Purashcarana, Puraścaraṇa: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Purashcarana means something in 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.
The Sanskrit term Puraścaraṇa can be transliterated into English as Purascarana or Purashcarana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Purashcharana.
In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryPuraścaraṇa (पुरश्चरण).—A preliminary ritualistic performance for the fulfillment of certain desires.

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama TextsPuraścaraṇa (पुरश्चरण) refers to the “repetition (of pious acts)”, according to the sixteenth chapter of the Agastyasaṃhitā (agastya-suīkṣṇa-saṃvāda edition), an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama text dealing with the worship of Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Hanumān.—[Cf. the puraścaraṇa-vidhi]:—Agastya says he will now explain puraścaraṇa, without performing which a mantra does not yield its fruits.
Puraścaraṇa is composed of five parts [pañcāṅga].
- pūjā,
- homa
- japa
- tarpaṇa,
- feeding of Brahmins.
The first part is pūjā, which must be done thrice daily. The second part is homa, and to this a large part of the chapter is devoted—where it is to be done, how it is to be done according to the rules, what personal habits are to be observed by the initiate. Japa, another of the five parts of puraścaraṇa, is to be done a prescribed number of times thrice daily and without hurrying. Tarpaṇa, a fourth part of puraścaraṇa, which itself involves a minor homa, is to be done by offering only pure water to God. The fifth part of puraścaraṇa is to feed as many Brahmins as possible each day.

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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: India Divine: HinduismPurascarana is the sadhana of mantra repitition. The ultimate purpose of it is to attain mantrasiddhi. It's a quite specific Tantrik practice: certain number of laks of mantra (depending upon the syllables of the mantra) within a certain amount of time. There are elaborate rules regarding food, time, behavior and space.
Source: Shiva Shakti: Devirahasya TantraPurashcarana, which is the preparatory work before puja proper can start. This is very arduous, involving the recitation of mantra and a ritual which spans many hours.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarypuraścaraṇa (पुरश्चरण).—n S The recitations and other rites prescribed by the Mantra shastra to be observed by one who would acquire the power of using a mantra. Ex. jivhā dagdha parānnēṃ pāhīṃ || hasta dagdha pratigrahīṃ || mana dagdha striyēcē ṭhāyīṃ || vyartha kariti pu0 || striyēnēṃ haruni nēlēṃ mana ||.
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
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuraścaraṇa (पुरश्चरण).—n.
(-ṇaṃ) 1. An introductory rite in Tantra shastra. 2. Repetition of the name of a deity accompanied by burnt offering. E. puras, cara to go, aff. lyuṭ .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPuraścaraṇa (पुरश्चरण).—[adjective] making preparations for (—°), [abstract] tā [feminine]; [neuter] a preparatory rite.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Puraścaraṇa (पुरश्चरण):—[=puraś-caraṇa] [from puraś > pur] mfn. making preparations, preparatory to ([compound]; -tā f.), [Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] n. a preparatory or introductory rite, preparation, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]
[Sanskrit to German]
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
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryPuraścaraṇa (पुरश्चरण) [Also spelled purscharan]:—(nm) performing a [havana] or [yajña] or repeating the name of a deity with a definite aim; also [puraścaryā] (nf).
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPuraścaraṇa (ಪುರಶ್ಚರಣ):—[noun] = ಪುರಶ್ಚರಣೆ [purashcarane].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryPuraścaraṇa (पुरश्चरण):—[puraścaraṇa / puraścaryā] n. a preliminary rite; repetition of the name of a deity with burnt offerings (to obtain a purpose);
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: Carana, Puras.
Starts with: Purashcaranacandrika, Purashcaranadipika, Purashcaranakarman, Purashcaranakaumudi, Purashcaranakaustubha, Purashcaranalaharitantra, Purashcaranapaddhati, Purashcaranapaddhatimala, Purashcaranaprapanca, Purashcaranaprayoga, Purashcaranarahasya, Purashcaranarasollasa, Purashcaranata, Purashcaranavidhi, Purashcaranaviveka.
Full-text (+14): Purashcaranakaumudi, Yajnapurashcarana, Purashcaranavidhi, Purashcaranata, Purashcaranaviveka, Purashcaranakaustubha, Purashcaranaprapanca, Purashcaranapaddhati, Purashcaranarasollasa, Purashcaranadipika, Purashcaranacandrika, Rahasyatirahasyapurashcarana, Mantrapurashcarana, Gayatripurashcarana, Purashcaranakarman, Paurashcaranika, Sapurashcarana, Purashcaranarahasya, Purashcaranaprayoga, Purashcaranapaddhatimala.
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Search found 26 books and stories containing Purashcarana, Puraś-caraṇa, Puraścaraṇa, Purascarana, Purash-carana; (plurals include: Purashcaranas, caraṇas, Puraścaraṇas, Purascaranas, caranas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 23 - On the Tapta Kṛcchra vrata and others < [Book 11]
Chapter 21 - On Gāyatrī Puraścaraṇam < [Book 11]
Chapter 22 - On the rules of Vaiśvadeva < [Book 11]
Varahi Tantra (English Study) (by Roberta Pamio)
Chapter 5 - Details of Puraścaraṇa and Japa < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
Chapter 4 - Preliminaries to the Puraścaraṇa (continuous repetition of the Mantra) < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
Chapter 23 - Prayoga (the application of the Sādhanā of a deity) < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 162 - Procedure of Puraścaraṇa Saptamī < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 160 - Brāhmaṇas Invited for Puraścaraṇa < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 267 - Importance of Tulāpuruṣadāna (Tulāpuruṣa-dāna) < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
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