India history and geography

Source: Mandala Texts: Pacham: Dance of the Heroes

Pacham (དཔའ་འཆམ་) dance is a common religious performance which is seen during festivals in Bhutan. It literally means the dance of the heroes and refers to the uninhibited and elegant display of enlightened spirit. In theory, cham dance generally constitutes the external gestures and movements, which are expression of inner enlightened energy.

Pacham represents more specifically the expressions of such enlightened energy as embodied in the graceful movements and acts of the spiritual beings known as pawo (དཔའ་བོ་) or heroes and pamo (དཔའ་མོ་) or heroines. In this context, the term pawo refers to the male deities and the pamo to the female divinities or spiritual beings who are said to mostly live in celestial realms of the Buddhas. One has to remember that these terms, in a different context, also refer to the class of male and female shamans in Bhutan.

Bhutanese dance specialists claim that the Pacham dance was introduced by Pema Lingpa after witnessing such a dance in the Copper-coloured realm of Padmasambhava which he visited. While Pema Lingpa’s own biography clearly records his visionary journey to Zangdo Pelri or the Copper-coloured realm of Padmasambhava and also his experience of spiritual figures of pawo and pamo performing music constantly in the abode of Padmasambhava, we do not have any record of Pema Lingpa introducing the Pacham dance in Bhutan based on his vision of Zangdo Pelri.

Source: Shodhganga: A translation of Jhaverchand Meghanis non translated folk tales

Pacham refers to “The fifth day of any Hindu month”.—It is defined in the glossary attached to the study dealing with Gujarat Folk tales composed by Gujarati poet Jhaverchand Meghani (1896-1947)

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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Pacamanattiram, Pacamantatiram, Pacamaruttiram, Pacamocanam, Pacampai, Pachamana, Pachamanaka, Pachamangalam, Pachamangalam, Pachampacha.

Ends with (+3): Anupacam, Apacam, Catanapacam, Ceyepacam, Curpipacam, Ettuvapacam, Iracapacam, Kal-iyaipacam, Karpacam, Karppacam, Nakapacam, Nirutipacam, Pakshapacam, Patapacam, Patcapacam, Piramanapacam, Pirapacam, Tarmapacam, Utirapacam, Vaitanmiya-tittantaapacam.

Full-text: Nag Pacham ma, Pamo, Pawo, Drilbu, Trangti.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Pacham; (plurals include: Pachams). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Folk Tales of Gujarat (and Jhaverchand Meghani) (by Vandana P. Soni)

Translator’s Note

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