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I'm really interested to know of the Puranas which criticize the Pancharātra, especially the verses from Linga and Aditya Puranas. Since I got to know so from the following link, https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/a-history-of-indian-philosophy-volume-3/d/doc209938.html#note-e-29010

Also, are there verses criticizing Pancharātra from Smritis like Harita Or Usana ?

Paramshiva
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This is a partial answer ..

The Usana Smriti has indeed criticized the followers of some doctrines like Pancharatra as follows:

The following are disqualified to be present at a S'raddha ceremony : Those, who sell the S'ruti', those, who marry widows ; those, who enter into a locked room without the permission of the owner ; and those, who officiate as priests for inferior castes ; are described as out-castes. Those, who teach unknown persons ; those, who give instructions on receiving fees ; those, who study the Vedas by paying fees ; are described as Vritakas. The Sramanas (Bouddha ascetics) ; Nirgoodas, (a class of naked mendicants) ; those, who, know the doctrines of the Pancharatra ;* the Jinas ;* the Kapalikas the Pasupatas -if these, and similar other heretics, wicked souls pervaded by the quality of Tamas, partake of the Havi, the S'rdddha does not become successful, and it does not yield fruits in the next world.

The above verses are from Chapter 4 of the text and are stating that followers of such a doctrine are degraded and hence unfit to be invited in a Shraddha ceremony.

Rickross
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I'm really interested to know of the Puranas which criticize the Pancharātra

Yes.

Several texts provide criticism for several philosophies of Vaishnavasim and other sects like Shaivism and Shaktism too. I'm giving references from two Puranas, not the ones though which have been "especially-asked for in the question".


  1. The Kurma Purana criticizes the Pancharatra, along with Jainas, Kapalikas, and Yamalas.

Kurma Purana 1.12.262

  1. They i.e., those contrary to the Vedas are the cults of Kapala, Bhairava, [Pancharatras], Yamala, Vama, and Arhata (Jaina).
  1. In another incarnation of mine, these scriptures have been promulgated by me to delude the people who themselves try to mislead the other persons by propagating their false scriptures.

English Translation by Motilala Banarasidass Publications




  1. The Devi Bhagavata-Purana

Devi Bhagavatam 11.1

ये कुशास्त्राभियोगेन वर्तयन्तीह मानवान् ॥ २९ ॥ अधोमुखोर्ध्वपादास्ते यास्यन्ति नरकार्णवम् । कामाचाराः पाशुपतास्तथा वै लिङ्‌गधारिणः ॥ ३० ॥ तप्तमुद्राङ्‌किता ये च वैखानसमतानुगाः । ते सर्वे निरयं यान्ति वेदमार्गबहिष्कृताः ॥ ३१ ॥ वेदोक्तमेव सद्धर्मं तस्मात्कुर्यान्नरः सदा । उत्थायोत्थाय बोद्धव्यं किं मयाद्य कृतं कृतम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Those who do injury to others even by the blade of a Kuśa grass used as a weapon, go to hell with their heads downwards and their feet upwards. Those that follow their own sweet free will, that take up any sort of dress (e. g. Bauddhas), those that follow the philosophical doctrines called Pāśupatas, and the other hermits and saints and persons that take up other vows contrary to the religions of the Vedas, for example, the Vaikhānasa followers, [those who brand their bodies by the hot Mudrās], at the places of pilgrimages, e. g. Dvārkā, etc., they go to hell with their bodies scorched by red hot brands (Tapta Mudrās). So persons should act according to the excellent religions commanded by the Vedas.


English Translation by Swami Vijnananda

Here, although Pancharatra is not directly criticized, I think, the reference to those who brand their bodies by the hot Mudrās points to the Pancharatrins only. Besides, another sect within Vaishnavism known as - Vaikhanasa has been along with others.



Vivikta
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