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| Padma
Purãn |
One of the 18 Purãns. Scripture of 55,000 verses describing
the process of creation, the world, swarg, pãtãl
and also the seat of Brahmã, the lotus – called ‘padma’
in Sanskrit. Considered to have been infiltrated by unfounded
scholars with several concocted verses, thus rendering it unauthoritative
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| Pãdma-kalp |
Period of time during the process of creation when Marichi and
others jivas are given their respective bodies by God {Gadhada
I-13.3}. Measuring one of Brahmã’s days, i.e., 4.32
x 109 human years.
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| pãgh |
Long, thin piece of cloth tied around the head like a turban to
form a traditional headdress.
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| pakhwãj |
Type of mrudang or double-sided drum. Traditional Indian percussion
instrument with a deep, mellow sound, played to supply rhythm
in the singing of devotional songs.
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| pal |
Duration of
time equaling approximately 24 seconds.
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| Panchrãtra
Tantra |
Sacred scripture
of the Vaishnavs composed by Vãsudev Bhagwãn serving
as authority regarding rites and rituals, mandir construction,
etc. Revered by Vaishnavs on par with the Vedas, i.e., considered
as being ‘revealed’ (Shruti) rather than ‘remembered’
(Smruti).
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| panchvishays |
The five types
of objects in which the jiva indulges via the indriyas –
i.e., various sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches. See:
vishay.
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| Parabrahma |
‘Supreme
Brahma’, God. Also called Paramãtmã or Parabrahma.
Highest of the five eternal entities – transcending even
Brahma. See: Purushottam.
See also other four eternal entities: jiva,
ishwar, mãyã,
and Akshar.
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| Paramãtmã |
‘Supreme
being’, God. Also called Parabrahma or Purushottam. Highest
of the five eternal entities – transcending even Akshar.
See: Purushottam.
See also other four eternal entities: jiva,
ishwar, mãyã,
and Akshar.
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| Param-Bhãgwat |
Ideal devotee
of God, referring to the Satpurush. See: Satpurush.
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| Param-Bhãgwat |
Sant Ideal
sãdhu of God, referring to the Satpurush. See:
Satpurush.
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| Param-Ekãntik
Sant |
Ideal ekãntik
sãdhu of God, referring to the Satpurush. See:
Satpurush.
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| paramhansa |
‘Supreme
swan’. A male sãdhu of the highest order, characterised
by his ability to discriminate between sat and asat – just
as swans were traditionally considered to be able to distinguish
between milk mixed with water. Traditionally, they renounce not
only worldly pursuits but also all religious accessories such
as rites, symbols and objects – daily worship, chãndlo,
kanthi, etc. – and lead a life of traveling and preaching.
In the time of Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan,
there was an illustrious band of 2,000 learned, talented and saintly
sãdhus of which 500 were initiated into the paramhansa
order. These were later re-initiated as sãdhus and had
returned to performing all traditional religious rites and rituals,
but were still known as paramhansas.
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| parãrdh |
Duration of
time equaling 1 x 1017 human years.
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| Parãshar
Smruti |
One of the
principal ancient Smruti scriptures. Ascribed to Parãshar
Rishi, father of Vyãs. See also: Smrutis .
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| pãrasmani |
“Philosophers’
stone”. Magical gem that turns iron into gold.
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| pãrshad |
Male renunciant
in the time of Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan,
similar to a sãdhu, but one whose niyams were not as stringent;
i.e., they observed brahmacharya in general but were allowed to
talk with women, were allowed to touch money but not keep it for
themselves, etc. Most pãrshads shaved their heads like
other sãdhus but wore a white – not saffron –
dhotiyu and upper garment. See also: sãdhu.
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| pãtãl |
Collective
term for the region of realms below Mrutyulok.
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| Pãtãl |
Lowest realm
in the 14-realm system of a brahmãnd, where serpents reside.
