Alternative spellings of this word include Panchavartika.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Pañcavartikā (पञ्चवर्तिका) refers to a “lamp with five wicks”, which is used in the worship of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.13:—“[...] then Ācamana shall be performed immediately. Then the offering of betel leaves (tāmbūla) with all necessary adjuncts shall be made to Śiva, Ārārtika (the rite of waving lights) shall be performed with a lamp with five wicks (pañcavartikā). Light shall be waved four times at the feet; twice in the umbilical region (nābhimaṇḍala), once near the face (mukha) and seven times over the whole body (sarvāṅga). Then the devotee shall perform meditation as stated before and repeat the mantras”.

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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Pañcavartika (पञ्चवर्तिक) refers to a “five-fold (twine)”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [as the Bhagavān teaches the offering of the root spell], “[...] Four stakes made of khadira wood should be driven into the ground in the four corners of the maṇḍala. This [space] should be encircled with five-coloured five-fold (pañcavartika) twine. Having recited twenty-one times everywhere, a rite should be performed. [...]”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Vartika, Panca.

Relevant text

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