Vaikhanasa

Rishi Vikhanasa with his four disciples: Atri, Bhrigu, Marichi, and Kashyapa.

Vaikhanasa (Sanskrit: वैखानस, romanizedVaikhānasa) or Vaikhanasagama (Sanskrit: वैखानसागम, romanizedVaikhānasāgama) is a tradition of Hinduism that primarily worships Vishnu (and his associated avatars) as the Supreme God. The tradition draws its name from the philosophy propounded by its founder, Sage Vikhanasa.[1]

Vaikhanasa is classified as a Vaishnava Agama, concerned with the performance of practices such as temple rituals.[2] Its adherents are primarily the Brahmins who belong to the school of the Krishna Yajurveda Taittiriya Shakha and the Vaikhanasa Kalpasutra.[3] It is principally monotheistic in its philosophy, whilst also incorporating elements that could be described as being panentheistic. Like the Pancharatra, it is well established in South India.[4]

  1. ^ Dalal, Roshen (6 January 2019). The 108 Upanishads: An Introduction. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 288. ISBN 978-93-5305-377-2.
  2. ^ Heitzman, James; Schenkluhn, Wolfgang (9 April 2004). The World in the Year 1000. University Press of America. p. 240. ISBN 978-1-4617-4556-3.
  3. ^ Gonda, Jan (1969). Aspects of Early Viṣṇuism. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 234. ISBN 978-81-208-1087-7.
  4. ^ Sharma, Arvind; Young, Katherine K. (1 January 1993). Annual Review of Women in World Religions, The: Volume III. State University of New York Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-4384-1964-0.