The Sanskrit term Śarapañcaka can be transliterated into English as Sarapancaka or Sharapancaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Alternative spellings of this word include Sharapanchaka.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Śarapañcaka (शरपञ्चक) [=pañcaśara?] refers to “five arrows” (suitable for an offering ceremony), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [as the Bhagavān teaches the offering manual of the root-heart] “[...] Five arrows (śarapañcaka) and a trident should be driven into the ground. Four arrows should be wound round entirely with five-coloured twine. Four filled jars, four ladles with frankincense and four jars of offering should be placed. One filled with white offerings should be placed in the middle of the maṇḍala. [...]”.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Sara, Pancaka, Cara.

Ends with: Ksharapancaka.

Full-text: Pancashara.

Relevant text

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