A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

prati-•flhäpana 142
prati-•flhäpana
The solemn installation and consecration
of an IMAGE (mürti) through which the
presence of a deity is called down and the
image becomes an object of worship.
pratyähära
(‘withdrawal [of the senses]’)
An important stage in PATAÑJALA YOGA.
pratyak•a (‘perception’)
The first and most important means of
proof. (See also PRAMÄŒA.)
pra-vøtti (‘progress’, ‘advance’)
Active wordly life; projection. The
opposite of NI-VØTTI.
prayaÿcitta (‘atonement’)
Action prescribed as penance for violation
of precepts, such as repetition of a
formula or bathing. There are long lists
of prayaÿcittas that match specific
atonements for particular breaches of
the law.
predestination
MADHVA teaches a kind of predestination,
by insisting that certain persons
(nitya baddhas) never reach release.
premä (‘love’)
In GAU¥ÏYA VAIÆŒAVISM, a designation
of the highest form of love for Kø•æa,
which transforms the devotee permanently.
preta (‘ghost’)
An evil spirit, the restless soul of a
departed person who for some reason
or other could not find a way to the
beyond. There is a popular belief that
people who commit suicide or people
who have not atoned for a serious crime
are condemned to haunt the world as
pretas. Texts such as the Pretakalpa of
the Garuõa Puräæa give instructions on
how to meet pretas and what to do to
give them release.
Pøthivï (‘the broad’)
The earth, or the whole world. In the
Vedas she is personified as mother of all
beings. Her name is derived from
PØTHU, who gave her life and thus was
considered her father.
Pøthu
Son of VEŒA, the first rightful
monarch on earth. He is credited with
having introduced agriculture, and
providing his subjects with peace and
plenty.
püjä
Worship, especially of an IMAGE, usually
an offering of fruit, cooked food, water,
incense, flowers etc. Each saƒpradäya
(sect) has elaborate rules for the performance
of püjä which have to be strictly
followed by the devotees. As an act of
devotion püjä is both service to the deity
and a means to win his/her favour. Püjä
offered daily at the home shrine is a
scaled-down version of the grand services
performed at temples, especially at
festive occasions. It has to include a
minimum of sixteen acts: avahana (invitation
of the deity); äsana (offering a
seat); svagata (greeting); padya (washing
the feet); arghya (rinsing the mouth
and hands); acamanïya (water for sipping);
madhuparka (offering water
mixed with honey); snäna or abhi•eka
(bathing or sprinkling); vastra (clothing);
gandha (perfumes); pu•pa (flowers);
dhüpa (incense); dïpa (lamp); naivedya
or prasäda (offering food); nämaskära
or praæäma (prostration); visarjana
(send-off).