Panchikarana

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Part of a series on
Hinduism
Origins
Traditions
Major traditions
Deities
Other major Devas / Devis
Vedic:
Post-Vedic:
Concepts
Worldview
Ontology
Supreme reality
God
Stages of life
  • Brahmacarya
  • Grihastha
  • Vanaprastha
  • Sannyasa
Mokṣa-related topics:
Mind
Ethics
Practices
Worship, sacrifice, and charity
Meditation
Rites of passage
Philosophical schools
Six Astika schools
Other schools
Gurus, sants, philosophers
Ancient
Modern
Texts
Divisions
Rigveda:
Yajurveda:
Samaveda:
Atharvaveda:
Vedangas
Other scriptures
Other texts
Itihasas
Society
Four varnas:
Varna-less
:
Varna-related topics:
Other society-related topics:
Other topics
Hindu culture
Hinduism and other religions

Pancikarana (

Vedantic
theory of how matter came into existence, originating from the primordial five subtle elements.

History

slokas by Ramananda Saraswati, disciple of Ramabhadra, and in 160 slokas by Ananda Giri, disciple of Suddhananda Yati.[2][3]

The

Srimad Devi Bhagavatam.[5]

Overview

Pancikarana is the creation of the elements (bhūtasarga) by a process in which subtle matter (or the prior stage of matter) transforms itself into gross matter. Intelligence is the subtle manifestation of consciousness and matter its gross manifestation.[6]

Pancikarana is the "quintuplication" of the basic/primordial five subtle elements. The subtle elements stand alone (

pañcabhūta
) consists of half of the corresponding subtle element and four fractions from each of the other four subtle elements. Accordingly, each gross element has a five fold composition. It was also assumed that this process of division and recombination goes on till the gross elements are produced as a continuous unending process, with the processes of Srishti ("creation"), Stithi ("sustenance"), and Samhara ("dissolution") continuing without change or interruption.

Pancikarana involves one half of the original subtle element to be mixed up with 1/8 part each of the other original subtle elements to produce the gross element of the subtle element contributing its own one half. When gross elements are produced then consciousness enters into these elements as their presiding deities, then comes the feeling of egoism (I-ness) identifying with the body. Gross elements solidify and assume forms as per their fundamental qualities.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Adi Sankara (1962). Panchikaranam. Ramakrishna Mission Sevashrama.
  2. ^ Fitzedward Hall (1859). A Contribution Towards an Index to the Bibliography of Indian. p. 139.
  3. ^ Sri Shankarabhagavatapada Panchikaranam. Mahesh Research Institute. 1979.
  4. ^ Ramachandra Dattatrya Ranade. A constructive survey of Upanishadic philosophy. Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 62.[permanent dead link]
  5. ISBN 9780766181670
    .
  6. ^ Pancadasi of Sri Vidyaranya Swami. Sri Ramakrishna Math. p. 15.
  7. ISBN 9788130705439
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Panchikarana&oldid=1168480827"