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| pingalã |
nãdi
Nerve or channel of a masculine nature transmitting intellectual
and mental energy within the inner body of a person, where the
current of energy flows upward and ends on the right side of the
body. One of the three major nãdis.
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| Posh |
Seventh month
of the Ãshãdhi Samvat year, normally beginning between
December and January.
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| Pradhãn |
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| Pradhãn-Prakruti |
Prakruti half
of the Pradhãn-Purush pair, ‘conceived’ by
Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the creation and sustenance of
each brahmãnd. Also called simply Pradhãn.
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| Pradhãn-Purush |
One of the
countless pairs of Pradhãn-Prakruti and Purush (2nd definition)
– ‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti
for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Subsequently,
from each pair of Pradhan-Purushes, the 24 elements2 are created,
and in turn, the jivas and ishwars receive their respective bodies.
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| prãgna |
Term for the
jivãtmã when in the state of deep sleep, i.e., when
it is conscious of its kãran body.
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| prakruti |
Refers to chaitanya
prakruti and/or jad prakruti. See: chaitanya prakruti and jad
prakruti.
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| Prakruti |
1)
‘Primal nature’. Divine energy or instrument of God
that initiates the creation process by being ‘impregnated’
by Purush – also called Mul-Purush, Mahã-Purush,
or Akshar-Purush – and from which countless pairs of Pradhãns
and Purushes are ‘conceived’ for the creation and
sustenance of each brahmãnd. Taken to be feminine in nature,
she is composed of the three gunas, is both jad and chaitanya,
eternal, nirvishesh, and in her dormant state houses all jivas
and all elements {Gadhada I-12}. Also called Mul-Prakruti, Mul-mãyã,
and even mahãmãyã. See also: mãyã.
2) Also refers to Pradhãn-Prakruti {e.g.,
Gadhada I-46}.
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| Prakruti-Purush |
The pair of
Mul-Prakruti and Mul-Purush, from which countless pairs of Pradhãns
and Purushes are formed for the creation and sustenance of each
brahmãnd. Also called Mul-Prakruti-Purush.
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| prãkruti-pralay |
1)
‘General dissolution’. Destruction of the body of
Virãt-Purush, i.e., of all 14 realms of one brahmãnd,
and the absorption of Pradhãn-Purush and the 24 elements
2 including mahattattva into mahãmãyã, i.e.,
Mul-Prakruti {Gadhada I-12, Bhugol-Khagol.13}. This occurs when
the two-parãrdh lifespan of Virãt-Purush has elapsed
{Amdavad-2}. See also the other three types of dissolution:
nitya-pralay,
nimitta-pralay
and ãtyantik-pralay.
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| pranav |
The three-syllable
– ‘A’, ‘U’ and ‘M’ –
sound known as Aum, also often spelled as OM. A transformed form
of the divine, transcendental vibration emanated at the moment
of first creation, and from which all other sounds, and ultimately
the sacred Vedas, come forth.
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| prãnãyãm |
‘Controlling
the prãns’. Fourth of the eight steps of ashtãng-yoga,
entailing controlling of prãns through breathing exercises
leading to the quietening of the chitt in preparation for concentration.
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| prãns |
‘Vital
airs’, derived from verb-root ‘pran’–
to breathe. Collective term referring to the principle life force
or energy flowing within the primary life-currents of the body,
called vãyus, which control crucial bodily functions. There
are five main vãyus:
(1) prãn – exhaled breath
(2) apãn – inhaled breath
(3) samãn – equalising breath
(4) udãn – ascending breath
(5) vyãn – retrained breath
and five subordinate vãyus: (1) nãg, (2) kurma,
(3) kukal, (4) devadatta, and (5) dhananjãy.
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| prãrabdha |
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| prãrabdha
karmas |
‘Deeds
whose consequences are already set in motion’. The portion
of the stock of karmas (sanchit karmas) that are presently bearing
fruit, based on the principle of past deeds shaping present events.
