provide scriptural references.
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Which of these Bhairava shruti texts / Tantras are lost?
The following is a list from the Shrikanthi Samhita of the 64 Bhairava Tantras and their 8 classifications:
Yamalasataka - BrahmayAmala, VishnuyAmala, Rudra-yAmala, Swacanda
yAmala, AtharvanayAmala, ...
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Is it SPECIFICALLY mentioned in the Vedas, Agamas, Itihasa or Puranas that left-handed men are inherently evil?
Scriptures say that our left hand is not to be used for eating, drinking and puja rituals like feeding idols. Some cultures say its bad to eat, drink or do auspicious things by using the left hand. ...
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Difference between Vaishnava agamas and tantra
There are two main agamas according to which Vishnu temple puja is performed, namely, Vaikhanasa agama and Pancharatra agama. In addition to these modes of worship, Vishnu temples in the West coast, ...
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Diksa mantra in different lives
Looking for a tantric (or puranic) reference (or quote from a well known sage) that says a jiva receives (or does not receive) the same mantra when receiving diksa mantra in different lifetimes.
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Are persons from lower castes allowed inside temples according to agama shastras?
In the pre partitioned era some temples placed ban on lower castes entering temples. Is there any basis for this prohibition in the agama shastras?
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Does Tantra say cow is sacred animal?
In Tantra, is there any mention of "cows being sacred"? Also, does Kaulācāra Tantra explicitly talk about it?
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What kind of scripture is the Naradiyakalpam?
What kind of scripture is the Naradiyakalpam?
Medieval Sri Vaishnava scholar Vedanta Desika cites this scripture in support of the view that the pranava in the secret Ashtakshara mantra important in ...
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Where does Devi Bhagavatam say followers of Vaishnava Agamas go to hell?
In my question here Why does Devi Bhagavatam say some Agamas as tamasic?
A user commented
Devi Bhagavatam talks against many other Tantras too .. Like Vaishnava
Agama is also criticized as ...
user17821
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Where can I read Shakta Agamas online in English?
I'm searching for Shakta Agamas online in English. Can anybody provide me the relevant links or PDFs to read these Agamas?
P.S. So far, I could only find Kularnavara Tantra. You can read it here.
user9969
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Difference between srIvidyA upAsanA in Vedanta and in Tantra?
Recently I came to know from one of my friend that srIvidyA upAsanA is also done in Vedanta. While I am aware that srIvidyA is Tantrik upAsanA. I was unaware of Vedantic one. Also as far as I know, ...
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Is Dwarapalaga in Shiva temples is Nataraja?
In certain Shiva temples I have seen Nataraja posture idol as Dwarapalaga at entrace of Shiva linga sannadhi. Is it Nataraja being Dwarapalaga or is it just a posture? What Shaiva agama says about ...
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What is the agama being followed by the Sri Nataraja temple in Chidambaram and why is it different from other Shiva temples?
Shaiva agamas form the basis of worship in temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. However, it seems like the Sri Nataraja temple in the town of Chidambaram, Tamilnadu is not built and/or not follows the ...
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What is the agama/tantra being followed at the Sri Krishna temple at Guruvayur in Kerala?
When were the rituals in Sri Krishna temple at Guruvayur, Kerala standardized to current form? Who was responsible for that? Which agamas/tantras are followed in the temple while performing rituals to ...
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What is the reason behind closing the village/street/agrahara temple in case of a death in the nearby area?
I have seen this several times, that temples are closed if there is a death in the houses in the vicinity. To clarify, vicinity has a variable scope here; sometimes it's a street, sometimes an ...
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How can I start Tantra sAdhnA? Which all are the scriptures I need to study to have in-depth knowledge?
I am interested in Tantric sAdhnA and first I need to study the Tantric scriptures in detail. I have studied yogA-VedAnta and Buddhism in detail also mahAmUdrA and dzogchen path (only studied, though.)...
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Is there a curse associated with misuse of Tantra?
I have heard that Tantra has a curse associated with it; that any misuse will lead to Naraka.
rauravaM cha pade pade
"In every step you take a very great hell by the name raurava awaits the ...
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Agama and Purana cosmology
I have read about cosmology in Puranas as well as Agamas to an extent. What is the main difference between Puranic and Agamic cosmology? Is there any difference at all?
user9072
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why is Matsya Vibhava of Vishnu-Narayana also referred to as Ekasrngatanu?
In the Ahirbudhnya samhita of pAncarAtra Agamas, the thirty nine vibhavas of SrIman nArAyaNa are listed. Here we observe that Matsya Vibhava (incarnation) of Vishnu-nArAyaNa being referred to as ...
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Six aspects of surrender mentioned in Pancharatra texts?
Recently while exploring the topic of Devotion or Bhakti , I came across the info. that there are six aspects of surrender to the Lord , mentioned in Pancharatra texts.
So my question is - What are ...
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What is "twelve fingers" in Pranavayu?
In Shiva Sutra, III.4 it is mentioned about Pranavayu that
this is a way of meditation to concentrate on Prana i.e. on the expiration and inspiration of breath from the centre of the body upto a ...
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