Author Description

"Isvarasamhita" is an important text of the Pancaratra School and is followed meticulously for conduction of daily Puja ceremony and performances of various religious festivals in the Narayanasvami temple of Melkote. It can safely be dated to 8th-9th Century at least on the basis of its reference in the "Agama Pramanya" of Shri Yamunacarya. It is supposed to be a simpler and smaller version of the older "sattvatasamhita" of this school which is the earliest available work of Pancaratra and is considered as one of three ratnas, (Jewels), along with "Pauskara" and "Jaya Samhitas". In 25 long Adhyayas the "Isvarasamhita" describes in great details the rites, rituals and ceremonies taking place (or ought to take place) in a Vaisnava temple.