Prama, Pramā: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Prama means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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
Nyaya (school of philosophy)
Pramā (प्रमा).—“Valid knowledge” is called pramā and the means through which this valid knowledge is arrived at is called pramāṇa: the first of the sixteen padārthas (“categories”) in the first chapter of Gautama’s Nyāyasūtra (2nd century CE). According to the Naiyāyikas, pramā or valid knowledge is a definite and certain knowledge of an object which is true and presentational in character.
According to D.M. Datta, “Pramā is generally defined as a cognition having the two-fold characteristics of truth and novelty (abādhitatva or yathārthatva and anadhigatatva)”. Regarding the characteristic of truth the Naiyāyikas uphold unanimous view. Śivāditya states that it is the experience of the real nature of things. Gaṅgeśa defines pramā as that which informs us of the experience of something in a place where it really exists. In another way, he says, pramā is that which predicates a character of something which is really possessed by it.
Following Gaṅgeśa, Annaṃbhaṭṭa also defines pramā as the experience of a substantive possessed of a particular attribute which is really possessed by it. Annaṃbhaṭṭa has also clearly said that valid experience (yathārthānubhava) is called pramā in scriptures. He has given the example of pramā as the experience ‘This is a pot’ (ayaṃ ghaṭaḥ).
Nyaya (न्याय, nyaya) refers to a school of Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. The Nyaya philosophy is known for its theories on logic, methodology and epistemology, however, it is closely related with Vaisheshika in terms of metaphysics.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Pramā (प्रमा):—True knowledge
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Pramā (प्रमा) refers to a “measure”, according to Lalla’s Śiṣyadhīvṛddhidatantra (Part I, 21, Yantrādhikāra, 34-35).—(Cf. Astronomical instruments in Bhāskarācārya’s Siddhāntaśiromaṇi).—Accordingly, “[...] Or, it is a vessel manufactured according to one’s liking [with a perforation at the bottom] which has been adjusted by the measure of a ghaṭī [i.e., ghaṭī-pramā] by repeated [trials]”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Pramā (प्रमा) refers to a “pure cognitive state”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “ Akula is (the reality) that should be understood and, O lady of good vows, Kaula comes from Kula. (Although) formless (amūrti), one should meditate on it as having form (because) its pure cognitive state (pramā) cannot be perceived. Akula is the supreme principle. Śakti, which is five-fold, is Kula. While, (one could say) simply that its permutated (phenomenal) state is (the reality called) Kaula of those who maintain the tradition”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Pramā (प्रमा) refers to “objective-knowledge” (which a true Yogī is not concerned with), according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Janaka says to Aṣṭavakra]: “In my unblemished nature there are no elements, no body, no faculties, no mind. There is no void and no anguish. [...] For me who am forever unblemished, there is no judge, no standard, nothing to judge, and no judgement. [kva pramātā pramāṇaṃ vā kva prameyaṃ kva ca pramā] [...]”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Pramā (प्रमा).—2 P., 3 Ā.
1) To measure; त्रीणि पदानि प्रमाय (trīṇi padāni pramāya).
2) To form, make, build.
3) To prove, establish, demonstrate.
4) To arrange, place in order.
5) To know, understand, get a correct idea of; न परोपहितं न च स्वतः प्रमिमीतेऽनुभवादृतेऽल्पधीः (na paropahitaṃ na ca svataḥ pramimīte'nubhavādṛte'lpadhīḥ) Śiśupālavadha 16.4; अशक्योऽयमर्थः प्रमातुम् (aśakyo'yamarthaḥ pramātum) H. 3.
6) To conjecture. -Caus. To afford or give proof.
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Pramā (प्रमा).—
1) Consciousness, perception.
2) (In logic) Correct notion or apprehension, true and certain knowledge, accurate conception; तद्वति तत्प्रकारकोऽनुभवः प्रमा यथा रजते इदं रजतमिति ज्ञानम् (tadvati tatprakārako'nubhavaḥ pramā yathā rajate idaṃ rajatamiti jñānam) T. S; दोषोऽप्रमाया जनकः प्रमायास्तु गुणो भवेत् । प्रत्यक्षे तु विशेष्येण विशेषेणवता समम् (doṣo'pramāyā janakaḥ pramāyāstu guṇo bhavet | pratyakṣe tu viśeṣyeṇa viśeṣeṇavatā samam) || Bhāṣā P.
3) Ved. Basis, foundation.
4) A measure.
Pramā (प्रमा).—f.
