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Re: Question on PancarAtrika

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Ute Huesken • June 12, 2002 


Dear Elayavalli,


Generally the term pancarAtrika designates a follower of the pancarAtra 
philosophical and/or ritual system.
This system (or, to be more precise, these systems, since the diverse 
texts are in no means uniform) was first codified in diverse texts which 
are collectively called "pancarAtrasaMhitAs", some of them are published.
The question as to Why this school is called PancarAtra is - to my 
knowledge - not yet solved but, however, it seems to be generally agreed 
that NArAyaNa revealed the content of these texts in five nights to five 
different persons/gods.
Today the PancarAtrins are one of two different groups serving as 
Arcakas in South Indian Vaishnava temples (the other group is called 
VaikhAnasa).


Best regards
Ute



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