Preksha, Prekṣā: 16 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Nepali
See also
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Introduction:

Preksha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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 Prekṣā can be transliterated into English as Preksa or Preksha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा, “spectacle”) is a Sanskrit technical term used in plays and dramas (nāṭya), as explained in the Nāṭyaśāstra.

Source: archive.org: Natya Shastra

The terms like rūpaka or rūpa (representation) and prekṣā (spectacle), all denoting dramatic works, also characterise the Hindu dramas and show their difference from the drama of the Greeks who laid emphasis on action and not on the spectacle.

Indians from very early times considered plays to be essentially ‘spectacle’ (prekṣā) or ‘things’ to be visualised; hence persons the performance of a play were always referred to (XXVII. 48-57) as ‘spectators’ or ‘observers’ (prekṣaka) and never as audience (śrotṛ), although there was always the speech element in it, which was a thing to be heard.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammar

1) Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा).—Appearance, the being seen or understood; cf. दूतो निर्ऋत्या इदमा-जगाम । पञ्चम्यर्थप्रेक्षा वा षष्ठ्यर्थप्रेक्षा वा । (dūto nirṛtyā idamā-jagāma | pañcamyarthaprekṣā vā ṣaṣṭhyarthaprekṣā vā |) Nir. I. 17;

2) Prekṣā.—Thoughtful consideration, cf. य एव मनुष्यः प्रेक्षापूर्वकारी भवति सो (ya eva manuṣyaḥ prekṣāpūrvakārī bhavati so)Sध्रुवेण निमित्तेन ध्रुवं निमित्तमुपादत्ते (dhruveṇa nimittena dhruvaṃ nimittamupādatte), M. Bh. on P. I. 1.26 Vart, 5,

context information

Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.

Sports, Arts and Entertainment (wordly enjoyments)

Source: archive.org: Syainika Sastra of Rudradeva with English Translation (art)

1) Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा) refers to “looking after” (the children and the household), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “[...] It has been said that there are eighteen addictions. These are the outcome of the desire for earthly enjovments. [...] Wise men speak of that wife as a wife who has auspicious marks and who knows the fine arts, who is clever, who is loved by her husband, and who is young and modest. She is the chief instrument in attaining the three objects of life, and she is the distinguishing feature of domestic life. She looks after the children and the utensils and other articles of the household (prasūti-upaskara-prekṣā), and she charms the mind. [...]”.

2) Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा) refers to “tracking” or “a close inspection (of footprints)”, according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “Hunting by the observation of footprints (pada-prekṣā) is that in which animals are tracked by their footprints and killed. [...]”.

context information

This section covers the skills and profiencies of the Kalas (“performing arts”) and Shastras (“sciences”) involving ancient Indian traditions of sports, games, arts, entertainment, love-making and other means of wordly enjoyments. Traditionally these topics were dealt with in Sanskrit treatises explaing the philosophy and the justification of enjoying the pleasures of the senses.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा) refers to “investigation” (i.e., Ātmaprekṣā—‘that which is investigated by oneself’), according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] At that time, sixty koṭis of Bodhisattvas, having stood up from the congregation, joined their palms, paid homage to the Lord, and then uttered these verses in one voice: ‘[...] (221) Even though we are very far away, we will go to quench the desire for the dharma. Having obtained pleasure and joy of the dharma, we will work for the benefit of living beings (dehin). (222) Despite seeing numerous errors of living beings directly, we will investigate ourselves (ātman-prekṣā), abiding in the gentleness of the dharma. [...]’”.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: SOAS Research Online: Prekṣā meditation: History and Methods

Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा) or “perception” meditation refers to a modern form of Jain meditation developed in the Śvetāmbara Terāpanth tradition.—Prekṣā-Dhyāna is a system of meditation that aims at engaging one’s mind fully in the perception of the subtle internal and innate phenomena of consciousness.—This new meditation method was presented by Ācārya Mahāprajña (=Acharya Shri Mahapragya) (1920-2010) in 1975 in his work Prekṣā-Dhyāna: Eka Paricaya, the culmination of a thirty-year long period of spiritual research and practice. In his work, prekṣā-dhyāna is presented as a means of purification rather than a means of liberation that we find in the early texts.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा).—

1) Viewing, seeing, beholding.

