A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

133 Päæinï
Pañcatantra
(fifth century CE)
A collection of moral tales and fables in
five (pañca) books (tantra), by
Vi•æuÿarman, for the teaching of nïti
(ethics) to young people. Its stories have
been often retold and translated into
many languages. Many of Aesop’s
fables are believed to be derived from it.
pañcäyata (‘council of five’)
A traditional committee of five members
of the same CASTE, to oversee
observance of caste rules. After independence
pañcäyats were introduced all
over India as village councils to decide
on all issues concerning the interest of
the local population.
pañcäyätana püjä
(‘the [simultaneous] worship of five
deities’)
The worship of Gaæeÿa, Sürya, Vi•æu,
Ÿiva and Devï was reputedly introduced
by ŸA¢KARA (2) to reconcile the various
Hindu SAßPRADÄYAS. The practice suggests
that all the various deities are but appearances
of the one (invisible) BRAHMAN.
Päæõavas
The five putative sons of Päæõu, who
was deterred by a curse from fathering
his own children. While out hunting one
day he shot an antelope that was in the
process of mating. The dying animal, a
transformed ØÆI (sage), cursed him with
death during sexual intercourse. He
therefore refused to sleep with his two
wives, and asked them to summon gods
to father children for him. Kuntï, his
first wife, had YUDHIÆfiHIRA from
Dharma, BHÏMA from Väyu and ARJUNA
from Indra. Mädrï, his second and
favourite wife, had NAKULA and
SAHADEVA from the Aÿvins. However,
one day desire overcame him, and he
died during intercourse with Mädrï,
who ascended his funeral pyre at his
wish, and became SATÏ. Since the five
Päæõava brothers were the sons of his
two wives, they were treated as his sons.
They were one of the major groups of
protagonists in the Mahäbhärata.
Pandharpur
Place of pilgrimage in Mahärä•flra,
sacred to Viflflal or Viflflhobä (a form of
Vi•æu) made famous by TUKÄRÄM and
his followers, the Värkarïs.
paæõita (‘learned’)
An honorific applied to high personalities.
Päæõu (‘the pale’)
Brother of Dhøtarä•flra, king of
Hastinäpura. (See also MAHÄBHÄRATA;
PÄŒ¥AVAS.)
Päæõya
A realm and a dynasty in South India,
from c. 500 BCE to c. 1700 CE. The
Päæõyas derive their name and origin
from the PÄŒ¥AVAS. The early history
and the extent of the kingdom is uncertain.
Several Päæõya rulers invaded Ÿrï
Laökä, and they feuded with the
PALLAVAS, the Ceras and the COLAS,
whom they supplanted in the 13th century
as the leading power of South
India. One of their rulers, Neduvarman
(c. 700 CE) became a ŸAIVA after marrying
a Cola princess, and had 8,000 Jains
killed in MADURAI. One branch of the
Päæõyas, the Nayyakas (1420–1736)
became famous as builders of magnificent
temples, including the Mïnäk•ï
temple at MADURAI (1600–50), the
Raöganätha temple in ŸRÏRA¢GAM
(1620–89), and the huge temple at
RAMEŸVARAM.
Päæinï (sixth century BCE)
The most celebrated Indian grammarian,
author of the AÆfiÄDHYÄYÏ (‘eight-chapter-work’),
considered one of the greatest