The srivaiṣṇava way of life: Pañcasaṃskāra (samāśrayaṇa) and its foundations

This article is devoted to the study of the śrīvaiṣṇava traditional way of life, namely the issue of initiation to the tradition and a number of obligations associated with it. This way formalized in a more explicit form in the 12th–14th centuries in the South India. The texts of Pāñcarātra tradition, works and commentaries of viśiṣṭādvaitavedānta thinkers, as well as some other features of Indian culture and religion had a significant impact on the formation of the ritual system, daily duties of the śrīvaiṣṇava adepts, art of Viṣṇu-Nārāyaṇa worship and ethics. In this article we consider the features of pañcasaṃskāra (samāśrayaṇa) initiation rituals, which include five actions: tāpasaṃskāra and puṇḍrasaṃskāra — applying the Viṣṇu symbols (shell, disc and special puṇḍras) into the body, namasaṃskāra — assigning a spiritual name, mantrasaṃskāra — receiving the three most important mantras for daily practice and studying of sacred texts, ijyāsaṃskāra — receiving an image of god, purification ceremonies and practices. All five pañcasaṃskāra rituals initiate the adept into tradition and prepare him for the daily service of god and his followers. The article also examines the philosophical, religious and cultural foundations of these rituals and their significance for the śrīvaiṣṇava tradition, es-timated periods of their occurrence. © 2020, Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera), Russian Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.