Dear List, There is a claim that pancharatra belongs to ekayana branch of shukla- yajurvEda and hence it is very much vedic, which is now lost. Though it is not new that all shaiva, shAkta and vaishNava Agamas claim derivation from shruti, the claims are dismissed by "orthodox" vaidikas. Pancharatra was opposed as heretical by the mimamsaka kumarila bhatta and the vedantin shankara seemed to accept it. VaikhAnasas fare better, as they are securely placed as a sub-branch of taittiriyas, which is a known and living shAkhA, and vaikhAnasa Agamas employ only vedic mantras. The drawback is that ekAyana shAkha is non-existent as of now and any speculation on its contents is just that - mere speculation. However, I feel there is a case that could be made for the legitimacy of the claim. 1. Though it is customary for Agamas & tantras to claim derivation from vEdas, it is rare to mention the exact branch, as in our case. 2. EkAyana is mentioned in chAndOgya brAhmaNa. 3. I noticed a very interesting thing - ShAndilya, one of the prominent figure in pAncharAtra doctrine features as authority in the middle adhyAyas of shatapatha brAhmaNa. (yAgnyavalkya being the other central authority in the rest of the adhyAyas. Views of other minor teachers mentioned here and there, but it is the views of yAgnyavalkya or shAndilya that are accepted). So, pAncharAtra may have arisen from a branch of shukla-yajur veda after all. Regards, KK
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