THE AGAMAS

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

THE AGAMAS
Another class of popular scriptures are the Agamas. The Agamas are theological treatises
and practical manuals of divine worship. The Agamas include the Tantras, Mantras and Yantras.
These are treatises explaining the external worship of God, in idols, temples, etc. All the Agamas
treat of (i) Jnana or Knowledge, (ii) Yoga or Concentration, (iii) Kriya or Esoteric Ritual and (iv)
Charya or Exoteric Worship. They also give elaborate details about ontology and 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 are divided into three sections: The Vaishnava, the Saiva and the Sakta. The
three chief sects of Hinduism, viz., Vaishnavism, Saivism and Saktism, base their doctrines and
dogmas on their respective Agamas. The Vaishnava Agamas or Pancharatra Agamas glorify God as
Vishnu. The Saiva Agamas glorify God as Siva and have given rise to an important school of
philosophy known as Saiva-Siddhanta, which prevails in South India, particularly in the districts of
Tirunelveli and Madurai. The Sakta Agamas or Tantras glorify God as the Mother of the Universe,
under one of the many names of Devi.
The Agamas do not derive their authority from the Vedas, but are not antagonistic to them.
They are all Vedic in spirit and character. That is the reason why they are regarded as authoritative.