Vaikhanasa Worship System

वैखानसपूजाप्रणाली

The Vaikhanasa ritual system — one of the two main systems used in South Indian Vaishnava temples (alongside Pancharatra). Distinctive features: the Vaikhanasa priest must be a Brahmin by birth (unlike Pancharatra); Vishnu is worshipped as Vishnu-Yagnapurusha (lord of sacrifice); strong emphasis on Vedic fire rituals (Agni-karya) alongside image worship.