The Sanskrit terms Pañcapraśna and Pāñcapraśna can be transliterated into English as Pancaprasna or Pancaprashna, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Panchaprashna.

In Hinduism

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: Wisdom Library: Pancaratra (Samhita list)

1a) Pañcapraśna (पञ्चप्रश्न) is the name of an ancient Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā mentioned in the Kapiñjalasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra work consisting of 1550 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as worship in a temple, choosing an Ācārya, architecture, town-planning and iconography.—For the list of works, see chapter 1, verses 14b-27. The list [including Pañcapraśna-saṃhitā] was said to have comprised “108” titles, these, different saṃhitās named after different manifestations of the Lord or different teachers. They are all said to be authoritative as the ultimate promulgator of all these is the same Nārāyaṇa.

1b) Pañcapraśna (पञ्चप्रश्न) is the name of an ancient Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā mentioned in the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—[Cf. Jñānapāda chapter 1, verses 99-114]—First is explained the folly of following more than one Saṃhitā for a single series of rituals. Then the names of the 108 Tantras of the Pāñcarātra corpus are named [e.g., Pañcapraśna]. Even those who repeat these 108 titles will gain salvation.

1c) Pañcapraśna (पञ्चप्रश्न) or Pañcapraśnasaṃhitā is classified as a Tāmasa (=Pauruṣavākya) type of Pāñcarātra text, according to the Pārameśvarasaṃhitā: an important Pāñcarātra text of 8700 verses followed closely by the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam—dealing with priestly concerns such as their daily routines, occasional liturgies and expiatory services.—[Cf. chapter 10 verses 374-386a].

1d) Pañcapraśna (पञ्चप्रश्न) or Pañcapraśnasaṃhitā is also mentioned in the Puruṣottamasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text consisting of more than 1800 verses devoted to temple-building and the practical concerns of the Pāñcarātra priestly community.

2) Pañcapraśna (पञ्चप्रश्न) or Pañcapraśnatantra is the name of an ancient Pāñcarātra Saṃhitā mentioned in the Bhāradvājasaṃhitā or “Bhāradvāja-kaṇva-saṃhitā”: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 230 ślokas mainly concerned with basic details concerning temple construction and icon consecration.—In the first chapter of the Bhāradvāja-Saṃhitā a list of canonical titles is given—supposedly, but not actually naming “108” titles. The list is almost identical to that found in the Kapiñjala-saṃhitā.

3) Pañcapraśna (पञ्चप्रश्न) or Pañcapraśnasaṃhitā is also mentioned in the Viśvāmitrasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2600 Sanskrit verses covering topics such as initiation (dīkṣā) and the construction, decoration and consecration of temples and icons, as well as routines of regular and special worship cycles.—

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (pancaratra)

Pañcapraśna (पञ्चप्रश्न) or Pañcapraśnasaṃhitā is the name of a Vaiṣṇava Āgama scripture, classified as a tāmasa type of the Muniprokta group of Pāñcarātra Āgamas. The vaiṣṇavāgamas represent one of the three classes of āgamas (traditionally communicated wisdom).—Texts of the Pāñcara Āgamas are divided in to two sects. It is believed that Lord Vāsudeva revealed the first group of texts which are called Divya and the next group is called Muniprokta which are further divided in to three viz. a. Sāttvika. b. Rājasa. c. Tāmasa (e.g., Pañcapraśna-saṃhitā).

context information

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Prashna, Panca.

Starts with: Pancaprashnasamhita, Pancaprashnatantra.

Full-text: Pancaprashnasamhita, Pancaprashnatantra.

Relevant text

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