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Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Mudrādhyāya (मुद्राध्याय) (lit. “chapter on ritual hand-gestures”) is the name of chapter 13 of the Viśvāmitrasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2600 Sanskrit verses covering topics such as initiation (dīkṣā) and the construction, decoration and consecration of temples and icons, as well as routines of regular and special worship cycles.

Description of the chapter [nityotsavavidhi]: Kāśyapa asks what are the various types of mudrā-gestures, and Viśvāmitra complies by first defining mudrā as that by seeing which one derives pleasure (“mu-”) and then by counseling that whoever practices these mudrās must do so in secrecy (1-6). Thereupon he names and briefly describes how to perform a number of mudrās. Some 67 names are: hṛt, śīrṣa, śikhā, kavaca, astra, cakṣus, agniprākāra, yoga, sampuṭa (=kumbha), saṃhāra, mātṛ, sṛṣṭi, jñāna, tattva, nyāsa, (=mantranyāsa), japa, viṣṇu, rudra (=ubhayāṅguṣṭha), pitṛ, vighnarāja, bhāgavatī, varāha, agni, āpyāyanī, saurabheyī, vāhana, praṇāma, padma, śaṅkha, cakra, gadā, dhenu, musala, khaḍga, vanamālikā, varada, abhaya, viṣvaksena, garuḍa, ananta, caṇḍa, vijaya, jaya and gāṅga. Also: vastra, muṣṭi, snāna, gandha, puṣpa, yajñopavita, kalpa, dhūpa, dīpa, aṅguli, pratimā, svāgata, dhyāna, grāsa, vrīhi, kūrmakālāgni, anantāsana, pṛthivī, kṣīrābdhi, dharma, bhāvāsana, jaya and śakti. Some others are described but not named. And the chapter concludes by saying that there are many others, but as a substitute for those the padmamudrā may be employed (7-102).

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: Mudra, Adhyaya.

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Full-text (+119): Varadamudra, Matri, Bhagavati, Dhenu, Saurabheyi, Vrihi, Angulimudra, Samharamudra, Apyayani, Vanamalika, Samputamudra, Matrimudra, Mantranyasamudra, Ubhayangushthamudra, Pitrimudra, Bhagavatimudra, Apyayanimudra, Saurabheyimudra, Vahanamudra, Vanamalikamudra.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Mudradhyaya, Mudrādhyāya, Mudrā-adhyāya, Mudra-adhyaya; (plurals include: Mudradhyayas, Mudrādhyāyas, adhyāyas, adhyayas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)

Page 203 < [Volume 13 (1898)]

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