Hindu Philosophy and Temple System for APPSC Executive Officer · Chapter 7

Vaishnava Agamas: Vaikhanasa, Pancharatra, Chattada Sri Vaishnava

What to remember

Agamas are the texts that guide temple building, image making and worship. Vaishnava temples follow mainly two Agamas: Vaikhanasa and Pancharatra.
The Tirumala Venkateswara temple follows the Vaikhanasa Agama. The Vaikhanasa tradition is linked with sage Vikhanas and the Krishna Yajurveda (Taittiriya).
Pancharatra is based on the four Vyuhas of Vishnu and has many Samhitas. Sri Vaishnavas, the followers of Ramanuja, honour the Pancharatra in many temples. Chattada Sri Vaishnavas are a group of temple servants and devotees in the Sri Vaishnava tradition.

What an Agama is

Agama means "that which has come down" (a tradition). Agamas are different from the Vedas, but they draw upon them.
An Agama usually has four parts (padas): Jnana or Vidya (knowledge), Yoga (discipline), Kriya (building and image-making, temple rites) and Charya (daily worship and festivals).
Agamas guide: choosing the temple site, plan and vimana (tower over the sanctum), making images, installation (pratishtha), daily worship (nitya puja), festivals (utsava) and repair rites (jirnoddhara).
Three main streams: Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shakta Agamas. This chapter covers the Vaishnava ones.
Temple worship is called archa (worship of an image). A Vaishnava temple holds the deity in a house-like form (the sanctum is the garbhagriha).

Vaikhanasa Agama

It is named after the sage Vikhanas (Vikhanasa), also called Bhagavan Vikhanas.
The sage is said to have taught his four disciples: Marichi, Atri, Bhrigu and Kashyapa. Texts are linked with them, for example Marichi's Vimanarchana Kalpa and Atri's Samurtarchanadhikarana.
It belongs to the Krishna Yajurveda (Taittiriya shakha). Its Sutras (Vaikhanasa Sutra) cover both domestic and temple rites. The priests are Vaikhanasa Brahmins, called Archakas, who serve in the sanctum by family tradition.
Features:
Strongly Vedic: it uses Vedic mantras such as the Purusha Sukta and Vishnu Sukta in worship.
Vishnu is worshipped in forms known as Vishnu, Purusha, Satya, Achyuta and Aniruddha.
Worship follows a fixed daily order. A day has several pujas, such as dawn, noon and evening services.
The temple is seen as the house of Vishnu (Vimana architecture is given much importance).
Famous temple: the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara temple follows the Vaikhanasa Agama for daily rites. Many other Vishnu temples also follow it.

Pancharatra Agama

The name is explained in several ways. One explanation is "five nights", linked with an old teaching of Narayana. The Pancharatra texts are called Samhitas.
Important Samhitas include Sattvata, Paushkara and Jayakhya (often called the three gems), and also Ahirbudhnya, Lakshmi Tantra, Padma and Ishvara. A traditional count of 108 Samhitas is often quoted.
Vyuha doctrine: Vishnu appears in four forms: Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.
Five forms of the Lord (a standard Pancharatra scheme):

| Form | Meaning |

|---|---|

| Para | The highest form in Vaikuntha |

| Vyuha | The four emanations (Vasudeva and others) |

| Vibhava | The incarnations (avatars) such as Rama and Krishna |

| Antaryamin | The inner controller in every heart |

| Archa | The image worshipped in temples and homes |

It places great stress on the worship of the deity's image, on initiation (diksha) and on devotion (bhakti). It permits worship by many classes of devotees.
Tradition links the Sri Vaishnava teacher Ramanuja with the Pancharatra method at the Srirangam temple. Many Sri Vaishnava temples follow Pancharatra.

Comparison of Vaikhanasa and Pancharatra

Point	Vaikhanasa	Pancharatra
Founder or sage	Vikhanas	Narada and Shandilya are named in the tradition
Link with Veda	Krishna Yajurveda (Taittiriya); strongly Vedic	Own Samhitas; Vedic ideas, but with more tantric methods
Core idea	Vishnu worship in five forms; temple as Vishnu's house	Four Vyuhas and five forms; devotion and initiation
Priests	Vaikhanasa Brahmin Archakas	Pancharatra-trained priests
Famous temple	Tirumala	Srirangam (and many Sri Vaishnava temples)

Sri Vaishnavism and Chattada Sri Vaishnava

Sri Vaishnavism follows Vishishtadvaita, the "qualified non-dualism" of Ramanuja. Brahman (Narayana with Lakshmi), the soul and the world are real and distinct, but the soul and the world form the body of the Lord.
The Alvars (twelve Vaishnava saints of Tamil country) composed the Divya Prabandham (also called Nalayira Divya Prabandham). Their sacred places are the Divya Desams (108 temples, in the traditional count).
Two schools later developed: Vadakalai and Tenkalai.
Chattada (Satani) Sri Vaishnavas: a Telugu and Tamil community of Vaishnava devotees who do temple-related services. They are known for wearing Vaishnava marks (namam), singing the Divya Prabandham and Telugu devotional songs, and doing flower, garland and similar service to the deity. They follow the Sri Vaishnava tradition associated with Ramanuja. Their tradition is a mark of the devotional (bhakti) side of temple life, apart from the priestly Agama practice.
Learn the idea: temple worship has the Agama priest (Vaikhanasa or Pancharatra archaka), and also the devotee servants and singers (Chattada Sri Vaishnavas, Alvar songs).

