Context:
In the context of appointment of archakars (priests) to temples, the Supreme Court requested the Committee of Madras High Court to identify Agamic temples as against non-Agamic temples in Tamil Nadu.
Agamas:
- Agamas are post-Vedic scriptures that provide ritual knowledge and serve as manuals for temple management.
- The term Agama means “that which has come down”, signifying tradition.
- Cover cosmology, epistemology, philosophical doctrines, meditation practices, yoga, mantras, temple construction, and deity worship.
- Focus on four aspects –
- Jnana (Knowledge)
- Yoga (Meditation)
- Kriya (Rituals)
- Charya (Ways of Worship).
- Main Branches –
- Shaiva Agamas – Worship of Lord Shiva.
- Vaishnava Agamas – Worship of Lord Vishnu.
- Shakta Agamas – Worship of Adi Shakti (Goddess Durga/Kali).
- Relation to Vedas – Do not derive authority from the Vedas, but are Vedic in spirit and character.
- Some passages reject Vedic authority, while others align with Vedic teachings.
- Historical Context – Some scholars suggest they are post-Vedic, while others believe they predate the Vedas.
- Epigraphical evidence suggests Agamas existed by the Pallava dynasty era (mid-1st millennium CE).
- Many South Indian temples, especially in Tamil Nadu, follow Agamic traditions for daily rituals and festivals.
- Important Agamic Texts – Isvara-Samhita, Narada-Pancharatra, Spanda-Pradipika and Mahanirvana-Tantra
Source: TH
Previous Year Question
The world’s second tallest statue in sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) The best means of salvation was devotion.
(b) Vedas are eternal, self-existent and wholly authoritative.
(c) Logical arguments were essential means for the highest bliss
(d) Salvation was to be obtained through meditation.
Answer: (a)