Panchabrahma, Pañchabrahmā, Pancha-brahma: 1 definition
Introduction:
Panchabrahma 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 Panchhabrahma.
Ambiguity: Although Panchabrahma has separate glossary definitions below, it also represents an alternative spelling of the word Pancabrahma. It further has the optional forms Pancha-brahma, Pañchabrahma and Pañcha-brahma.
In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Wisdom Library: Elements of Hindu Iconograpy1) The five aspects of Śiva known collectively as the Pañchabrahmās and whose individual names are
- Īśāna,
- Tatpuruṣa,
- Aghora,
- Vāmadeva
- and Sadyojāta
are emanations from the niṣkala-Śiva (the formless, unmanifested Parabrahma of the Vedāntins and Vāsudeva of the same state of existence according to the Vaiṣṇavāgamas).
The Viṣṇudharmottara states that these aspects should have each five faces and ten arms; it omits describing one aspect, which is perhaps the Īśāna considered to be above all the other four. The colours of Tatpuruṣa, Aghora, Vāmadeva and Sadyojāta, according to this authority should be white, yellow, black and red respectively and they may also be considered to belong to the four varṇas (castes) namely, the Brāhmaṇa, the Kṣatriya, the Vaiśya and the Sūdra. They should keep in their hands the khaḍga, kheṭaka, dhanu, bāṇa, kamaṇḍalu, akṣamālā, varada, abhaya, śūla and padma.
2) Pañcha-brahmās (पञ्छब्रह्मा):—The Sūta-saṃhitā also conveys the same notion about the nature of the five aspects of Śiva known as the pañcha-brahmās; it states that the universe is pervaded by the Pañcha-brahmā and the man who is able to realise this attains liberation from bondage (saṃsara).
- Īśāna is the ākāśa,
- Tatpuruṣa is air,
- Aghora is fire,
- Vāmadeva is water,
- and Sadyojāta is earth.
But Śrīkaṇṭhāśivāchārya views them somewhat differently; in his Brahma-mīmāṃsa-bhāṣya he tells us that
- Sadāśiva is sound (śabda),
- Īśvara is touch (sparśa),
- Rudra is form (rūpa),
- Viṣṇu is taste (rasa) and
- Brahmā is smell (gandha)
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Pancha, Brahma, Panca.
Starts with: Panchabrahmasana, Panchabrahmasvarupini.
Full-text: Pancabrahma, Sadashiva, Tatpurusha, Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Ishana.
Relevant text
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