Paratantra, Para-tantra, Paratamtra: 19 definitions
Introduction:
Paratantra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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.
In Hinduism
Samkhya (school of philosophy)
Paratantra (परतन्त्र, “dependent”).—That which depend on others for its existence and activities is called paratantra. The vyaktas (manifests) are dependent on some entity for their existence and activities and for this reason the vyaktas are called paratantra. This is what is meant by Vācaspati in saying—“paratantram buddhyādi...”, Māṭhara very clearly says—“paratantram parādhinam”, which means paratantra is dependence on others. Both of them explain, almost in similar fashion, the dependence of different vyaktas on other elements—either on another vyakta or on avyakta. As they say, all the effects are dependent on their respective causes.
Samkhya (सांख्य, Sāṃkhya) is a dualistic school of Hindu philosophy (astika) and is closeley related to the Yoga school. Samkhya philosophy accepts three pramanas (‘proofs’) only as valid means of gaining knowledge. Another important concept is their theory of evolution, revolving around prakriti (matter) and purusha (consciousness).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Paratantra (परतन्त्र) refers to “having been made subservient”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.29 (“Śivā-Śiva dialogue”).—Accordingly, as Śiva said to Pārvatī: “[...] O gentle lady, I, the independent, have been made subservient (paratantra) by you. You alone are the great illusory power, the Primordial nature that creates. This entire universe has been made of illusion; it is held by the supreme soul with His great intellect. It is united and enveloped by the Gaṇas of the nature of pervading souls of meritorious deeds, akin to the nature of supreme soul. [...]”.
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)
1) Paratantra (परतन्त्र) or Paratantrapūjā refers to “special worship for when the Vīralakṣmī’s shrine is part of a Viṣṇu temple”, as discussed in the seventh chapter of the Īśvarasaṃhitā (printed edition), a Pāñcarātra work in 8200 verses and 24 chapters dealing with topics such as routines of temple worship, major and minor festivals, temple-building and initiation.—Description of the chapter [lakṣmī-sudarśana-arcana-vidhi]: [...] The third form (i.e., Vīralakṣmī) is to be worshipped with a separate liturgy (7-9). How this is done—where the shrine is located, decorated, how her image is to be modelled, how her presence invoked (23), the proper stotras of praise to be raised (48-61), special liturgies and festivals devoted solely to her, etc.—is given for when the shrine is part of a Viṣṇu temple [paratantra-pūjā] (10-68), and, even more elaborately, for when she is in a temple dedicated only to her [svatantra-pūjā] (69-90a). [...]
2) Paratantra (परतन्त्र) refers to the “subsidiary shrines” (of goddess Lakṣmī), as discussed in chapter 25 of the Śrīpraśnasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 5500 Sanskrit verses covering a number of subjects ranging from selecting a temple site through building and furnishing it to sanctifying and maintaining worship in the sacred complex.—Description of the chapter [lakṣmīpratiṣṭhā-vidhi]: Lakṣmī shrines are of two kinds: subsidiary (paratantra) and independent. In either case, the (female) attendant deities must be attended to and installed with all sobriety. In either case, also, certain annual festivals are called for by the presence of Lakṣmī and these must be regularly attended to (1-23; 39-53). Inserted within these observations is the story of Lakṣmī’s birth and marriage to Viṣṇu (24-38).
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.
In Buddhism
Buddhist philosophy
Paratantra (परतन्त्र) refers to the “real world”.—The ultimate truth for Yogācāras, however, is beyond dravyasat (“causally existent”). It is emptiness (śūnyatā) or consciousness only (vijñaptimātra), i.e., the fact that there is no imagined thing (parikalpita) in the real world (paratantra). In other words, the ultimate truth is that there is nothing external which corresponds to cognition and that cognition alone exists. This sphere is inef fable and only the domain of the supernatural cognition (lokottarajñāna) of enlightened ones.