Terms used in Vaishnava temples

Archaka: the priest who does the worship of the image.
Garbhagriha: the inner sanctum. Vimana: the tower above it. Dhvajastambha: flag post.
Pratishtha: the formal installation of an image. Prana pratishtha means giving life to the image.
Utsava: festival. Brahmotsavam: the great annual festival. Kalyanotsavam: the wedding of the deity.
Prasadam: the offering received back from the deity. Tirtham: sacred water.
Divya Prabandham chanting (adhyayana) is often done in Vaishnava temples along with Vedic chanting.

Temple worship under the Agamas

A day of worship (nitya puja) in a Vaishnava temple often has the following services, though the names differ by temple: Suprabhatam (waking the Lord), Tomala seva and Archana (decoration and worship), Naivedya (food offering), Ekanta seva (last service at night). At Tirumala, the Suprabhatam is a very famous service.
The Agamas set the rules for the stone or metal image (archa murti). The main image (mulabera) is fixed in the sanctum. A processional image (utsava murti) is taken out on festival days. The Agamas also prescribe how images are made, which materials are used and how the eyes are opened (netronmilana) at the time of installation.
The Agamas say the temple has a human-body plan: the sanctum is the head or heart, the tower is the head, the flag post is the spine. Temple parts have symbolic meanings.
Festivals follow the Agama calendar: Brahmotsavam, Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Ratha Saptami, Pavitrotsavam (a rite for correcting faults of the year) and Sri Rama Navami in many places.
Rules for priests: an archaka must be initiated in the right Agama and follow purity rules before the worship. A change of Agama in a temple needs good reason, since the rites are fixed by the founding tradition.

Other Vaishnava streams

Bhagavata and Ekantika traditions speak of devotion to Vasudeva-Krishna. The Pancharatra grew from this old line.
Ramanuja (11th and 12th century, c.) wrote the Sri Bhashya on the Brahma Sutras, and also the Gita Bhashya and Vedartha Sangraha. His disciples spread Vishishtadvaita in the Telugu country, and Tirumala has long links with the Sri Vaishnava teachers.
Annamayya (15th century) was a great devotional poet of Tirumala who composed thousands of Telugu keertanas in praise of Venkateswara. He is known as Pada Kavita Pitamaha.
Divya Prabandham is chanted in many Vaishnava temples. The woman Alvar Andal (Goda Devi), who wrote Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumozhi.

Exam traps

Vaikhanasa is Vedic and linked with Krishna Yajurveda; do not link it with the Sama Veda.
The four disciples of Vikhanas are Marichi, Atri, Bhrigu and Kashyapa; not Vasishtha or Bharadvaja.
Pancharatra has four Vyuhas; Vaikhanasa speaks of five forms of Vishnu in worship. Do not mix them.
Tirumala follows Vaikhanasa; Srirangam follows Pancharatra.
The Divya Prabandham belongs to the Alvars. The Agamas are not the Alvar songs.
Ramanuja is the teacher of Vishishtadvaita; Shankara is the teacher of Advaita; Madhva teaches Dvaita.
Agamas guide temples, while Vedas and Upanishads give the larger philosophy.
Chattada Sri Vaishnavas are temple servants and devotees, not the Agama archaka class.

One-liners

1. An Agama is a text that guides temple building and worship.
2. Vaishnava Agamas are mainly Vaikhanasa and Pancharatra.
3. Sage Vikhanas is the founder of the Vaikhanasa tradition.
4. The four disciples of Vikhanas are Marichi, Atri, Bhrigu and Kashyapa.
5. Tirumala is a Vaikhanasa Agama temple.
6. Vaikhanasa belongs to the Krishna Yajurveda.
7. The four Vyuhas are Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.
8. The five Pancharatra forms are Para, Vyuha, Vibhava, Antaryamin and Archa.
9. Sattvata, Paushkara and Jayakhya are well-known Pancharatra Samhitas.
10. Ramanuja taught Vishishtadvaita.
11. The Alvars composed the Divya Prabandham.
12. Chattada Sri Vaishnavas serve Vaishnava temples as devotees in the Sri Vaishnava tradition.

