Pancamudra, Pañcamudrā, Pancan-mudra: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Pancamudra 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 Panchamudra.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Pañcamudrā (पञ्चमुद्रा) refer to a series of five gesture (mudrā) mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 1.20, while explaining the mode of worshipping an earthen phallic image (pārthiva-liṅga) according to the Vedic rites:—“[...] he shall show the ‘Śiva Mudrā’ with the mantra ‘Eṣa te’; the Abhayamudrā with the mantra ‘Yato Yataḥ’ etc. and the Jñāna-mudrā with the Tryambaka-mantra. The Mahāmudrā shall be shown with the mantra ‘Namaḥ Senā-’ etc. He shall then show the Dhenumudrā with the mantra ‘Namo Gobhyaḥ’ etc. After showing all these five Mudrās (pañcamudrā) he shall perform the ‘Śiva Mantra Japa’. The devotee well versed in the Vedas shall recite the ‘Śatarudriya’ mantra”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Pañcamudrā (पञ्चमुद्रा) refers to the “five insignia”, items of Kāpālika paraphernalia worn by human practitioners and appearing in the iconography of the deities [referred to as mudrālaṅkaraṇa]. The description pañcamudrā-vibhūṣita (“decorated by the five insignia”) is common; cf., e.g., Heruka described in Kṛṣṇayamāritantra 16.3b, or the practitioner in Brahmayāmala 21.31b.
In his commentary on the Kṛṣṇayamāritantra verse, Kumāracandra lists the five mudrās as:—
- cakri (perhaps “chaplet?”),
- kuṇḍalaka (earrings),
- kaṇṭhī (necklace),
- rucaka (bracelet?),
- mekhala (girdle).
Cf. Hevajratanta i.viii.17 and ii.vi.3–4. That rucaka is a bracelet is suggested by reference to it being “on the hand” in i.viii.17b; and that cakri or cakrikā is a head ornament is suggested by ii.vi.3ab, which states it is “worn for paying homage [i.e. prostrating] to the Guru, Ācārya, and personal deity”.
Jayabhadra, however, commenting on Laghusaṃvaratantra 27.4, lists the sacred thread (yajñopavīta) instead of girdle (mekhala).
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
1) Pañcamudrā (पञ्चमुद्रा) (Cf. Mudrāpañcaka) refers to “one wearing the five insignias” and is used to describe Śaṃkara (i.e., Bhairava), according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, as the Goddess (i.e., Khageśī) said to the God (i.e., Bhairava), “[...] Being one who has matted hair, shaved head, (having a) topknot, carrying a skull, smeared with ashes or wearing the five insignias [i.e., pañcamudrā-dhara]—O god, (none of this) leads to accomplishment in the Kula tradition. (Even) a renouncer who does not bear the five insignias and is naked does not quickly achieve success in the western (transmission) of the House of the Yoginīs. This is forbidden and (so) all this is absent in the Kaula (teachings). O Maheśvara, as this is improper how can the Command be given to you?”.
2) Pañcamudrā (पञ्चमुद्रा) refers to the “five seals” (of the lower wheels), according to the Kaulajñānanirṇaya.—Accordingly, “The Nameless (energy) [i.e., anāmā] is fixed in the Heart [i.e., hṛdaya]. This is the Gesture (mudrā) that bestows the goddess. If one sees her in the End of the Twelve, she shines (like) a necklace of gems. This is the Gesture (mudrā) called Anāmā; once (it is) known (one attains) the (liberated) sky-faring state. O beloved, one must break though the door which, endowed with consciousness, is sealed with the Five Seals (of the lower Wheels) [i.e., pañcamudrā] and is well obstructed by the chain (of the door). [...]”.
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.
Mantrashastra (the science of Mantras)
Pañcamudrā (पञ्चमुद्रा) refers to the “five Mudrās (signs)” (viz., conch, disc, mace, lotus and yoni), according to the Śeṣa-samhitā (p.26, mudrāvidhi).—Mantras refers to “that which is chanted by people to obtain their spiritual aspirations”. Mantras must be accompanied by the prescribed mudrās or signs. Mudrā is the position of the hand and finger indicative of various moods and sentiments, and accelerate the effectiveness of the accompanying mantras.
The pañcamudrās are:
- conch (śaṅkha-mudrā),
- disc (cakra-mudrā),
- mace (gadā-mudrā),
- lotus (padma-mudrā) and
- yoni (yoni-mudrā).
The Śeṣasamhitā states that the five mudrās (pañcamudrā) as conch, disc, mace, lotus and yoni yield the four puruṣārthas when displayed in the middle and end of a japa.
Mantrashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, mantraśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mantras—chants, incantations, spells, magical hymns, etc. Mantra Sastra literature includes many ancient books dealing with the methods reciting mantras, identifying and purifying its defects and the science behind uttering or chanting syllables.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Pañcamudrā (पञ्चमुद्रा) refers to the “five insignias” worn by the initiate who observed the outer form of the Vow of Knowledge, according to the Buddhist Hevajratantra.—Accordingly, “He receives the five symbolic adornments, crown [cakrī], earrings [kuṇḍala], necklace [kaṇṭhī], bracelets [rucaka], and girdle, as signs of his success. These he wears on those set occasions... when perfected Yogins and Yoginīs come together, to consume flesh and wine, to sing and dance, and realised their consummation of bliss. He is free from all conventions and wanders as he pleases, knowing no distinction between friend and foe, clean or unclean, good or evil”.
The god Hevajra wears the same five insignia (pañcamudrā) that, symbolizing the Five Buddhas of the directions, possess their purifying power. Accordingly, “The crown is worn for the adoration of one’s guru and master and chosen divinity. Earrings are worn to indicate one's deafness to evil words spoken against one's guru and ‘vajra-holder’. The necklace suggests the mantras intoned, the bracelets one's renunciation of harming living-beings, the girdle one's service of the Mudrā [i.e. Tantric consort]. The body should always be signed with these signs of the Five Buddhas”.
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
Pañcamudrā (पञ्चमुद्रा) refers to the “five bone ornaments” (according to the Kāpālika tradition), as mentioned in the Kalleśvara inscription.—One important piece of epigraphical evidence is from the thirteenth century, namely the Kalleśvara inscription (AD 1279, 21st September, Thursday) from, Jagalur tāluka, Karnataka. This inscription records the donation of a village to a “kula-guru śiva-yogī yogī-cakravartī (world-conquerer)” named Prasādadeva on the occasion of a lunar eclipse (EC 1903: 87,154-5, 232-4). [...] The 6th line in the inscription reads ‘pañcamudrā-dhara-vara-tapo-niṣṭha-nikāmanuṃ’. The term ‘pañcamudrā’ is very enigmatic: the concept of ‘pañcamudrā’ (Tibetan: phyag rgya-rigs-inga), originally belonging to the Kāpālika tradition, is identified as ‘five bone ornaments’ worn by wrathful female deities of the highest Yoga Tantra like Mahāvidya Tārā and Kubjikā. In this inscription, we find what appears to be an enumeration of Prasādadeva’s lineage. [...]
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
Pañcamudrā (पञ्चमुद्रा).—five gestures to be made in presenting offerings to an idol; viz आवाहनी, स्थापनी, संनिधापनी, संबोधनी (āvāhanī, sthāpanī, saṃnidhāpanī, saṃbodhanī) and संमुखीकरणी (saṃmukhīkaraṇī); see मुद्रा (mudrā).
Pañcamudrā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pañcan and mudrā (मुद्रा).
Pañcamudrā (पञ्चमुद्रा).—f.
(-drā) Five gestures to be made in the usual presentation of offerings to an idol. E. pañca, and mudrā gesture.
Pañcamudrā (पञ्चमुद्रा):—[=pañca-mudrā] [from pañca] f. 5 gestures to be made in presenting offerings to an idol, [Horace H. Wilson]
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 (+0): Mudra, Panca.
Starts with (+0): Pancamudraprakarana.
Full-text (+1): Pancamudraprakarana, phyag rgya rigs inga, Mudralankarana, Padma, Yoni, Yonimudra, Padmamudra, Shankhamudra, Cakramudra, Gadamudra, Cakra, Shankha, Gada, Hevajratantra, Rucaka, Cakri, Kundala, Kanti, Mudrapancaka, Gopana.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Pancamudra, Panca-mudra, Pañca-mudrā, Pañcamudrā, Pancan-mudra, Pañcan-mudrā; (plurals include: Pancamudras, mudras, mudrās, Pañcamudrās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
On the use of Human remains in Tibetan ritual objects (by Ayesha Fuentes)
Conclusion: Skulls and charnel ornaments in Tibetan sources < [Chapter 2 - The use of skulls and bone ornaments]
Bone ornaments (Rügyen or “rus rgyan”) and Tantric practice < [Chapter 4 - Human remains in Tibetan ritual objects: A technical study]
Charnel materials in the Saṃvara tradition < [Chapter 2 - The use of skulls and bone ornaments]
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Part 1d - Pentads of Krama system < [Krama system and Trika school]
Verse 124 [Vṛnda-krama and Mudrāpañcaka] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 46 - Vīreśvara (vīra-īśvara-liṅga) < [Section 2 - Caturaśīti-liṅga-māhātmya]
Chapter 83 - Manifestation of Vīreśvara < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Chapter 10 - The Worlds Of Indra And Agni < [Section 1 - Pūrvārdha]
Hevajra Tantra (analytical study) (by Seung Ho Nam)
1.5. The Four Energy Centres (cakra) < [Chapter 4 - Tantric Cult in Hevajra Tantra]
3.1. The Generation Stage < [Chapter 3 - Tantric Doctrine in Hevajra Tantra]
Can Tantra Make a Mātā Middle-Class? < [Volume 8, Issue 8 (2017)]