Pancaratra, Pañcarātra, Panca-ratra, Pāñcarātra, Pancan-ratra: 10 definitions

Introduction

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
See also

Pancaratra 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 Pancharatra.

In Hinduism

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: ISKCON Press: Glossary

Pañcarātra (पञ्चरात्र).—Vedic literatures describing the process of Deity worship.

Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)

Pañcarātra (पञ्चरात्र) refers to “group of devotional scriptures that assist in the practice of the principal limbs of bhakti; they cover five topics: (a) the process of cleansing the temple, (b) performing āratika with flowers, incense, etc., (c) worship, bathing, etc. of the deity of Śrī Viṣṇu, (d) the performance of meditation on the holy name and on śrī gāyatrī, (e) recita-tion of verses and prayers, performance of nāma-kīrtana and study of scriptures such as Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which establish tattva-jñāna. The Pañcarātras are numerous, some of them being prominent in the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava lineage: Śrī Nārada-pañcarātra, Śrī Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra and Śrī Śāṇḍilya-pañcarātra”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).

Source: Pure Bhakti: Arcana-dipika - 3rd Edition

Pañcarātra (पञ्चरात्र) refers to:—A section of the Vedic scriptures. There are many Pañcarātras. Those mostly referred to by the Gauḍīya sampradayā are Śrī Nārada-pañcarātra, Śrī Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra and Śrī Śāṇḍilya-pañcarātra. (cf. Glossary page from Arcana-dīpikā).

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Pañcarātra (पञ्चरात्र).—An āgama (a system of philosophy). (Chapter 218, Śānti Parva).

2) Pāñcarātra (पाञ्चरात्र).—A book of spiritual doctrines. He who learns this will attain the position of Uparicaravasu. Śloka 25, Chapter 325, Śānti Parva).

Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study

Pāñcarātra (पाञ्चरात्र) refers to a system of worship that was once commonly practised in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) according to the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—Pāñcarātra system of worship is prescribed for the worship of Viṣṇu, which in its turn anticipates the popularity of the Pāñcarātra cult in Kaśmīra. The cults of the Bhāgavatas and the Pāñcarātras were originally different; the former had Vāsudeva-Nārāyaṇa as their deity and the latter worshipped four Vyūhas, namely, Vāsudeva, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Aniruddha and Pradyumna.

context information

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.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (pancaratra)

Pāñcarātra (पाञ्चरात्र) or Pāñcarātrāgama refers to one of the two classifications of Vaiṣṇavāgamas: 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.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Pāñcarātra (पाञ्चरात्र).—Name of a Vaiṣṇava sect and its doctrine; भक्तिमार्ग (bhaktimārga); परस्पराङ्गान्येतानि पाञ्चरात्रं च कथ्यते । एष एकान्तिनां धर्मो नारायणपरात्मकः (parasparāṅgānyetāni pāñcarātraṃ ca kathyate | eṣa ekāntināṃ dharmo nārāyaṇaparātmakaḥ) || Mb.12.348.82.

Derivable forms: pāñcarātram (पाञ्चरात्रम्).

--- OR ---

Pañcarātra (पञ्चरात्र).—

1) a period of five nights; इत्यर्थं वयमानीताः पञ्चरात्रोऽपि विद्यते (ityarthaṃ vayamānītāḥ pañcarātro'pi vidyate) Pañch.3.24.

2) Name of one of Bhāsa's dramas.

3) Name of a philosophical treatise attributed to Nārada.

4) Name of an अहीन (ahīna) (sacrifice) lasting for 5 days; स एतं पञ्चरात्रं पुरुषमेधं यज्ञक्रतुमपश्यत् (sa etaṃ pañcarātraṃ puruṣamedhaṃ yajñakratumapaśyat) Śat. Br.; cf. Mb.12.218. 11.

Derivable forms: pañcarātram (पञ्चरात्रम्).

Pañcarātra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pañcan and rātra (रात्र).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Pañcarātra (पञ्चरात्र).—1. [masculine] five days (nights).

--- OR ---

Pañcarātra (पञ्चरात्र).—2. [adjective] lasting five days.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Pañcarātra (पञ्चरात्र):—[=pañca-rātra] [from pañca] m. a period of 5 days (nights), [Kauśika-sūtra; Manu-smṛti] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] mfn. (tra) lasting 5 days, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata] (also traka, [Pañcatantra])

3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of an Ahīna (See 1. ah) which lasts 5 days, [Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇa; ???]

4) [v.s. ...] Name of the sacred books of various Vaiṣṇava sects (also [plural]), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa etc.]

5) Pāñcarātra (पाञ्चरात्र):—[=pāñca-rātra] [from pāñca] m. [plural] Name of a Vaiṣṇava sect following the doctrine of their sacred book called Pañcarātra, [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha; Colebrooke; Catalogue(s)]

6) [v.s. ...] n. the doctrine of the Pāñcarātras, [ib.] (also trya and traka)

7) [v.s. ...] Name of sub voce works.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.

Relevant text

Search found 30 books and stories containing Pancaratra, Pañcarātra, Panca-ratra, Pañca-rātra, Pāñcarātra, Pancan-ratra, Pañcan-rātra, Pāñca-rātra; (plurals include: Pancaratras, Pañcarātras, ratras, rātras, Pāñcarātras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Brahma-Sūtra 2.2.42 < [Adhikaraṇa 8 - Sūtras 42-45]

Brahma-Sūtra 2.2.45 < [Adhikaraṇa 8 - Sūtras 42-45]

Brahma-Sūtra 2.2.43 < [Adhikaraṇa 8 - Sūtras 42-45]

+ 3 more chapters / show preview

Part 12 - Bhāgavata and the Bhagavad-gita < [Chapter XIV - The Philosophy of the Bhagavad-gītā]

Part 3 - Sāṃkhya and Yoga in the Gītā < [Chapter XIV - The Philosophy of the Bhagavad-gītā]

Part 12 - Viṣṇu, Vasudeva and Kṛṣṇa < [Chapter XIV - The Philosophy of the Bhagavad-gītā]

+ 2 more chapters / show preview

Part 2 - The Position of the Pañcarātra Literature < [Chapter XVI - The Pañcarātra]

Part 2 - God and the World < [Chapter XIX - The Philosophy of Yāmunācārya]

Part 1 - Date of Bhāskara < [Chapter XV - The Bhāskara School of Philosophy]

+ 16 more chapters / show preview