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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Paratantra (परतन्त्र) in Sanskrit refers to “dependent phenomena” and represents one of the “Three Natures” or “Three Characteristics” (in Cittamātra ontology).—They represent the three types of phenomena which are known in Tibetan mtshan nyid gsum.—The Cittamātrins assert that dharmas established from their own side, without being merely imputed by thought, are specifically characterized, established by their own characteristics, and truly established; while dharmas established as mere imputations by thought are the reverse. They assert both the dependent nature and the thoroughly established nature as truly established, and the imaginary nature as non–truly established. These are the three “natures” or “characteristics” [e.g., dependent phenomena (gzhan dbang, paratantra)] into which, according to Cittamātrins, all existents may be divided.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
paratantra (परतंत्र).—a (S) Subject to another.
paratantra (परतंत्र).—a Subject to another.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Paratantra (परतन्त्र).—a. dependent on another, dependent, subservient.
Paratantra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms para and tantra (तन्त्र).
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Paratantra (परतन्त्र).—(a common group of) subsidiaries belonging to another; जैमिनेः परतन्त्रापत्तेः स्वतन्त्रप्रतिषेधः स्यात् (jaimineḥ paratantrāpatteḥ svatantrapratiṣedhaḥ syāt) MS.12.1.8. (see tantram).
Derivable forms: paratantram (परतन्त्रम्).
Paratantra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms para and tantra (तन्त्र).
Paratantra (परतन्त्र).—dependent on something else, as one of the three svabhāva, q.v., in Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra: explained Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 67.15; mentioned 130.9; Suzuki, relative knowledge or relativity; the same triad called lakṣaṇa, q.v., in Mahāvyutpatti and Asaṅga (Mahāyāna-sūtrālaṃkāra); paratantra-l° Mahāvyutpatti 1664; °trasya lakṣaṇaṃ Asaṅga (Mahāyāna-sūtrālaṃkāra) xi.40 (Lévi, indice du relatif).
Paratantra (परतन्त्र).—mfn.
(-ntraḥ-ntrā-ntraṃ) Subservient, obedient, dependant. E. para another, tantra will.
Parātantra (परातन्त्र) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—tantra. Cu. add. 1477. Io. 1412.
1) Paratantra (परतन्त्र):—[=para-tantra] [from para] n. a rule or formula for another rite, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra]
2) [v.s. ...] mf(ā)n. dependent on or subject to an°, obedient (opp. to sva-t), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature; Suśruta] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] n. ([in the beginning of a compound]) dependence on an°’s will, [Sāhitya-darpaṇa]
4) Pāratantra (पारतन्त्र):—[=pāra-tantra] [from pāra] [wrong reading] for trya.
Paratantra (परतन्त्र):—[para-tantra] (ntraḥ-ntrā-ntraṃ) a. Dependent.
Paratantra (परतन्त्र):—1. (para + ta) n. die Regel —, die Norm —, das Ritual für eine andere heilige Handlung [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 6, 10, 28.]
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Paratantra (परतन्त्र):—2. (wie eben) adj. f. ā von einem Andern abhängig, einem Andern gehorchend (Gegens. svatantra) [Amarakoṣa 3, 1, 16.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 356.] [Halāyudha 2, 186.] [Mahābhārata 13, 15.] [Suśruta 1, 44, 10. 313, 14.] [SĀṂKHYAK. 10.] [KĀM. NĪTIS. 11, 27.] [Prabodhacandrodaja 37, 4.] [WASSILJEW 291 u.s.w.] pratijñā [Kathāsaritsāgara 26, 189.] kuṭilaśvaśrū [29, 74.] tantrīkṛta [Kullūka] zu [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 8, 82.] nom. abstr. tantratā f.: guru [Sāhityadarpana 20, 20.]
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Pāratantra (पारतन्त्र):—[Rājataraṅgiṇī 2, 93] fehlerhaft für tantrya .
