Shree Swami Samarth Maharaj

A Short Biography of Shree Swami Samarth 236
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waves, can also be found in quantum physics and superstring theory, which
describe the universe in terms of vibrating fields or strings.)
Paduka The impressions of the lotus feet of a true Guru, either on stone or wooden or
metal (usually silver) sandals.
Padyapooja Padyapooja is a ceremony of honouring a person worthy of reverence, by cleaning
the holy-feet of that person and then worshipping him
Panchapatra A small cylinderical vessel
Panchashramee One who observes the five stages of life of a Brahman
Pandhainath Lord
Vithoba
A manifested form of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva in a single deity.
Pandharpur Holy place of Lord Vithoba the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Pandharpur is a town in
state of Maharashtra in Western India. Pandharpur is one of the most respected
pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra. It is located on the banks of the Bhima river, which
is also known as Chandrabhaga. Pandharpur hosts the famous Vithoba temple, on
the banks of the river. Vithoba is considered to be Krishna, an incarnation of
Vishnu; Vitthala is said to have been derived from the word Vishnu in Kannada.
Vithoba's consort is Rakhumai or Rukmini. The worship of Vishnu - Vitthala at
Pandharpur is derived mainly from the puranas and has been augmented by the
contribution of the great Vaishnava saints of Maharashtra from the 13th through
the 17th centuries (Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, , Sant Eknath, Tukaram). This temple,
covering a vast area, has a total of six gates. The eastern entrance to this temple is
known as the Namdev gate. The sanctum enshrines a standing image of Vithoba
also known as Panduranga, Pandhari or Vitthala. Pandharpur hosts 4 "Yatras" in a
year - of which "Aashadhi Yatra" is the one which attracts most (around 0.4 million)
piligrims to Pandharpur. Piligrims take holy bath in river Bhima and usually stand in
queues 3km long in order to take "Darshana" of lord Vitthala.
Param Hans An ascetic of the highest order
Parikrama Circumambulation
Parjanyasookta Repeating Vedic hymns regarding rain
Patalganga The source of river Ganga in the Himalayas
Patil Head of a Village
Paush Shukla Dwitiya Month of January as per English Calendar
Pedhas Sweet Meat. A sweet prepared from Milk ingredient. Generally Pedhas are a normal
way to celebrate festivities and offerings to a Deity.
Peepal Tree The Holy Fig Tree. Tree belongs to the Sacred Figs (Ficus religiosa).
Peersaheb A muslim saint
Pradosh Shivopasana, an observance in the worship of Lord Shiva on the evening of
thirteenth lunar day
Prana Pratisthan Prana pratistha is a rite or ceremony (Samskara in Sanskrit) by which the spirit or
being of a deity is infused or brought to inhabit a murti or cult image of that deity.
Once Prana Pratisthan is performed, the Idol is considered to be divinely charged
and a representation of the Divine supreme spirit.
Pranayam A mode of regulated breathing.
Prasad Prasad is both a mental condition of generosity, as well as a material substance
that is first offered to a deity and then consumed with the faith that the deity's
blessing resides within it. In contemporary Hindu religious practice in India, the
desire to get prasad and have darshan are the two major motivations of pilgrimage
& temple visits. In its material sense, prasada is created by a process of giving and
receiving between a human devotee and the divine god. For example, a devotee
makes an offering of a material substance such as flowers, fruits, or sweets --
which is called 'naivedya'. The deity then 'enjoys' or tastes a bit of the offering. This
now-divinely invested substance is called 'prasad", and is received by the devotee
to be ingested, worn, etc. It may be the same material that was originally offered,
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