Pancagavya, Pamcagavya, Panca-gavya, Pañcagavya, Pancan-gavya: 27 definitions
Introduction:
Pancagavya means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Panchagavya.
In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य).—Five kinds of products of the cow used to bathe Deity.

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary studyPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) refers to “five (products) of the cow” (i.e. milk, curd, butter, urine and dung) and forms part of the cosmetics and personal decoration that was once commonly applied to one’s body in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) as mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—Reference is made in the Nīlamata to various sorts of scents, perfumes, unguents, flowers and garlands. For example, Pañcagavya is prescribed for holy bath (v. 421).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) refers to a compound of five cow-products, as defined in the Śivapurāṇa 1.16. Accordingly, “[...] the ceremonial ablution of the phallic emblem (liṅga) with Pañcagavya on Sundays is specially recommended. Pañcagavya is the compound of cow’s urine (gojala), dung (gomaya), milk (kṣīra), curd (dadhi) and ghee (ājya). Milk, curd and ghee can severally be used with honey and molasses. The offering of rice cooked in cow’s milk must be made with the syllable Om”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य).—A mixture of 5 secretions of the cow for purifying the body;1 milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung of the cow, constituents;2 a panacea for stealing eatables, fruits and flowers, vehicles and beds;3 ablution of image to be installed by.4
- 1) Matsya-purāṇa 56. 6; 57, 5; 60. 17; 62. 8.
- 2) Ib. 266. 6; 267. 5-6; Vāyu-purāṇa 110. 15.
- 3) Matsya-purāṇa 227. 44.
- 4) Ib. 265. 8.
Pañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) represents the food (drink) taken in the month Kārttika for the Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī-Vrata, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, the Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī-vrata is observed in honour of Śiva. [...] It starts from the month of Mārgaśira. It is observed on the eighth tithi of the dark fortnight and for a year.—In the month of Kārttika the performer should worship Īśana, drinking pañcagavya only once and gets the reward of agniṣṭoma.

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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: PMC: Relevance of VṛkṣāyurvedaPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) refers to a “formulation for nutrition”.—The main ingredients of this formulation are milk, curd, ghee, dung and urine of cow, and hence the name “pañcagavya”, meaning prepared from five ingredients obtained from cow. Some recent studies have shown the benefits of certain formulations such as pañcagavya and kuṇapajala on the growth of plants.
Source: Knowledge Traditions & Practices of India: Agriculture: A SurveyPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) is the name of a formula used in ancient Indian agriculture (kṛṣi).—Pañcagavya is a mixture of five cow products, is a fermented culture of cow dung, urine, milk, curd and ghee (other ingredients are sometimes added to increase fermentation). Studies have shown that pañcagavya works as a bio-fertilizer, enhancing growth and productivity of crops and increasing resistance to diseases.

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Source: Shodhganga: Siva Gita A Critical StudyPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) refers to a “product of the five components of cow”:—milk curds, ghee or clarified butter, cow-dung and cow’s urine—a potent inner purifier.

Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) refers to a “mixture of the cow’s milk, curd, butter, urine and dung”, used as ceremonial ablutions in expiatory rites during an eclipse, according to the Matsyapurāṇa.—Accordingly, “That person, in the lagna of whose nativity an eclipse occurs, ought to bathe in the water purified by mantras and by drugs as prescribed below. On the occasion of the eclipse he shall adorn four Brāhmins with garlands of white flowers and with white sandal paste; he shall fix four pots in four places near each other and he shall bring earth from places frequented by elephants, by horses, by chariots and by cows and from ant-hills and from before the entrance to the palaces of kings as well as from deep waters, and throw the earth into the water pots; he shall also put into the water pañcagavya, pearls, yellow pigment, lotus, the conch shell, a piece of crystal, white sandal paste, mustard seed, ariconuts, the fragrant root of the plant Andropogon muricatus and the resin bdelium (exudation of the Amyris agallowchum); he shall then invoke the Devas into the pots”.

