Brahma Samhita

Brahma Samhita

 

The Brahma Samitha (Praises by Brahma) is a Pancaratra Text (the Vaishnava Agamas dedicate to worship of Lord Narayana); composed of verses of prayer spoken by Lord Brahma glorifying The Supreme Lord Shri Krishna (Govinda) at the beginning of The Creation. Lord Brahma, the first disciple of the disciple succession started by Lord Shri Krishna. Lord Brahma, who has been given the task of material creation and checking the mode of passion, is himself created by Lord Shri Krishna, through His navel. 

Throughout Kaliyuga, the present age of quarrel and hypocrisy, the Brahma Samhita was relatively unknown, until the appearance of Lord Chaitanya, who recovered only Chapter 5 of the entire text. As a result, Chapter 5 is the chapter that is read, studied, and sung ever since. Spiritual initiation ceremonies are often began by chanting the fifth chapter of the Brahma Samhita in unison. 

Brahma Samhita presents methods of devotional service. Brahma Samhita explains the Garbhodakasayi Visnu, the origin of the Gayatri Mantra, the form of Govinda and His transcendental position and abode, the living entities, the Goddess Durga, the meaning of austerity, the five elements and the vision of transcendental love enabling one to see the Lord Shri Krishna. 

In Brahma Samhita, Lord Shri Krishna described the science of devotion to Lord Brahma. In the last two verses, Shri Krishna said:

Abandoning all meritorious performances serve Me with faith. The realization will correspond to the nature of one’s faith. The people of the world act ceaselessly in pursuance of some ideal. By meditating on Me by means of those deeds one will obtain devotion characterized by love in the shape of the supreme service. (Verse No. 61)

“Listen, O Vaydhi, I am the seed, i.e., the fundamental principle, of this world of animate and inanimate objects. I am pradhäna [the substance of matter], I am prakåti [material cause] and I am puruña [efficient cause]. This fiery energy that belongs specially to the Brahman, that inheres in you, has also been conferred by Me. It is by bearing this fiery energy that you regulate this phenomenal world of animate and inanimate objects.” (Verse No. 62)

Agamas

Agamas

The Agamas are a collection of Sanskrit scriptures, which means "a traditional doctrine or system which commands faith". Agamas also mean “acquisition of knowledge, received knowledge”. The Agamas deal with the philosophy and spiritual knowledge behind the worship of the deity, the yoga and mental discipline required for this worship, and the specifics of worship offered to the deity.

 

The Agamas include the Tantras, Mantras and Yantras. The Agamas are mostly in the form of dialogue giving a considerable amount of information on the earliest codes of temple building, image making, and religious procedure.

Each Agama consists of four parts. 

1. The first part (Knowledge Janana) includes the philosophical and spiritual knowledge.
2. The second part (Yoga Concentration) covers the yoga and the mental discipline.
3. The third part (Kriya, Esoteric Worship) specifies rules for the construction of temples and for sculpting and carving the figures of deities for worship in the temples.
4. The fourth part (Charya, Exoteric Worship) includes rules pertaining to the observances of religious rites, rituals, and festivals. 

Agamas also give elaborate details about cosmology, liberation, devotion, meditation, philosophy of Mantras, mystic diagrams, charms and spells, temple-building, image-making, domestic observances, social rules, public festivals, etc. 

The Agamas state three essential requirements for a place of pilgrimage: 

1. Sthala (refers to the Temple),
2. Teertham (refers to the Temple Tank) and
3.  Murthy (refers to the deity or deities worshipped)