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Paratantra (परतन्त्र):—2. , paratantrīkṛta so v. a. einem Andern abgetreten, verkauft [Kathāsaritsāgara 74, 81.]
Paratantra (परतन्त्र):—1. n. die Norm für eine andere heilige Handlung.
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Paratantra (परतन्त्र):—2. Adj. (f. ā) von einem Andern abhängig [Veṇīsaṃhāra 14,16.17.] einem Andern gehorchend , abhängig von (im Comp. vorangehend). Nom.abstr. tā f. Comm. zu [Mṛcchakaṭika 29,7.]
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Pāratantra (पारतन्त्र):—[Rājataraṃgiṇī 2,93.] Fehlerhaft für tantrya.
Paratantra (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 依 [yī]: “support”.
2) 依他性 [yī tā xìng]: “other-dependent in nature”.
3) 因緣法 [yīn yuán fǎ]: “dependently arisen”.
4) 因緣法體 [yīn yuán fǎ tǐ]: “essence of phenomena being causes and conditions”.
5) 屬他 [shǔ tā]: “to be subordinate to others”.
6) 緣起 [yuán qǐ]: “dependent arising”.
7) 繋屬 [jì shǔ]: “bound on”.
8) 繫屬 [xì shǔ]: “be bound up”.
9) 他力 [tā lì]: “other-power”.
Note: paratantra can be alternatively written as: para-tantra.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). 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.
Hindi dictionary
Parataṃtra (परतंत्र) [Also spelled partantra]:—(a) dependent; slave; subordinate(d), subjugated; heteronomous; ~[tā] dependence; slavery; subordination; subjugation; heteronomy.
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Kannada-English dictionary
Parataṃtra (ಪರತಂತ್ರ):—
1) [noun] the condition of being ruled by an outsider, esp. a foreigner or a foreign country.
2) [noun] the condition of relying on another or others for sustenance without making any useful contribution or return; parasitism.
3) [noun] he who lives so; a parasite.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Paratantra (परतन्त्र):—adj. dependent; subject (to);
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Para, Tantra.
Starts with: Paramtrate, Paratamtrajivana, Paratamtrajivi, Paratantradrishti, Paratantrahamsopanishad, Paratantralakshana, Paratantrapuja, Paratantrata.
Full-text (+51): Paratantrata, Paratantrahamsopanishad, Paratantrya, Paratantradrishti, Paratamtrajivi, Yi ta xing, Yi ta qi xing, Cikitsaparatantra, Paratamtrajivana, Paratantralakshana, Paratantri, Pare, Paramtrate, Paratantiram, Partantra, Paratantrika, Cikitsakalika, Paratantrikrita, Trilakshana, Yi ta xiang.
Relevant text
Search found 48 books and stories containing Paratantra, Para-tantra, Parā-tantra, Pāra-tantra, Paratamtra, Parataṃtra, Parātantra, Pāratantra; (plurals include: Paratantras, tantras, Paratamtras, Parataṃtras, Parātantras, Pāratantras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 291 < [Bengali-Hindi-English, Volume 3]
Page 199 < [Hindi-Bengali-English Volume 2]
Page 192 < [Hindi-English-Nepali (1 volume)]
Varahi Tantra (English Study) (by Roberta Pamio)
Chapter 25 - The seventeen-syllabled Mantra < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
Chapter 24 - Kālīkrama (according to the seventh chapter of the Parātantra) < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
Hevajra Tantra (analytical study) (by Seung Ho Nam)
4. The Cittamatra View of Emptiness < [Chapter 1 - Tantric Buddhism]
Tiruvaymoli (Thiruvaimozhi): English translation (by S. Satyamurthi Ayyangar)
Pasuram 4.5.7 < [Section 5 - Fifth Tiruvaymoli (Virriruntu el ulakum)]
Kavyalankara-sara-sangraha of Udbhata (by Narayana Daso Banhatti)
Chapter 1—First Varga < [English notes to the Kavyalankara-sara-sangraha]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)