A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

P
padapaflha
The text of the Veda in which each
word (päda) stands distinct, not joined
to preceding or following words.
padma
A lotus or lotus-like ornament; also a
name of RÄMA. Padma-äsana: a lotus
seat.
Padmanäbha
One of Vi•æu’s VYÜHAS, bearing five
shields as emblem.
Padma Puräæa
One of the Vai•æava MAHÄPURÄŒAS,
deriving its name from the period when
the world was a golden lotus.
pagala (‘mad’)
A type of saint, whose behaviour is
abnormal, but still within certain recognized
religious limits.
Pallavas
South Indian dynasty, c. 300–888 CE,
whose capital was Käñcïpuram; generous
patrons of the arts and promoters of
ŸAIVISM. Well-known Pallava monarchs
are Mahendravarma I (600–30 CE),
Narasimhavarma I (630–60 CE), under
whose reign the seven rathas of
MAHÄBALIPURA were constructed,
Narasimhavarma II (695–722), under
whom the famous Kailäsanäflha temple
in Käñcïpura was built. Around 900 CE
the Pallava kingdom was annexed by
the COLAS.
pañca-lak•ana
See MÄHÄPURÄŒA.
Pañcäöga (‘five limbs’)
Yearly almanac, which provides astronomical
charts for every fortnight of a
year, indispensable for astrologers, as
well as for the determination of feast
days. (See also ASTROLOGY; CALENDAR;
FESTIVALS.)
Päñcarätra (‘five nights’)
An ancient VAIÆŒAVA theological tradition,
which accepts the separate reality
of God, world and human being. It has
become part of the theology of
ŸRÏVAIÆŒAVISM. The name has also been
explained as signifying the synthesis of
five hitherto divided traditions, namely
the Ekäntika, the Bhägavata, the
Näräyaæïya, the Vaikhänasa, and the
Sätvata. The first promoter of the
Päñcarätra doctrine was Ÿäæõilya, the
author of a Bhaktisütra. The main
sources for Päñcarätra are the voluminous
Päñcarätra Ägamas, of which the
best known are the Ahirbudhnya, the
Sanätkumära and the Parameÿvara.