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Paadukaa
Footwear of a holy person. Raam gave His Paadukaa to Bharat when Bharat came to request Him to come back to Ayodhyaa and take care the kingdom.

Paak
Cooked food. When this word comes in reference with Bhagavaan and Braahman, it refers not only to cooked food, but to rich fried food and sweets items, for example - Pooree, Pooaa, Halavaa, various kinds of sweets etc.

Paakhand
Showing people what is not there. It is mostly used for the people who are not Saadhu or Sanyaasee but show that they are Saadhu or Sanyaasee, such as Raavan was not a Saadhu but came to Seetaa Jee in disguise of a Saadhu and behaved like a Saadhu. Who behaves like this, he is called Paakhandee.

Paakhandee    see    Paakhand

Paalakee
Palanquin.

Paan
Betel leaf. It is called Taambool also. It has many uses. (1) It is used in worship.  (2) It is used to eat after food and at other times also. It is layered with Katechu paste and lime paste, and a few pieces of betel nut (Supaaree) and peppermint, sweet rose leaves, small cardamom etc are kept over it and is chewed. Some Indians take it as mouth freshener after food, while others become addict and eat it as many times as they wish - sometimes they can eat more than 10-15 Paan everyday. Paan is a favorite in China too,

Paanchaal

Paanchaalee
(1) Princess of Paanchaal Desh.  (2) Another name of Draupadee.

Paanchjanya Shankh (conch shell)
Panchjan was a Daitya who lived in the sea in the form of a conch shell near Prabhaas Kshetra. When Krishn killed the Daitya, He brought his body, Paanchjanya conch shell, with Him. He offered it to His Guru Saandeepan Muni but he refused to take it saying, "It is yours, you keep it." And since then it was His.

Paap        see also       Punya
(1) Sin.  (2) Vice

Paaran
The thing, by eating which is broken the fast, whether it is at the end of one day or more days.

Paaras Mani
It is a type of stone which if touches the iron, turns it into gold.

Paarijaat
A Divine tree - Coral tree with crimson flowers. It came out from Saagar Manthan. It is planted in Swarg Lok. Its flowers never wilt. After killing Narakaasur, Krishn brought this tree on Prithvi and planted in Satyabhaamaa's palace for her pleasure. It was there till Dwaarakaa remeined.

Paar-Laukik
Antonym of "Laukik" which is related to this world, or materialistic. Paar-Laukik means "Relating to next world".

Paarshad
Attendant.

Paarth
Son of Prithaa, means son of Kuntee. Although all sons of Kuntee are called Paarth, but mostly it is used for Arjun.

Paarthasaarathee
Chariot driver of Paarth, means Krishn.

Paarvatee
Daughter of Himvant and Mainaa and consort of Shiv. She is called Paarvatee and Girijaa because she is the daughter of a Parvat. She has many names - Aparnaa, Girijaa, Himnandinee,  Kaameshwaree (the 8th Nityaa of Chandramaa's Kalaa Devee) , Shail Baalaa, Shail Kumaaree, Shivaa, Shivaanee, Umaa etc.

Paash
(1) The means to tie something - it may be a rope or Mantra or Astra or anything. (2) Some Devtaa also have their own Paash by which they can tie their enemies, such as Varun's Varun Paash. Yam's Paarshad (messengers) take living beings tied with Yam Paash at the time of their death.  Naag Paash by which a person is tied with Naag (serpents) and dies with their bites. (3) Trap.

Paashupat (Astra)
Lord Shiv is called Pashupati or Pashupatinaath. They literary mean "The Lord of the Creatures", or "The Lord of all Living Beings". It is the name of the Shv Astra. Arjun did Tap to get this Astra and Had to fight Shiv himself before getting it.

Paatak    see also    Sootak
Sin.

Paataal
The nether world inhabited by sinners.

Paath

Paatra
(1) Pot. Bowl. (2) Candidate - such as "Who is good Paatra for Daan?" means "Who is the good candidate for Daan?" or "To whom one can donate something?"

Paavak
Fire.  Agni.

Padavaa
The first day of the fortnight of lunar calendar - also called Pratipadaa.

Padm
Lotus.

Padm Puraan       see also       Puraan
One of the main 18 principal Puraan.

Padmaa
Another name of Lakshmee.

Padmaasan
A compound word, Padm + Aasan, means a posture which is like Padm (Kamal, lotus).

Padmaasanaa
Who sits on lotus flower - another name of Lakshmee.

Padmaavatee
Another name of Lakshmee.

Padminee
(1) A bunch of lotuses.  (2) Lotus plant.  (3) Name of the queen of a Raajpoot king, named Raaval Ratan Singh of Chittaud Garh, during the times of Alaauddeen Khilajee, in 12th and 13th centuries AD.

Padmnaabh
From whose navel a lotus has emerged - Vishnu.

Padm-Raag

Paishaach      see also     Vivaah
One of the 8 kinds of marriages, where the lover gets the woman's consent and her body when she is either sleep or intoxicated.

Pakavaan or Pakvaann       see        Paak

Pakshee
Bird. The living being which have wings or feathers and can fly, such as birds, ostrich etc. Some insects can also fly but they do not fall in this category. To see a list of some Pakshee see Birds and Insects

Pakshiraaj
The King of the birds, means Garud Jee.