2) A look, view, sight, appearance.

3) Being a looker-on.

4) Any public spectacle or show, sight.

5) Particularly, a theatrical show, dramatic performance, play.

6) Intellect, understanding.

7) Reflection, consideration, deliberation; सा तस्मै सर्वमाचष्ट (sā tasmai sarvamācaṣṭa) ...... प्रत्युक्तं च यवक्रीतं प्रेक्षापूर्वं तथात्मना (pratyuktaṃ ca yavakrītaṃ prekṣāpūrvaṃ tathātmanā) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 3.136.7.

8) The branch of a tree.

9) Splendour; प्रेक्षां क्षिपन्तं हरितोपलाद्रेः (prekṣāṃ kṣipantaṃ haritopalādreḥ) Bhāg. 3.8.24.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा).—f.

(-kṣā) 1. Intellect, understanding. 2. Dancing. 3. Seeing, viewing, observing. 4. Seeing a play or entertainment of dancing, &c. 5. The branch of a tree. 6. Deliberation, reflection. E. pra before, īkṣ to see, affs. aṅ and ṭāp .

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा).—i. e. pra-īkṣ + a, f. 1. Seeing, [Johnson's Selections from the Mahābhārata.] 9, 11. 2. Seeing a play or entertainment of dancing, etc., [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 48. 3. Any public spectacle. 4. Consideration, [Harivaṃśa, (ed. Calc.)] 6462; intellect.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा).—[feminine] look, view, sight, show, spectacle; consideration, reflection.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा):—[from prekṣ] f. seeing, viewing, beholding, regarding, looking on (at a performance), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Bhāgavata-purāṇa] (often ifc. cf. dharma-prekṣa, mukha-pr)

2) [v.s. ...] a sight or view ([especially] a beautiful s° or v°), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

3) [v.s. ...] a public show or entertainment, [Manu-smṛti; Harivaṃśa; Kathāsaritsāgara]

4) [v.s. ...] (ifc.) the being understood or meant as, [Nirukta, by Yāska i, 17]

5) [v.s. ...] circumspection, consideration, reflection, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Rājataraṅgiṇī]

6) [v.s. ...] the branch of a tree, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा):—(kṣā) 1. f. Intellect; dancing; seeing; seeing a play; a branch.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Picchā, Pekkhā, Pecchā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Preksha in German

context information

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.

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Prekṣā (प्रेक्षा):—n. 1. viewing; seeing; beholding; 2. a look; view; sight; 3. wisdom; knowledge; 4. luster; decoration; loveliness;

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 28 books and stories containing Preksha, Prekṣā, Preksa; (plurals include: Prekshas, Prekṣās, Preksas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

The twelve steps of Preksa-dhyana < [Chapter 4 - A Comparative Study]

Part 7 - Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga compared to Jainism < [Chapter 4 - A Comparative Study]

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3.4. Preksha Meditation < [Chapter 6 - Spirituality in Jainism]

3.6. Importance of Breathing in Meditation < [Chapter 6 - Spirituality in Jainism]

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7. Studies in Prekṣā-Dhyāna < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

1. Introduction (to Mahāprajña’s system of Prekṣa-Dhyāna) < [Chapter 4 - Theory and Methods of Prekṣā-Dhyāna]

Conclusion

+ 66 more chapters / show preview

Verse 3.4.58 < [Part 4 - Parenthood (vātsalya-rasa)]

Verse 2.4.48 < [Part 4 - Transient Ecstatic Disturbances (vyābhicāri-bhāva)]