Pancakula, Pañcakula, Pancan-kula: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Pancakula means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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 Panchakula.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhist Teachers, Deities and other Spiritual beingsPañcakula (पञ्चकुल) refers to the “five Buddha families” (in Tibetan: rigs lnga) and forms part of the “Forty-two Peaceful Deities” (Tibetan: zhi ba'i lha zhe gnyis) according to various sources such as the Guhyagarbha Tantra and the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
The Five Families (pañcakula) are:
- Buddha family (tathāgatakula) (Vairocana and his consort Dhātvīśvarī,
- Vajra family (vajrakula) (Akṣobhya and his consort Buddhalocanā),
- Ratna family (ratnakula) (Ratnasambhava and his consort Māmakī),
- Padma family (padmakula) (Amitābha and his consort Paṇḍaravāsinī),
- Karma family (karmakula) (Amoghasiddhi and his consort Samayatārā).
Pañcakula (पञ्चकुल) refers to “five families”, according to the Guru-maṇḍala-arcana [i.e., “Guru Mandala Worship]” ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “Oṃ this here, all this rank of a Buddha, as well as for your worship, a crown sprung from five families (makuṭa-pañcakula-udbhava). Accept the greatest crown of all Buddhas Svāhā!”.
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.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryPañcakula.—(IE 8-3; EI 5, 25; CII 4; LP; HRS), the Pañcāyat Board; an assembly of administrators and arbitrators, usually consisting of five members; a board of administration charged with control of the customs house, with the deposit of property of persons dying without heirs into the royal treasury, etc.; also called pañcapa (EI 4); members of such a board; according to some, an officer over a certain number of villages (HD). Cf. Ind. Ant., Vol. XI, p. 242. Cf. Pañcavīra, Pāñcakulika, añjaṣṭasabhā, etc. Note: pañcakula 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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Pancakulodbhava.
Full-text (+6): Pancakulodbhava, Pancapa, Pancayat, Mahapancakulika, Pancakulika, Pancoli, Pancika, Anjashta-sabha, Anjashta-shattu-sabhai, Pancayati, Panca, Panciyaka-drama, Pancavira, Las kyi rigs, Ratnakula, Padmakula, Pancaka, Vajrakula, Pad ma'i rigs, Rin chen rigs.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Pancakula, Pañca-kula, Panca-kula, Pañcakula, Pancan-kula, Pañcan-kula; (plurals include: Pancakulas, kulas, Pañcakulas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)
Commentary 1.2: The classification (of commitments) < [Chapter 19 (Text And Commentary)]
Brihatkatha-kosha (cultural study) (by Himanshu Shekhar Acharya)