A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

panth(a) 134
accomplishments of the human mind.
From ancient times Päæinï was revered as
a ØÆI (sage) and his work was considered
to be inspired by Ÿiva. The study of grammar
was undertaken as a spiritual discipline
and was considered indispensable
for anyone aspiring to become a teacher
of philosophy or religion.
panth(a) (‘path’, ‘following’)
This is used especially in contexts such
as Kabïr Panth, followers of the path
taught by KABÏR.
päpa
See SIN.
päpa-puru•a (‘man of sin’)
The personification of all unpardonable
sins: his head consists of brahmanicide,
his arms of cow-killing, his nose of
woman-murder, his belly of intoxication,
his legs of theft of gold.
parama-haƒsa (‘supreme swan’)
An honorific title for a spiritual
teacher.
paramärthika
(‘relating to the supreme reality’)
Transcendent; the opposite to vyavahärika,
relating to empirical reality. (See
also VYAVAHÄRA.)
paramätman (‘supreme soul’)
The Absolute, BRAHMAN.
paraƒparä
The lineage of teacher and disciple, tradition.
The Upani•ads have long lines of
teachers to whom their teachings are
traced back. For members of Hindu religious
orders it is important to memorize
their guruparaƒparä to authenticate
their tradition. A teaching not traced
back to an acknowledged line of
teachers is considered unsound and not
conducive to LIBERATION.
Paräÿara (14th century BCE?)
A ø•i (sage) to whom some of the Øgvedic
süktas (HYMNS) are attributed. He is also
the narrator of the Vi•æu Puräæa and the
author of a major work on DHARMAŸÄS-
TRA, commented upon by MÄDHAVA (2).
Paraÿuräma
(‘Rama with the battle-axe’)
The sixth AVATÄRA of Vi•æu; the fifth
son of Jamadagni and Reæukä. He
appeared in the TRETA YUGA to end the
tyranny of the KÆATRIYAS, whom he is
said to have annihilated 22 times. His
story is told in the Rämäyaæa, the
Mahäbhärata and some PURÄŒAS.
Pargiter, Frederick Eden
(1852–1927)
Officer in the Indian Civil Service, High
Judge in Calcutta, historian and student
of classical India who rejected the
Äryan invasion theory. He was the
author of Ancient Indian Historical
Tradition (1922) and The Puräæa Text
of the Dynasties of the Kali Age (1913).
Parijäta
The wonderful tree produced at the
CHURNING OF THE OCEAN, whose blossoms
perfumed the whole universe. It was
placed in Indra’s heaven, but when Kø•æa
visited it, his wife, Satyabhämä, induced
him to carry it away. In the ensuing fight
Indra lost and Kø•æa carried the tree to
Dväraka. After Kø•æa’s death the tree was
returned to Indra’s heaven.
parikrama
See CIRCUMAMBULATION.
Parik•it
The grandson of Arjuna, father of