Pancakritya, Pañcakṛtya, Panca-kritya, Pancan-kritya, Pamcakritya: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Pancakritya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Pañcakṛtya can be transliterated into English as Pancakrtya or Pancakritya, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Panchakritya.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य, “five-fold activities”).—According to Śivapurāna 1.10.1-5, “... O Brahmā and Viṣṇu, the permanent cycle of the five-fold duties (pañcakṛtya) consists of creation, maintenance, annihilation, concealment, and blessing.
- Sarga is the creation of the world;
- Sthiti is its maintenance;
- Saṃhāra is the annihilation;
- Tirobhāva is the removal and concealment;
- Liberation (from the cycle of birth and death) is blessing.
These five are my activities but are carried on by others silently as in the case of the statue at the Portal. The first four activities concern the evolution of the world and the fifth one is the cause of salvation. All these constitute my prerogatives.”
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.
Shaktism
Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य, “five functions”).—The three functions of creation, sustenance and dissolution, are further expanded into five functions (pañcakṛtya). They are
- sṛṣṭi (creation),
- sthiti (sustenance),
- laya (dissolution),
- tirodana (veiling of individual consciousness through māya),
- anugraha (unveiling, making the individual realize the Truth beyond Māya).
The Mother presides over these five functions, and hence is called Pañca-kṛtya-pārāyana.
The representatives of these five functions are
- Brahmā (creation),
- Viṣṇu (sustenance),
- Rudra (dissolution),
- Īśvara (veiling),
- Sadāśiva (unveiling, absolute truth).
All these five derive their life force, the strength to act, from the Mother. These five deities are said to form her royal chair, with Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra and Īśvara forming four legs and Sadāśiva forming the plank. Hence the Mother is called Pañca Brahmāsanāsīna. Pañca is five, āsana is seat, asīna is having sit on the seat. The five Brahmas are the five deities mentioned.
Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य) refers to the “five tasks”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “I resort to the glorious sandals of Paramaśiva (Śiva in the Ultimate state), who is eternally in equilibrial union with the Goddess characterised by boundless bliss. I revere the Nityā Śakti of the Lord, i.e. Paramaśiva. She possesses all powers and carries out the five tasks (pañcakṛtya-karī) [for him]. She bestows grace upon all, is eternal, and is the motherly origin of all good. [...]”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Kavyashastra (science of poetry)
Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य) [=kṛtyapañcaka] refers to the “five-fold function”, according to the fourth chapter of the 9th-century Dhvanyāloka of Ānandavardhana (with the Locana of Abhinavagupta): a Sanskrit text dealing with Sanskrit poetics (kāvya-śāstra), the Indian theory of rhetoric (sahitya-śāstra) and the science of aesthetics (alaṃkāra-śāstra).—Śāṅkarī Śakti is here used as a name of Māyā. The components of the fivefold function (kṛtyapañcaka) are listed in a verse attributed to King Bhoja in the Sarvadarśanasaṅgraha 7.77-78.
The pañcakṛtya [=kṛtyapañcaka] (five-fold function) are:
- sṛṣṭi (creation),
- sthiti (maintenance),
- saṃhāra (dissolution),
- tirobhāva (concealment, illusion), and
- anugraha (the favoring of his devotees).
Kavyashastra (काव्यशास्त्र, kāvyaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian tradition of poetry (kavya). Canonical literature (shastra) of the includes encyclopedic manuals dealing with prosody, rhetoric and various other guidelines serving to teach the poet how to compose literature.
Shaiva philosophy
Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य) [=kṛtyapañcaka] refers to the “five cosmic activities”, according to Abhinavagupta’s Īśvarapratyabhijñāvimarśinī (also known as the “doctrine of divine recognition”) with the Sanskrit commentary called Bhāskarī.—Accordingly, [Vol. I, p. 261-262]
The Five cosmic activities (kṛtyapañcaka / kṛtyapañcaka) are:
- the great creation (mahāsṛṣṭi),
- the great maintenance (mahāsthiti),
- the great destruction (mahāpralaya),
- the obscuration (tirodhāna) [due to his anger] and
- the grace (anugraha).