Practice questions

The word Agama in temple tradition refers to
1. a text that guides temple building and worship
2. a book of grammar
3. a code of royal law
4. a list of kings
Answer
A. a text that guides temple building and worship
Agamas lay down temple rules and rites.
The two main Vaishnava Agamas are Vaikhanasa and
1. Suprabheda
2. Karana
3. Kamika
4. Pancharatra
Answer
D. Pancharatra
Pancharatra is the second major Vaishnava Agama.
The Vaikhanasa Agama is named after the sage
1. Narada
2. Shandilya
3. Vikhanas
4. Ramanuja
Answer
C. Vikhanas
Vikhanas (Vaikhanasa) is the traditional founder.
Which is NOT a disciple of Vikhanas?
1. Bhrigu
2. Marichi
3. Vasishtha
4. Atri
Answer
C. Vasishtha
The disciples are Marichi, Atri, Bhrigu and Kashyapa.
The Vaikhanasa tradition belongs to the
1. Krishna Yajurveda (Taittiriya)
2. Atharva Veda
3. Sama Veda
4. Rig Veda
Answer
A. Krishna Yajurveda (Taittiriya)
It is linked with the Taittiriya branch.
Which famous temple follows the Vaikhanasa Agama?
1. Srirangam
2. Tirumala Venkateswara temple
3. Kanchi Ekambareshvara
4. Chidambaram
Answer
B. Tirumala Venkateswara temple
Tirumala follows Vaikhanasa.
Which famous Sri Vaishnava temple is linked with the Pancharatra method?
1. Srisailam
2. Tirumala
3. Kalahasti
4. Srirangam
Answer
D. Srirangam
Srirangam is linked with Pancharatra worship.
The Pancharatra scheme has how many Vyuhas?
1. 4
2. 3
3. 5
4. 10
Answer
A. 4
Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Aniruddha.
Which is NOT one of the four Vyuhas?
1. Pradyumna
2. Hayagriva
3. Vasudeva
4. Sankarshana
Answer
B. Hayagriva
The fourth Vyuha is Aniruddha; Hayagriva is not one.
In the Pancharatra scheme, the Para form of the Lord is
1. the image in a temple
2. the form in the heart
3. the highest form in Vaikuntha
4. the form of an avatar
Answer
C. the highest form in Vaikuntha
Para is the supreme form.
Vibhava in the Pancharatra scheme means
1. the temple image
2. the four emanations
3. the inner controller
4. the incarnations (avatars)
Answer
D. the incarnations (avatars)
Vibhava covers avatars such as Rama and Krishna.
Antaryamin in the Pancharatra scheme is
1. the inner controller within all beings
2. the temple image
3. the supreme form
4. the avatars
Answer
A. the inner controller within all beings
Antaryamin dwells in every heart.
Archa in the Pancharatra scheme is the Lord in the form of
1. an incarnation
2. an image worshipped in temples and homes
3. a divine weapon
4. an inner voice
Answer
B. an image worshipped in temples and homes
Archa is the worshipped image.
Which of these is a Pancharatra Samhita?
1. Suprabheda
2. Karana
3. Jayakhya
4. Kamika
Answer
C. Jayakhya
Sattvata, Paushkara and Jayakhya are famous Pancharatra Samhitas; the others are Saiva Agamas.
Vishishtadvaita was taught by
1. Basava
2. Madhva
3. Shankara
4. Ramanuja
Answer
D. Ramanuja
Ramanuja is the teacher of Vishishtadvaita.
The Divya Prabandham was composed by the
1. Adi Shaivas
2. Nayanmars
3. Alvars
4. Kapalikas
Answer
C. Alvars
The Alvars are the Vaishnava saints of the Tamil country.
Which woman Alvar composed the Tiruppavai?
1. Meera
2. Andal
3. Akka Mahadevi
4. Lalleshwari
Answer
B. Andal
Andal (Goda Devi) wrote Tiruppavai.
Annamayya of Tirumala composed devotional songs in praise of
1. Venkateswara
2. Narasimha of Ahobilam
3. Shiva as Kalahastishvara
4. Rama of Bhadrachalam
Answer
A. Venkateswara
Annamayya is known for keertanas on Venkateswara.
The garbhagriha of a temple is the
1. flag post
2. tank
3. tower above the sanctum
4. inner sanctum
Answer
D. inner sanctum
The garbhagriha holds the main image.
The vimana of a temple is the
1. inner sanctum
2. flag post
3. temple tank
4. tower above the sanctum
Answer
D. tower above the sanctum
The vimana rises over the garbhagriha.
The dhvajastambha of a temple is the
1. inner sanctum
2. processional chariot
3. flag post
4. tower
Answer
C. flag post
Dhvajastambha is the flag staff.
The utsava murti is the
1. processional image taken out on festival days
2. gateway tower
3. image fixed in the sanctum
4. stone tank
Answer
A. processional image taken out on festival days
Utsava murti is the festival image.
The mulabera is the
1. processional image
2. main image fixed in the sanctum
3. festival chariot
4. temple flag
Answer
B. main image fixed in the sanctum
Mulabera is the principal image.
Pratishtha in temple practice means
1. sale of offerings
2. festival procession
3. daily bath of the image
4. formal installation of an image
Answer
D. formal installation of an image
Pratishtha is installation.
Brahmotsavam is
1. a funeral rite
2. a type of priest
3. the great annual festival of a temple
4. a daily offering
