Paramesvaragamah

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Agamas and Vedas, never apart, rather complementary to each other, are the revelation by the Supreme for the welfare of mankind. Both are the sources and ground of all the philosophical doctrines and the religious life of Hinduism. They emphatically assert the truth that is inherent in the philosophical teaching, the mystic experiences of spiritual life and intensively advocate the ritualistic aspect of religious life, elaborately deal with the spiritual sanctions and regulations of the worships.

In the history of Tantric literature, ten Saivagamas and eighteen Rudragamas have been recognized. Pauskar Agama maintains that all the twenty eight Agamas, may it be dualistic or non-daulistic, are known as Siddhanta Agama. Paramesvara gama is one of them which consists a systematic and complete discussion regarding the Supreme Reality and hence is named as such wearing of Istalinga bestowed by Guru is the unique feature of Virasaivism. Scripture consists a detailed descriptions of linga and casket along with the procedure of Initiation and Sacrifice. Virasaiva religious rites and rituals, the ascending stages of spiritual attainments have also been enunciated specifically worship of Istalinga on lotus-palm-seat is another basic rite of Virasaiva religion-propounds the scripture.

Dr. Rama Gose is a learned scholar of Saivism. She was awarded the esteemed Buch Prize for the best doctoral thesis in Philosophy in the year 1973 by Banaras Hindu University. She joined Arya Mahila Degree College, Varanasi in the year 1969 and since then has devoted herself wholeheartedly for the persuit of knowledge in the field of Philosophy and Religion. She has been studying all the source books and original scriptures of Agamas, especially Siddhantagamas.

She has also presented an authentic and critical interpretation of Tiruvarutpayan, a famous Tamil scripture of Saiva-Siddhanta which she could explain authoritatively because of her knowledge of Tamil language. This may be considered as rare distinction for a northern Indian scholar. She has faithfully and critically rendered into English Two Agamas, namely Candrajnanagama and Makutagama; the detailed introduction, notes and references on them have much been appreciated by the scholars. She has actively participated in the National and International Seminars and discourses and presented her research papers on Saivism in the philosophical conferences held at Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. She has also attended the World Sanskrit Conference held in Italy and presented a research paper on Virasaivism. She is a deeply religious lady and devotes her entire leisure in persuit of ancient Indian philosophical thoughts and culture.