Prayashcita, Prāyaścita: 3 definitions
Introduction:
Prayashcita 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.
The Sanskrit term Prāyaścita can be transliterated into English as Prayascita or Prayashcita, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Prayschit.
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Prāyaścita (प्रायश्चित) refers to “expiatory rites”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.28 (“Description of the fraudulent words of the Brahmacārin”).—Accordingly, as Pārvatī said to Śiva (in guise of a Brahmacārin): “[...] If, out of ignorance of His reality, any one were to discredit Śiva, his merit hoarded ever since birth becomes reduced to ashes. You have censured Śiva of immeasurable splendour and I have worshiped you, hence I have become sinful. On seeing a person who hates Śiva one should take bath along with one’s clothes. On seeing a person who hates Śiva one should perform expiatory rites (prāyaścita)”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Hindi dictionary
Prāyaścita (प्रायश्चित) [Also spelled prayschit]:—(nm) atonement, penance, expiation; —[karanā] to sack cloth and ashes, to atone for.
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Sanskrit dictionary
Prāyaścita (प्रायश्चित) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Pacchitta.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text: Pacchitta, Prayschit, Mahotsaha, Aicchika, Pancalakshana, Vijnata.
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Search found 18 books and stories containing Prayashcita, Prāyaścita, Prayascita; (plurals include: Prayashcitas, Prāyaścitas, Prayascitas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 9.21 - The subdivisions of internal austerities (ābhyantara-tapa) < [Chapter 9 - Stoppage and Shedding of Karmas]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 824 < [Hindi-Bengali-English Volume 1]
Page 82 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 1]
Page 402 < [Gujarati-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 2.13.391 < [Chapter 13 - The Deliverance of Jagāi and Mādhāi]
Sucindrasthala-mahatmya (critical edition and study) (by Anand Dilip Raj)
Chapter 13 - Trayodasha Adhyaya (trayodaso'dhyayah) < [Chapter 5 - Sucindrasthalamahatmya: Sanskrit critical edition]
Shaivacintamani (analytical study) (by Swati Sucharita Pattanaik)
Part 8 - Benefits of worship < [Chapter 3: Śaiva tradition and Śaivacintāmaṇi]
Part 15 - Benefits of Śiva worship < [Chapter 3: Śaiva tradition and Śaivacintāmaṇi]