Answer
C. the great annual festival of a temple
It is the main yearly festival.
Kalyanotsavam is
1. the wedding festival of the deity
2. a flag hoisting
3. a tonsure rite
4. the funeral of a priest
Answer
A. the wedding festival of the deity
It is the celestial wedding festival.
An archaka is
1. the temple architect
2. the priest who worships the image
3. a pilgrim
4. the temple treasurer
Answer
B. the priest who worships the image
Archaka performs archana to the deity.
Which pada of an Agama deals mainly with temple building and rites?
1. Yoga
2. Kriya
3. Jnana
4. Charya
Answer
B. Kriya
Kriya pada covers building, image making and rites.
Chattada Sri Vaishnavas are best described as
1. followers of Shankara
2. Kapalika ascetics
3. Agama priests of Tirumala
4. devotee temple servants in the Sri Vaishnava tradition
Answer
D. devotee temple servants in the Sri Vaishnava tradition
They serve Vaishnava temples as devotees and singers.
The Divya Desams are
1. sacred Vaishnava temples praised by the Alvars
2. Pancharatra Samhitas
3. royal land grants
4. Saiva Agama texts
Answer
A. sacred Vaishnava temples praised by the Alvars
They are the holy places sung by the Alvars.
Pavitrotsavam in a Vaishnava temple is a rite to
1. crown the deity
2. install a new image
3. make up for faults in worship through the year
4. start the annual festival
Answer
C. make up for faults in worship through the year
It purifies lapses of the year.
The Vaikhanasa tradition stresses worship that is
1. strongly Vedic, using mantras like Purusha Sukta
2. free of all mantras
3. based on grammar texts
4. only silent meditation
Answer
A. strongly Vedic, using mantras like Purusha Sukta
It is closely based on Vedic mantras.
Which teacher is linked with Dvaita (dualism)?
1. Vikhanas
2. Shankara
3. Madhva
4. Ramanuja
Answer
C. Madhva
Madhva taught Dvaita.
The names Narada and Shandilya are linked in tradition with
1. Kamika Agama
2. Pancharatra
3. Vaikhanasa
4. Veerashaiva
Answer
B. Pancharatra
They are named in the Pancharatra tradition.
The Suprabhatam is a temple service of
1. the wedding of the deity
2. the annual festival
3. closing the temple at night
4. waking the Lord in the morning
Answer
D. waking the Lord in the morning
Suprabhatam wakes the deity at dawn.
In a temple, tirtham is
1. sacred water given as offering
2. a gate tower
3. a processional chariot
4. a type of priest
Answer
A. sacred water given as offering
Tirtham is holy water, prasadam is the food.
Which is the usual set of four padas in an Agama?
1. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha
2. Jnana, Yoga, Kriya and Charya
3. Sarga, Pratisarga, Vamsha and Manvantara
4. Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva
Answer
B. Jnana, Yoga, Kriya and Charya
The four padas are Jnana (Vidya), Yoga, Kriya and Charya.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Tirumala temple follows the Vaikhanasa Agama. 2. The Vaikhanasa tradition belongs to the Krishna Yajurveda.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are correct.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Pancharatra speaks of four Vyuhas. 2. The Vaikhanasa Agama is built on the four Vyuhas as its core.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Four Vyuhas are Pancharatra doctrine.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Agamas are the same as the Vedas. 2. Agamas guide temple rituals.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
Agamas are separate from the Vedas.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Ramanuja taught Advaita. 2. The Alvars composed their hymns in Sanskrit.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Ramanuja taught Vishishtadvaita; Alvar hymns are in Tamil.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Divya Prabandham is a work of the Alvars. 2. Chattada Sri Vaishnavas follow the Sri Vaishnava tradition.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are correct.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Sattvata is a Pancharatra Samhita. 2. Kamika is a Pancharatra Samhita.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Kamika is a Saiva Agama.
Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Vaikhanasa tradition belongs to the Sama Veda. 2. Vaikhanasa archakas worship in the sanctum by family tradition.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
It belongs to the Krishna Yajurveda.
Ekanta seva in a Vaishnava temple is
1. the dawn waking
2. the installation rite
3. the annual festival
4. the last service of the night
Answer
D. the last service of the night
Ekanta seva closes the day's worship.

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