Pancaprakara, Pañcaprakāra, Panca-prakara: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Pancaprakara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Panchaprakara.
In Hinduism
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama TextsPañcaprakāra (पञ्चप्रकार) refers to the “five-fold method (of worshipping Kṛṣṇa)”, as discussed in the tenth chapter [fourth book] of the Jñānāmṛtasārasaṃhita: a Pāñcarātra text representing a sectarian glorification of Kṛṣṇa and Rādha (i.e., the cult of Radha-Krishna) dated among the latest of the Saṃhitā-type works.—Description of the chapter [pañcaprakāra-arcā-vidhi]: Śiva (=Mahādeva) says, having got the various articles of worship (pañcaprakāra-arcā) ready the Lord is to be requested to accept them (1-19). Then he speaks of the five forms of worship: abhigamana, upādāna, yoga, svādhyāya and ijyā—in each case giving a brief explanation (20-24)—and praises them as resulting in the highest sāyujya-type of mukti (25).
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 Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsPañcaprakāra (पञ्चप्रकार) or Pañcaprakāratva refers to a “nature of five modes”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Sentient beings, inflamed by very intense pleasure [and] unsteady from affliction by wrong faith, wander about in a five-fold [com.—with a nature of five modes (pañcaprakāratvena)] life that is difficult to be traversed. It has been stated at length that the cycle of rebirth which is full of suffering is five-fold on account of combining substance, place, right time, life and intention”.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Source: Yale Journal of Music & Religion: Ritual Music in Contemporary Brahmanical Tantric Temples of KeralaPañcaprākāra (पञ्चप्राकार) refers to the “five successive enclosures” surrounding the shrine (=śrīkōvil) of certain temples from Kerala—The earliest Brahmanical temples date from the 9th century, but the architectural design evolved over several centuries and culminated in the systematization of a typical style sanctioned by the Tantrasamuccaya. Such temples, alternatively called kṣetras or ambalams, consist of six parts: (1) the shrine, or śrīkōvil, and (2) the pañcaprākāras, the five successive enclosures surrounding it.
The five Pañcaprākāras are:
- antarmaṇḍala—the innermost enclosure surrounding the śrīkōvil (shrine);
- antahāra—a colonnade including many functional chambers like the kitchen;
- madhyahāra—attached to a structure of poles with lamps affixed on it;
- bāhyahāra—the courtyard around the madhyahāra and includes various structures;
- maryāda—consists of the compound wall with gōpura and a dining hall.
The Pañcaprākāra (five enclosures) of the Temple also correspond to the Pañcakośa or “five sheaths” of the Human Body. These are: the physical sheath (annamayakośa), the vital body sheath (prāṇamayakośa), the mental sheath (manomayakośa), the intellectual sheath (vijñānamayaośa), and the bliss sheath (anandamayakośa). These five sheaths represent the physical body of the deity on the horizontal plane.
According to Kerala Brahmanical temple tradition, the five enclosures (pañcaprākāras) are also connected with the five elements (pañcabhūtas) that constitute the universe. The pañcabhūta theory maintains that the universe consists of five elements: ether (ākāśa), air (vāyu), fire (tejas), water (jala), and earth (pṛthivī). They are associated respectively with the qualities of sound, touch, form, taste, and smell. Each one of them is generated by the previous one and absorbs its qualities.
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)
Partial matches: Prakara, Panca.
Starts with: Pancaprakarana, Pancaprakarani, Pancaprakararca, Pancaprakararcavidhi, Pancaprakaratva.
Full-text: Pancaprakararca, Shushrushaka, Sayujya, Arcavidhi, Svadhyaya, Ijya, Upadana, Abhigamana, Panca, Yoga, Adhikaranirupana.
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Search found 7 books and stories containing Pancaprakara, Pañcaprakāra, Pañca-prakāra, Panca-prakara, Pancaprakaras; (plurals include: Pancaprakaras, Pañcaprakāras, prakāras, prakaras, Pancaprakarases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 127 < [Volume 18 (1915)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 382 < [Volume 2 (1872)]
Kamashastra and Classical Sanskrit literature (study) (by Vishwanath K. Hampiholi)
Chapter 2.6 - Congress or Love-sport < [Chapter 3 - Kamasutra part 2 (Samprayogika)—Critical study]
Isanasivagurudeva Paddhati (study) (by J. P. Prajith)
9. Summary of the Kriya-pada (part 2) of the Isanasivagurudeva-paddhati < [Chapter 2 - A Textual analysis]
Reverberations of Dharmakirti’s Philosophy (by Birgit Kellner)
Kavyalankara-sara-sangraha of Udbhata (by Narayana Daso Banhatti)
Chapter 1—First Varga < [English notes to the Kavyalankara-sara-sangraha]