Lesson 5 : The Agamas Introduction We learnt in the last lesson about the Kalpa Sutras which described different types of rituals - collective and family oriented. A person required guidance in conducting these rituals. We all have different consciousness and different likes and dislikes. Our object of enjoyment is different - for each individual or group. Our destinations are different. To accommodate these variety the Vedic Scriptures gave different philosophies and methodologies and mechanisms. The Agamas are these rituals for worship. The Agamas are theological treatises and practical manuals of divine worship. There are 3 types of Agamas. a. Shakta Agamas: Here energy or Shakri of the Lord is worshipped as the Supreme. b. Shaiva Agamas: Worship of the destroyer. c. Vaishnava Agamas: Worship of the ultimate source. The Agamas include the Tantras, Mantras and Yantras. They also give elaborate details about ontology and cosmology, liberation, devotion, meditation, philosophy of Mantras, mystic diagrams, charms and spells, temple-building, image-making, domestic observances, social rules, public festivals, etc. The Agamas take care of people at all levels of consciousness. For example Tantras were written for the lowest level of consciousness so that even they get a chance to get purified and advance in their consciousness. Black Magic, hypnotism etc are all parts of these Tantras. Unfortunately this is being misused in our society and we find tantriks playing big role in politics, business and even normal lives. The Agamas do not derive their authority from the Vedas, but are not antagonistic to them. They are all Vedic in spirit and character. That is the reason why they are regarded as authoritative. Vaishnava Agamas The Vaishnava Agamas are of four kinds: the Vaikhanasa, Pancharatra, Pratishthasara and Vijnanalalita. The Brahma, Saiva, Kumara, Vasishtha, Kapila, Gautamiya and the Naradiya are the seven groups of the Pancharatras. The Naradiya section of the Shanti-Parva of the Mahabharata is the earliest source of information about the Pancharatras. Vishnu is the Supreme Lord in the Pancharatra Agamas. The Vaishnavas regard the Pancharatra Agamas to be the most authoritative. They believe that these Agamas were revealed by Lord Vishnu Himself. Narada-Pancharatra says: "Everything from Brahman to a blade of grass is Lord Krishna." This corresponds to the Upanishadic declaration: "All this is, verily, Brahman-Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma ." There are two hundred and fifteen of these Vaishnava texts. Ishvara, Ahirbudhnya, Paushkara, Parama, Sattvata, Brihad-Brahma and Jnanamritasara Samhitas are the important ones. Shaiva Agamas The Shaivas recognise twenty-eight Agamas, of which the chief is Kamika. The Agamas are also the basis of Kashmir Shaivism which is called the Pratyabhijna system. The latter works of Pratyabhijna system show a distinct leaning to Advaitism. The Southern Shaivism, i.e., Shaiva Siddhanta , and the Kashmir Saivism, regard these Agamas as their authority, besides the Vedas. Each Agama has Upa-Agamas. Of these, only fragmentary texts of twenty are extant. Lord Shiva is the central God in the Shaiva Agamas. Sakta Agamas There is another group of scriptures known as the Tantras. They belong to the Shakta cult. They glorify Shakti as the World-Mother. They dwell on the Shakti (energy) aspect of God and prescribe numerous courses of ritualistic worship of the Divine Mother in various forms. There are seventy-seven Agamas. (Next Lesson: The Upanishads)