Shaiva philosophy is a spritiual tradition within Hinduism that includes theories such as the relationship between the Atman (individual soul) and Siva, the nature of liberation (moksha), and the concepts of maya (illusion) and shakti (divine energy). Saiva philosophy teaches that union with Shiva can be achieved through knowledge, devotion, and spiritual practice. It encompasses major branches like Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmir Shaivism.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य).—the five actions by which the Supreme Power manifests itself (sṛṣṭi, sthiti, saṃhāra, tirobhāva and anugraha- karaṇa).
Derivable forms: pañcakṛtyam (पञ्चकृत्यम्).
Pañcakṛtya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pañcan and kṛtya (कृत्य).
1) Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य):—[=pañca-kṛtya] [from pañca] n. the 5 actions by which the supreme power manifests itself (viz. sṛṣṭi, sthiti, saṃhāra, tirobhāva and anugraha-karaṇa), [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a species of plant, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य):—(pañcan + kṛ) m. eine best. Pflanze, = paktapauḍa [Rājanirghaṇṭa im Śabdakalpadruma]
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Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य):—n. am Anfange eines comp. die fünf Thätigkeiten, in denen sich die göttliche Macht offenbart, nämlich sṛṣṭi, sthiti, saṃhāra, tirobhāva und anugrahakaraṇa, [SARVADARŚANAS. 83, 16]; vgl. [84, 5.]
Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य):—1. n. die fünf Thätigkeiten , in denen sich die göttliche Macht offenbart.
--- OR ---
Pañcakṛtya (पञ्चकृत्य):—2. m. eine best. Pflanze.
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
Paṃcakṛtya (ಪಂಚಕೃತ್ಯ):—
1) [noun] (pl.) the five functions designed by the Divine Grace creation, maintenance, final destruction, a being out of sight (disappearance) and benevolence (or bestowal).
2) [noun] (pl.) the five professions swordsmanship, writing, agriculture, commerce and sculpture [?].
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)
Partial matches (+0): Kritya, Panca.
Starts with (+0): Pancakrityakarin.
Full-text (+0): Pancakrityakarin, Paktapauda, Sthiti, Tirobhava, Anugraha, Sarga, Samhara, Kriti, Kritivarga, Anadisamsiddha.
Relevant text
Search found 12 books and stories containing Pancakritya, Pañcakṛtya, Panca-kritya, Pañca-kṛtya, Panca-krtya, Pancakrtya, Pancan-kritya, Pañcan-kṛtya, Pancan-krtya, Pamcakritya, Paṃcakṛtya, Pancakṛtya, Panca-kṛtya, Pamcakrtya; (plurals include: Pancakrityas, Pañcakṛtyas, krityas, kṛtyas, krtyas, Pancakrtyas, Pamcakrityas, Paṃcakṛtyas, Pancakṛtyas, Pamcakrtyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
C < [July – September 1977]
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 4.3 - (f) The transcendental and immanent Dance < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]
Chapter 4.3 - (a) Nataraja (the dance of Shiva) < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 262 [Kāli’s greatness revealed] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]
Part 2 - Emergence of Śaiva philosophy < [Philosophy of Kashmir Tantric System]
Verse 298 [Cakranavaka] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]
Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 10 - The five-fold activities (pañcakṛtya) and the Oṃkāra-mantra < [Section 1 - Vidyeśvara-saṃhitā]
Principle of Shakti in Kashmir Shaivism (Study) (by Nirmala V.)
Part 2.12 - Kriyāśakti: The Power of Action < [Chapter 2 - The form and functions of Śakti in Kashmir Śaivism]
Pratyabhijna and Shankara’s Advaita (comparative study) (by Ranjni M.)