Prekshaka, Prekṣaka: 17 definitions
Introduction:
Prekshaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Prekṣaka can be transliterated into English as Preksaka or Prekshaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Prekshak.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: archive.org: Natya ShastraPrekṣaka (प्रेक्षक, “spectator”).—Those who are possessed of good character, high birth, quiet behaviour and learning, are desirous of fame, virtue, are impartial, advanced in age, proficient in drama in all its six limbs (ṣaḍaṅga-nāṭya), alert, honest, unaffected by passion, expert in playing the four kinds of musical instrument (catur-ātodya), very virtuous, acquainted with the costumes and make-up (nepathya), the rules of dialects, the four kinds of histrionic representation (caturtha-abhinaya), grammar, prosody, and various other śāstras, are experts in different arts and crafts, and have fine sense of the sentiments (rasa) and the psychological states (bhāva), should be made spectators (prekṣaka) in witnessing a drama.
Thus the man who enters the stage (lit. here) by imitating the psychological states (bhāva) of these, can be considered a spectator possessing the necessary qualifications.
The spectators (prekṣaka) who are capable of appreciating merits should sit at ease with an unruffled mind and are to observe the measure of achievement as well as the slightest of faults which may relate to the theory of theatrical production (nāṭyaśāstra), co-ordination (sama), charm of limbs (aṅgamādhurya), recitatives (pāṭhya), roles (prakṛti), and the sentiments (rasa).
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationPrekṣaka (प्रेक्षक) refers to “onlookers” (of a fight), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.10 (“Boasting of Tāraka”).—Accordingly, as Tāraka-Asura fought with Kārttikeya: “[...] All the gods Gandharvas and Kinnaras stood as mere onlookers (prekṣaka). (Who will win this battle?) they asked each other. Then a celestial voice rose appeasing the gods—‘In this battle Kumāra will kill the Asura Tāraka. None of the gods need be anxious. All shall rest assured. For your welfare Śiva Himself is standing here in the form of His son’ [...]”.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)Prekṣaka (प्रेक्षक) refers to “spectators”, according to Kuladatta’s Kriyāsaṃgrahapañjikā, a text within Tantric Buddhism representing a construction manual for monasteries.—Accordingly, [while describing pratiṣṭhā in chapter 4]—“Then the king should satisfy the architects, the assistants, and the spectators (prekṣaka) with a bracelet, a finger-ring, a garment, gold, heap of chaplet, tāmbūla, or other [articles] according to [the donor’s] wealth”.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryprēkṣaka (प्रेक्षक).—a S That looks, beholds, or contemplates: also that sees.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishprēkṣaka (प्रेक्षक).—a That looks. The audience in a theatre.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPrekṣaka (प्रेक्षक).—A spectator, looker on, beholder, sight-seer; प्रकृतिं पश्यति पुरुषः प्रेक्षकवदवस्थितः सुस्थः (prakṛtiṃ paśyati puruṣaḥ prekṣakavadavasthitaḥ susthaḥ) Sāṃkhyakārikā 65.
Derivable forms: prekṣakaḥ (प्रेक्षकः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryPrekṣaka (प्रेक्षक).—f. °ikā, intending to view (§ 22.3): devī… āmravanaṃ °ikā nirgatā Mahāvastu iii.12.9 (prose).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrekṣaka (प्रेक्षक).—m.
(-kaḥ) A spectator, a beholder, one of an audience. E. pra before, īkṣ to see, vun aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrekṣaka (प्रेक्षक).—i. e. pra-īkṣ + aka, adj., f. ikā, and sbst. Looking at, a spectator,
Prekṣaka (प्रेक्षक).—[feminine] prekṣikā looking at, viewing; considering, judging.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Prekṣaka (प्रेक्षक):—[from prekṣ] mf(ikā)n. looking at, viewing or intending to view, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Harivaṃśa]
2) [v.s. ...] considering, judging, [Yājñavalkya [Scholiast or Commentator]]
3) [v.s. ...] m. a spectator, member of an audience, [Mānava-gṛhya-sūtra]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPrekṣaka (प्रेक्षक):—[pre+kṣaka] (kaḥ) 1. m. A spectator.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Prekṣaka (प्रेक्षक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Pikkhaga, Pekkhaa, Pekkhaga, Pecchaya.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryPrekṣaka (प्रेक्षक) [Also spelled prekshak]:—(nm) an observer; a viewer; spectator; one who sees; -[varga/samāja] audience, spectators.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPrēkṣaka (ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಕ):—[noun] a person assembled along with others to hear and see a speaker, a play, a concert, etc.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Prekshakarin.
Ends with: Goprekshaka, Samprekshaka, Utprekshaka.
Full-text (+7): Utprekshaka, Prekshakerita, Prekshaniyata, Pikkhaga, Pecchaya, Goprekshaka, Samprekshaka, Prekshanika, Prekshaniyatama, Prekshaniyaka, Prekshaniyatara, Prekshanakuta, Pekkhaa, Prekshanalambha, Pekkhaga, Nirikshaka, Samprekshita, Prekshak, Prekshanaka, Samprekshana.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Prekshaka, Prekṣaka, Preksaka, Prēkṣaka; (plurals include: Prekshakas, Prekṣakas, Preksakas, Prēkṣakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Gati in Theory and Practice (by Dr. Sujatha Mohan)
Natyashastra (English) (by Bharata-muni)
Part 8 - The Date of the Nāṭyaśāstra < [Introduction, part 1]
Part 2 - The Ancient Indian Theory of Drama < [Introduction, part 1]
Dramaturgy in the Venisamhara (by Debi Prasad Namasudra)
Vyabhicārī-bhāvas (Transitory States) < [Chapter 4 - Dramaturgy in Veṇīsaṃhāra]