Tantravyakhya, Tantravyākhyā, Tantra-vyakhya: 1 definition

Introduction:

Tantravyakhya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

[«previous next»] — Tantravyakhya in Pancaratra glossary
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Tantravyākhyā (तन्त्रव्याख्या) (lit. “definition of the Tantric teaching”), chapter 2 of the Viṣṇusaṃhitā: a Sanskrit text written in 2600 verses which covers typical Pāñcarātra topics through a narrative dialogue between Aupagāyana and Siddha Sumati.

Description of the chapter [tantravyākhyā]: This chapter concerns itself with a clarification of certain ideas and terms, viz., who is the justified aspirant and what knowledge he should possess (1-11a), the nature of tantra-knowledge and its vaidika authority (11b-19), the varieties of Tantric traditions and where Pāñcarātra works fit into this scheme (20-25), how the Pāñcarātra believers’ extremist groups [pāramārthikas] differ among themselves—e.g., Vaikhānasa, Sāttvata, Śikhin, Ekāntin, Mūlaka—and how each of these so-called groups is to be understood and how each is interrelated to the other four (26-35), how one can find within each of the foregoing groups five other divisions (into Bhaktas, Bhagavadbhaktas, Dāsas, Pārṣadas and Bhāgavatas each is defined—36-39), how the people who undergo dīkṣā-initiation are to be distinguished [Samayin, Putraka, Sādhaka, Deśika and Guru—40-49a]. Toward the end pāñcarātra is defined—the 5 bhūta-elements, being the objects of the 5 sense-organs, are those things which are considered to be rātri, and these 5 “darknesses” lead men to ignorance from which only the present (pāñcarātra) āgama rescues them (49b-51a). Then follows an eulogy of the pāñcarātrāgama (52-54a).

Pancaratra book cover
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.

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