Prãrabdha karmas influence the nature of one’s body
and associations {e.g., Gadhada I-13}, prevailing circumstances
{e.g., Gadhada III-37, Loyã-17}, and even personal inclinations.
Also referred to as simply prãrabdha. See also:
prãrabdha and
karma.
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| prasãd |
Sanctified
food, blessed and consecrated by having been offered to God.
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| pratyãhãr |
‘Withdrawal’.
Fifth of the eight steps of ashtãng-yoga, entailing withdrawing
of consciousness from oneself to engage in a higher consciousness.
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| pravrutti |
1)
‘Activity’. Activity in the form of social duties
and affairs. In this sense, often used to refer to the path of
a householder.
2) Can also encompass all forms of activities
and responsibilities – even religious activities such as
serving in the mandir, attending to devotees of God, etc. –
i.e., emphasising devotion and service rather than mere contemplation
and meditation.
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| pravrutti
dharma |
‘Dharma
characterised by pravrutti’. Path of activity. See:
pravrutti.
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| pruthvi |
1)
‘Earth’ or solid matter. One of the five gross elements,
from which the sthul body of Virãt-Purush, i.e., the physical
world, is formed. By nature, it supports all jivas, and in the
form of a celestial body, is their place of residence. It separates
ãkãsh and the other four bhuts, and gives a physical
form to all life forms {Gadhada I-12}. See also: mahãbhuts.
2) Also used to mean earth.
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| Punam |
‘Full-moon’
day signifying the central day of a lunar month, i.e., the 15th
day of the bright half of an Indian calendar month.
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| Purãns |
‘Ancient’.
Set of 18 scriptures recording ancient Hindu narratives incorporating
ethical and spiritual teachings, most popular of which is the
Shrimad Bhãgwat Purãn. The other 17 Purãns
are, namely: the Brahma Purãn, Padma Purãn, Vishnu
Purãn, Vãyu Purãn, Nãrad Purãn,
Mãrkandeya Purãn, Agneya Purãn, Bhavishya
Purãn, Brahma-Vaivart Purãn, Ling Purãn,
Varãh Purãn, Skand Purãn, Vãman Purãn,
Kurma Purãn, Matsya Purãn, Garud Purãn, and
Brahmãnd Purãn. Forms a portion of the Smrutis.
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| Purush |
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| Purush |
1)
An akshar-mukta selected by Aksharbrahma to ‘impregnate’
Prakruti for the creation process, from which countless pairs
of Pradhãns and Purushes are formed for the creation and
sustenance of each brahmãnd. Taken to be masculine in nature,
he possesses a divine body, is the controller of Prakruti, and
is also distinct from her, is indivisible, without a beginning,
without an end, self-luminous, omniscient, satya, kshetragna,
and the cause of the activities of all objects that possess a
form {Gadhada I-12, Gadhada II-31}. Also called Mahã-Purush,
Mul-Purush or Akshar-Purush.
2) Purush half of the Pradhãn-Purush pair,
‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the
creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd.
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| purushãrths |
‘Pursuits’.
Collective term for the four goals legitimately pursued by all
Hindus, namely: dharma (duties), arth (material wealth), kãm
(desires), and ultimately, ‘moksh’ (liberation) {Amdavad-5.11}.
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| Purushãvatãr |
Physical world,
or a brahmãnd, which is, in fact, human in form –
possessing hands, feet, etc. – but beyond visualisation
because of its immense size {Gadhada I-63.10}. Also known as Virãt-Purush.
See: Virãt-Purush.
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| Purushottam |
‘Supreme
being’, God. God, according to Shriji Mahãrãj,
is: one and unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient,
omnipresent, the reservoir of all forms of bliss, devoid of any
attributes of mãyã (i.e., divine), replete with
all forms of redemptive attributes, always manifesting on Earth,
and always with a human form. Also called Parabrahma or Paramãtmã.
Highest of the five eternal entities – transcending even
Akshar. See also other four eternal entities: jiva,
ishwar, mãyã,
and Akshar
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