(-mā) 1. True knowledge, or knowledge exempt from all error, (in logic.) 2. Consciousness, perception. E. pra before, mā to mete or measure, affs. aṅ and ṭāp; that by which every object is measured or estimated.
Pramā (प्रमा).—[pra-mā], f. True perception, true knowledge, Bhāṣāp. 125.
Pramā (प्रमा).—[feminine] basis, foundation, ground-measure, right notion or conception.
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Pramā (प्रमा).—measure, tax, estimate; frame, create, make, arrange; conceive, understand.
Pramā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pra and mā (मा).
1) Pramā (प्रमा):—[=pra-√mā] a [Ātmanepada] -mimīte ([Vedic or Veda] [infinitive mood] pra-me; [Passive voice] -mīyate),
—to measure, mete out, estimate, [Atharva-veda; ???; Mahābhārata];
—to form, create, make ready, arrange, [Ṛg-veda; Mahābhārata];
—to form a correct notion of ([accusative]), understand, know, [Maitrī-upaniṣad; Harivaṃśa; Hitopadeśa] :
—[Causal] -māpayati, to cause correct knowledge, afford proof or authority, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
2) [=pra-mā] b f. basis, foundation, [Atharva-veda]
3) [v.s. ...] measure, scale, [Ṛg-veda]
4) [v.s. ...] right measure, true knowledge, correct notion, [Prabodha-candrodaya; Kapila; Tarkasaṃgraha; Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 59 etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] a kind of metre, [Ṛgveda-prātiśākhya]
Pramā (प्रमा):—[pra-mā] (mā) 1. f. True knowledge; consciousness, perception.
[Sanskrit to German]
Pramā (प्रमा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Pamā.
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
Pramā (प्रमा):—(nf) understanding; correct notion, accurate perception; ~[tva] accuracy of perception.
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See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+11): Pramaap, Pramaapak, Pramad, Pramada, Pramada-kula, Pramadabandhu, Pramadacarin, Pramadacarita, Pramadacarya, Pramadacarye, Pramadajana, Pramadajaya, Pramadaka, Pramadakanan, Pramadakanana, Pramadakantha, Pramadalahari, Pramadali, Pramadamberu, Pramadana.
Full-text (+117): Pramatva, Aprama, Pratyakshaprama, Pramana, Sahaprama, Pramiti, Pramanamala, Pramatri, Pramani, Prame, Prameya, Pramanadarsha, Pramanabhyadhika, Nalikodanamatta, Praudhapratapamartanda, Pramatvacihna, Pramanata, Pramanantarata, Piramapanam, Pramanapramoda.
Relevant text
Search found 79 books and stories containing Prama, Pramā, Pra-ma, Pra-mā; (plurals include: Pramas, Pramās, mas, mās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika (by R. Balasubramanian)
Verse 2.619 < [Book 2 - Brahmavallī]
Verse 1.68 < [Book 1 - Śīkṣāvallī]
Verse 2.704 < [Book 2 - Brahmavallī]
Liberation in early Advaita Vedanta (by Aleksandar Uskokov)
3. The Identity Statements of the Upaniṣads < [Chapter 8 - Vedānta-Vākya and the Identity Statements]
6. The Purpose of Parisaṅkhyāna and the Nature of Liberation < [Chapter 9 - Liberation and the Inquiry into Brahman]
3. Śravaṇa and Manana in the Upadeśa-Sāhasrī < [Chapter 9 - Liberation and the Inquiry into Brahman]
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 4 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 2 - Pramānas (ways of valid knowledge) < [Chapter XXVII - A General Review of the Philosophy of Madhva]
Part 3 - Svataḥ-prāmāṇya (self-validity of knowledge) < [Chapter XXVII - A General Review of the Philosophy of Madhva]
Part 4 - The Pramāṇas < [Chapter XXXI - The Philosophy of Vallabha]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Vastu-shastra (Introduction to Indian architecture) (by D. N. Shukla)
(v) The character of the building aspect etc. (Patākādi-ṣaṭ-chandas) < [Chapter 6 - Fundamental Canons of Hindu Architecture]
Chapter 8 - Prāsāda Maṇḍapa < [Volume 5 - Temple Architecture]
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences
An epitomize of Upmana Parmana In Ayurveda < [Vol. 2 No. 06 (2017)]
Prelude to Anuktha Vyadhi - Understanding, Diagnosis and Treatment < [Vol. 4 No. 04 (2019)]
A case report of Ayurvedic management on Dantavidradhi w.s.r. to periodontal... < [Vol. 9 No. 1 (2024)]
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