Alternative spellings of this word include Panchabhijna.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Pañcābhijña (पञ्चाभिज्ञ) refers to “five superknowledges”, and represents one of the qualities possessed by the Bodhisattvas that accompanied the Buddha according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter X part 7.—The five abhijñās are:

1. magical power (ṛddhi),
2. the divine eye (divyacakṣus),
3. the divine ear (divyaśrotra),
4. knowledge of others’ minds (paracittajñāna);
5. memory of former lifetimes (pūrvanivāsānusmṛti).

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Pañcābhijñā (पञ्चाभिज्ञा) refers to the “five supernormal knowledges”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “[...] Then the monk Siṃha and Siṃhavikrāntagāmin vigorously applied themselves to the dharma that is the wings of awakening, austerity, and practice in solitude, thereby they soon produced the five supernormal knowledges (pañcābhijñā). Having attained supernatural knowledges (abhijñā), the two explained the dharma by their own magical power and the power of vows in all world-spheres, brought immeasurable and incalculable living beings to maturity, and established them in the incomparable complete awakening”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Pañcābhijñā (पञ्चाभिज्ञा) refers to the “five deep knowledges” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 20):

1. divyacakṣus (the divine eye),
2. divyaśrotra (the divine ear),
3. paracittajñāna (knowledge of others’ minds),
4. pūrvanivāsānusmṛti (recollection of previous lives),
5. ṛddhi (spiritual power).

The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., pañca-abhijñāu). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Abhijna, Panca.

Full-text: Riddhi, Five Superknowledges, Five Deep Knowledges, Divyashrotra, Purvanivasanusmriti, Paracittajnana, Riddhyabhijna, Divyacakshus.

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Search found 2 books and stories containing Pancabhijna, Pañcābhijñā, Pañcābhijña, Panca-abhijna, Pañca-abhijña, Pañca-abhijñā; (plurals include: Pancabhijnas, Pañcābhijñās, Pañcābhijñas, abhijnas, abhijñas, abhijñās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)

I. Qualities of the sixth superknowledge (āsravakṣaya-jñāna) < [Part 1 - Becoming established in the six superknowledges]

Bodhisattva quality 5: the five superknowledges (pañcābhijña) < [Chapter X - The Qualities of the Bodhisattvas]

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Akshayamatinirdesha [english]

1st Imperishable, Generating the Thought of Awakening

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