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts1) Pañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) is the name of a solution used to sanctify Kumbha-pots (used in abhiṣeka-rites), according to the ninth chapter of the Īśvarasaṃhitā (baroda edition) also known as the Nṛsiṃhakalpa, a Pāñcarātra work consisting of 640 verses and 14 chapters written in the form of a dialogue between Īśvara and Pārvatī.—Description of the ninth chapter:—Īśvara here gives the characteristic features of the kumbha-pots to be used in abhiṣeka-rites. In addition to giving certain proportions, he counsels that the pots’ purity must be maintained by preventing unauthorized persons from touching them, and making sure even that they are not seen by diseased, profane or otherwise contaminated persons (1-6). When ready, the pot is sanctified by sprinkling it with a solution of pañcagavya (7-11a).
2) Pañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) refers to the “mixture used for purifying places and items”, as discussed in chapter 32 of the Śeṣasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 2800 Sanskrit verses narrated by Śeṣa (=Ananta) to Nārada and dealing primarily with the use of the appropriate mantras for various occasions such as jayantī celebrations.—Description of the chapter [pañcagavya-vidhi]: This chapter turns to the mixture used for purifying places and items—pañcagavya—and tells how to make it and when it must be used (1-50a).

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) refers to “(purification of) the five cow products” and represents one of the various rituals typically performed as a part of the larger rites, according to Buddhist teachings followed by the Newah in Nepal, Kathmandu Valley (whose roots can be traced to the Licchavi period, 300-879 CE).—Pañcagavya, the full name of which is the pañcagavya-śodhana, “Purification of the Five Cow Products”, where cow’s milk, curd, ghee, urine, and dung are mixed together and traditionally consumed, but in modern times is only sprinkled, usually consisting of a mixture of only the first three and water.
Source: De Gruyter: Himalayan Anthropology: The Indo-Tibetan InterfacePañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) refers to the “five substances of cow” and forms part of the ceremonial circle of the kalaśa-pūjā (during which the projected divinity descends into the kalaśa—flask), according to William Stablein’s A Descriptive Analysis of the Content of Nepalese Buddhist Pujas as a Medical-Cultural System (with References to Tibetan Parallels).—The tshog shin (sacred tree) is also mentally visualized.—The saṃkalpa [intention] of the pūjā becomes an āvāhana [call] for the projected divinity to descend in the kalaśa [flask]. [...] The Ceremonial Circle of the kalaśapūjā consists of, e.g., [...] (8) Pañcagavya [the five substances of cow]. [...]

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.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgriculturePañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) refers to the “five products of the cow” (suitable for an offering ritual), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [As the Bhagavān said]: “Now I shall teach the offering manual which is auspicious and can bring about any effect. [...] A bowl should be placed in the middle of the maṇḍalaka. It should be filled with the five products of the cow (pañcagavya), thickened milk and water. Mustard seeds and parched grain should be cast. [...]”.

