Pancahasta, Pañcahasta, Pancan-hasta: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Pancahasta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Panchahasta.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationPañcahasta (पञ्चहस्त) refers to “five hands”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.16 (“The head of Gaṇeśa is chopped off”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] Thereupon the trident fell from the hand of Śiva of supreme soul. Seeing this, Śiva the source of great enjoyment and protection took up his bow Pināka. Gaṇeśa felled that to the ground by means of his iron club. Five of his hands too were struck. He took up the trident with the other five hands (pañcahasta) [hatāḥ paṃca tathā hastāḥ pañcabhiḥ śūlamādade]. ‘Alas, this has been more distressing even to me. What may not happen to the Gaṇas?’ Śiva who followed the worldly conventions cried out like this. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexPañcahasta (पञ्चहस्त).—A son of Dakṣasāvarṇī.*
- * Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 2. 24.
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
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgriculturePañcahasta (पञ्चहस्त) refers to “(a measure of) five hastas”, according to the 2nd-century Meghasūtra (“Cloud Sutra”) in those passages which contain ritual instructions.—Accordingly, “He who desires a mighty rain must perform this rite ‘the great-cloud-circle’ in an open space, overspread by a blue canopy, shaded by a blue banner, on a clear spot of earth; [...] then the prophet of the Law, after having painted towards the four quarters with liquid cow-dung on a reed, in the eastern quarter three hastas high must depict the snake-king called Triśīrṣaka, with cow-dung: in the southern quarter him called Pañcaśīrṣaka five hastas high (pañcahasta-mātra); in the western, seven hastas high, Saptaśīrṣaka; in the northern, Navaśīrṣaka, nine hastas high. [...]”.
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: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study (history)Pañcahasta (पञ्चहस्त) is the name of a sacred spot mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—Pañcahasta is the present village of Pānzath situated in Divasar pargana.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Pañcahasta (पञ्चहस्त):—[=pañca-hasta] [from pañca] m. ‘5-handed’, Name of a son of Manu, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] of a place, [Rājataraṅgiṇī]
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Hasta, Panca.
Full-text: Dakshasavarni.
Relevant text
Search found 9 books and stories containing Pancahasta, Pañcahasta, Panca-hasta, Pancan-hasta, Pañca-hasta, Pañcan-hasta; (plurals include: Pancahastas, Pañcahastas, hastas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Nilamata Purana (by Dr. Ved Kumari)
The Markandeya Purana (by Frederick Eden Pargiter)
Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis) (by S. Anusha)
Sarga V: Amuktāyudha-nirūpaṇa (51 Verses) < [Chapter 2]
Kashyapa Shilpa-shastra (study) (by K. Vidyuta)
3. The Breadth, Length and Height of the Gopuras < [Chapter 5 - Gopura Lakṣaṇa]
The Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 13 - Description of the Future Manvantaras < [Book 8 - Eighth Skandha]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 34 - The enumeration of Manvantaras < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]