Pancapranava, Pañcapraṇava, Panca-pranava: 1 definition

Introduction:

Pancapranava 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Panchapranava.

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Pancapranava in Shaktism glossary
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Pīṭhasaṃketa (पीठसंकेत) refers to the “five Praṇavas”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—As a standard group, the Five Praṇavas [i.e., pañcapraṇava] are sometimes called the ‘group of five seats’ (pīṭhapañcaka) or their ‘convention’ (pīṭhasaṃketa), that is, teaching. A good example of their special power is the goddess's own Vidyā. Vakrikā in her sonic form as the Vidyā, enjoys pre-eminent authority amongst the mantras and, what amounts to the same thing, the deities of the Kubjikā Tantras. Even so, she is sustained (adhiṣṭhitā) by the Five Praṇavas. The Krama, consisting as it does of a series of mantras, is powerless devoid of the Five Praṇavas.

Note: The five together can also be treated as a single unit called ‘pañcapraṇava’—‘the (one called) Five Praṇavas’, ‘pañcārṇa’—‘the (one called) Five Letters’ or simply ‘pañcaka’—‘the Group of Five’. As such the five together are sometimes treated as a single mantra in its own right called ‘pañcākṣarī-vidyā’—‘the Vidyā of Five Syllables’. They may also be called ‘the Five Letters’ (pañcavarṇapañcārṇā pañcavarṇāḥ pañcapraṇavās te).

Shaktism book cover
context information

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.

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