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.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryPañca-gavya.—(SITI), same as Tamil āna-añju; the five pro- ducts of the cow, viz., milk, butter, curds, urine and dung. Note: pañca-gavya is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarypañcagavya (पंचगव्य).—n (S) Five things derived from the cow,--milk, curds, clarified butter, urine, dung.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishpañcagavya (पंचगव्य).—n Five things derived from the cow-milk, curds, clarified butter, urine, dung.
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 dictionaryPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य).—the five products of the cow taken collectively; i. e. milk, curds, clarified butter or ghee, urine, and cowdung (kṣīraṃ dadhi tathā cājyaṃ mūtraṃ gomayameva ca).
Derivable forms: pañcagavyam (पञ्चगव्यम्).
Pañcagavya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pañcan and gavya (गव्य).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य).—n.
(-vyaṃ) Five articles derived from the cow; viz. milk, curds, clarified butter, cow’s urine, and cow-dung. E. pañca five, and gavya from gau a cow.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य).—n. the five pure things produced by the cow, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 11, 165.
Pañcagavya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pañcan and gavya (गव्य).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य).—[neuter] the five (products) of the cow, i.e. milk, sour milk, butter, urine, & dung.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—[dharma] Oudh. Xix, 82.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Pañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य):—[=pañca-gavya] [from pañca] n. the 5 products of the cow (viz. milk, coagulated or sour milk, butter, and the liquid and solid excreta), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of [work]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य):—[pañca-gavya] (vyaṃ) 1. n. Five articles de- rived from the cow; milk, curds, butter, dung, and urne.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPaṃcagavya (ಪಂಚಗವ್ಯ):—
1) [noun] (pl.) the five things derived from the cow milk, curds, clarified butter, urine and dung (held as auspicious).
2) [noun] a mixture of these things.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryPañcagavya (पञ्चगव्य):—n. the five products of the cow i.e. milk; curd; ghee; urine and cowdung taken collectively (treated by Hindus as sanctifying);
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Gavya, Panca.
Starts with: Pancagavyaghrita, Pancagavyamelanaprakara, Pancagavyapanavant, Pancagavyapanavat, Pancagavyashodhana, Pancagavyasthapana, Pancagavyavidhi.
Full-text (+43): Pancagavyaghrita, Brahmakurca, Yatisamtapana, Pancavika, Pancagavyavidhi, Pamcagavya, Pancamahisha, Pancagavyamelanaprakara, Pancagavyapanavat, Kshira, Gomaya, Pancagavyashodhana, Pancagavyasthapana, Dadhi, Pindika, Pancaja, Gojala, Panchagavy, Udaka, Pavitra.
Relevant text
Search found 52 books and stories containing Pancagavya, Pamcagavya, Paṃcagavya, Panca-gavya, Pañca-gavya, Pañcagavya, Pancan-gavya, Pañcan-gavya; (plurals include: Pancagavyas, Pamcagavyas, Paṃcagavyas, gavyas, Pañcagavyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Ritual drink in the Iranian and Indian traditions (by Nawaz R. Guard)
18. The Pancagavya drink < [Chapter 7 - Drinks under Prayashcittas and ordeals]
21. The drink associated with various Kurcas < [Chapter 7 - Drinks under Prayashcittas and ordeals]
7. Penances for Govadha < [Chapter 7 - Drinks under Prayashcittas and ordeals]
Atharvaveda ancillary literature (Study) (by B. R. Modak)
Part 2.16 - The Brahma-yaga ceremony < [Chapter 2b - A Topical Analysis of the Atharvaveda-Parisistas]
Part 3b.10 - The Brahmakurca-vidhi < [Chapter 2b - A Topical Analysis of the Atharvaveda-Parisistas]
Part 3b.11 - The Tadagadi-vidhi < [Chapter 2b - A Topical Analysis of the Atharvaveda-Parisistas]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.5.13 < [Chapter 5 - Eating the Mendicant Brāhmaṇa’s Offerings]
Isanasivagurudeva Paddhati (study) (by J. P. Prajith)
13. Description of Kalasha-vidhi (rites with filled pots) < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]
7. Ayurveda and Tantra < [Chapter 1 - History and scope of Tantric Literature]
36. Description of Vishnu (rites and rituals) < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]
Narada Purana (English translation) (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 14 - Directions Regarding Dharma and Propitiatory rites < [Part 1 - Prathama-pāda]
Chapter 21 - The Pañcarātri-Vrata: The Holy Rite of Five Nights < [Part 1 - Prathama-pāda]
Chapter 22 - The Māsopavāsa Vrata (Fast for a month) < [Part 1 - Prathama-pāda]
Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 36 - Installation of Śiva < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]
Chapter 23 - The description of infancy (bālya) < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 32 - The rites for achieving worldly benefits < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]
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