1 Contents

Introduction

i.) General introduction to the Pāñcarātra and previous scholarship thereon 9

ii.) The role of scripture in the Pāñcarātra Saṃhitās [[13]]

iii.) Sources and methods [[24]]

PART ONE - THE THREE JEWELS AND THE FORMATION OF THE PĀÑCARĀTRA CANON

Introduction 27

  1. The Three Jewels ( ratnatraya)

i.) * The Jayākhyasaṃhitā, the Sātvatasaṃhitā and the Pauṣkarasaṃhitā* 29

ii.) * The three jewels * 32

iii.) Conclusions 44

2. Divisions within the Pāñcarātra

i.) * Different kinds of Pāñcarātrika* 47

ii.) Distinct Pāñcarātrika identities in the Āgamaprāmāṇya 63

iii.) *The four Pāñcarātra Siddhāntas according to the Pādmasaṃhitā * 69

iv.) Conclusions

3. The Formation of the Pāñcarātra Canon

i.) Classifications of scripture in the PārS and the PādS 79

ii.) Appropriation and unification in the late Saṃhitās 90

iii.) Conclusions 103 [[5]]

PART TWO

THE ORIGINAL TEACHING: LOCATING TEXTS AND TRADITIONS

Introduction 107

4. The Pāñcarātra and the Veda

i.) Vedamūlatva 111

ii.) * “Vedification” in the South Indian Pāñcarātra* 120

iii.) Conclusions 131

5. The Ekāyanaveda

i.) Descriptions of the Ekāyanaveda in the South Indian Literature 133

ii.) The term ekāyana and its earlier uses 136

iii.) The Ekāyanas in the JS, SS and PauṣS 141

iv.) *Conclusions * 151

6. The Pāñcarātra Teaching and the Authority of the Nārāyaṇīya i.) The Nārāyaṇīya in the transmission of the teaching (śāstrāvataraṇa) 153

ii.) The original teaching according to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā 155

iii.) Syncretism and the five teachings 162

iv.) *Conclusions * 174

PART THREE

MERGING IDENTITIES: INTEGRATING TRADITIONS

Introduction 177

7. The Ekāntins in the Nārāyaṇīya

i.) Setting the scene 179

ii.) *The terms ekānta, ekāntin etc * 182

iii.) *Sectarianism, syncretism, and the religious identity of the Ekāntins in Part B * 192 [[6]]

iv.) *Conclusions * 204

8. The Ekāntins in the Pāñcarātra Literature

i.) The terms ekānta and ekāntin in the Pāñcarātra scriptures 207

iii.) Becoming Ekāntin in South India 215

iii.) Conclusions 226

9. The Āgamasiddhānta in the Pāñcarātrarakṣā

i.) What became of the Āgamasiddhāntins?: A short summary 229

ii.) Vedāntadeśika’s Defence of the Āgamasiddhānta 231

iii.) *Conclusions * 238

Conclusions 241

Abbreviations 245

References 247

Acknowledgements 261 [[7]][[8]]