Early Vritism and NarayanIya Worship
By Mrinal Das Gupta
Summary
Dasgupta studies early Vaiṣṇava currents centered on Vṛtti and the Narāyaṇīya section of the Mahābhārata. He traces how the cult of Nārāyaṇa emerged from Vedic hymns and underwent transformation through epics and Pāñcarātra texts. The article examines epigraphic evidence for early Narāyaṇīya worship in Gujarat and the Deccan, the spread of temple cults, and the emergence of devotional poetry. Dasgupta analyses doctrinal themes like the supremacy of Nārāyaṇa, the role of the Caturvyūha, and the integration of Vāsudeva‑Kṛṣṇa theology. He discusses parallels between Narāyaṇīya and other Vaiṣṇava movements, such as Bhāgavata and Vaikhanasa traditions, and notes the interaction with Śaiva and Śākta sects. By exploring liturgical practices and iconography, Dasgupta shows how early Vaiṣṇavism evolved into the inclusive Bhakti movements of later centuries.
Conclusion
Dasgupta concludes that Vṛitism and the Narāyaṇīya represent transitional phases between Vedic ritualism and full‑fledged bhakti. They illustrate how new theological syntheses were anchored in epic literature and were propagated through temples and royal patronage, laying the groundwork for the flowering of Vaiṣṇavism.