Pal    see also    Measurement of Weight
(1) Unit of time measuring 24 seconds. (2) An old unit of measuring weight - according to Padm Puraan, approximately 46.4 grams.

Palaash
(1) Leaf.  (2) Foliage.

Pallav        see also        Panch Pallav
(1) Blossom.  (2) Buds.  (3) Shoots.  (4) Foliage.  (5) Leaf.

Panch
Five.

Panch Bhoot    see    Panch Tattwa

Panch Dhaanya
Panch means five, Dhaanya means cereal. Wheat, sesame seed, Urad. Moong, and Rice - they are called five cereals. Their flour is considered very good.

Panch Gavya        see also       Brahm Koorch
A drink made up of five products of cow products plus Kush water - its urine, dung, milk, yogurt, Ghee and Kush water, mixed together is called Panch Gavya. Its vegetarian version is milk, yogurt, Ghee,

Panch Kedaar

Panch Kritya
Five types of Upaasanaa (worship) - Ijyaa, Abhigaman, Upaadaan, self study, and Yog. They include worshipping idols, Sandhyaa-Tarpan, Havan-Poojan, Dhyaan, Jap and reading Soorya's life.

Panch Mahaa-Bhoot    see    Panch Tatwa

Panch Mahaa-Yagya
There are five types of Yagya which should be performed daily, who doesn't do them, he is called Braahman killer. These Panch Yagya are Dev Yagya, Bhoot (Braahman) Yagya, Pitra Yagya, Manushya (A-Tithi) Yagya, and Brahm Yagya. All Dwij should do these Panch Mahaa-Yagya methodically. Doing Bali-vaishwadev is called Bhoot Yagya, doing Tarpan is called Pitra Yagya, studying and teaching Ved is called Brahm Yagya, doing Havan is called Dev Yagya and felicitating an incoming A-Tithi is called Manushya Yagya or A-Tithi Yagya.

Panch Pallav
Panch means five and Pallav means leaves. When Kalash are established for Yagya or for any other sacred purpose, some leaves have to be put on them. Five kinds of leaves are in fashion now-a-days - mango, Peepal, Banyan, Pluksh (Paakad) and Goolar (Udumbar). Agni Puraan, p 611, says that Panch Patra includes the leaves of Palaash, Goolar, Peepal, Vat (banyan), and Bel.

Panch Patra        see          Panch Pallav

Panch Ratn
Panch means five, and Ratn means gems. According to Kaatyaayan - (1) Heeraa (diamond), (2) Motee (pearl), (3) Vaidoorya Mani (Lahasuniyaa), (4) Pushp-raag (Pukharaaj or yellow sapphire) and (5) Neelam (Indraneel, sapphire) - these are considered the best five gems.
(Padm Puraan, p 632)

Panch Tanmaatraa
Panch means five and Tanmaatraa means the subjects of the five Gyaan Indriyaan - Shabd (sound), Sparsh (touch), Roop (seeing), Ras (taste), and Gandh (smell) - these five subjects of five Gyaan Indriyaan are called five Tanmaatraa.

Panch Tattwa
Five elements - (1) Earth (solids), (2) Water (fluids), (3) Air (gases), (4) Fire (energy), and (5) Space (void); which appear from Panch Tanmaatraa - sound, touch, seeing, taste, and smell.

Panch-Neeraajan
Panch means five and Neeraajan means doing Aaratee. So Panch-Neeraajan means doing aaratee with five things - lamp, cloth, leaf, flower and fruit.

Panchaagni      see also     Fire
A compound word, Panch + Agni. Panch means five; Agni means fire. Panchaagni means Five types of Agni (fire or heat). People who tolerate Panchaagni during their Tap normally burn fire around them and sit under the Sun even in scorching heat of Summer.

Panchaamrit          see also          Charanaamrit
Panch means five, and Amrit means nectar. Panchaamrit means five nectars. The following five materials are supposed to be nectars of this world - milk, yogurt, honey, Gangaa Water, and Ghee. So by mixing these in a specific proportions this Panchaamrit is made. It is used to bathe Bhagavaan's idol. Later this is distributed to the people. It is regarded as an auspicious and compulsory thing to take. Whoever people go to temple, they do not come back without taking Panchaamrit. This type of Panchaamrit is available only when some special worship is performed, for example Satya Naaraayan Poojaa etc, but at other times it is available only in the form of water mixed with Tulasee leaf and sometimes some sugar or honey to sweeten it. When it has been used to bathe Bhagavaan's idol, it becomes Charanaamrit, because it has touched Bhagavaan's feet.

Panchaanan
Who has five faces - means Shiv.

Panchaang     see also     Panchaang
Panch=Five, and Ang=parts. A Panchaang book tells five parts of the day - (1) Tithi (1-14 + Amaavasyaa or Poornimaa); (2) Vaar (day - Sunday, Monday etc); (3) Nakshatra (Constellation); (4) Yog (combination), and (5) Karan or Muhoort That is why it is called Panchaang. All Pandit (Braahman who worship themselves and for others) keep this book with them for knowing these details about days.

Pancham
(1) The 5th.   (2) The fifth note of North Indian music. There are seven notes in North Indian music - Shadaj, Rishabh, Gandhaar, Madhyam, Pancham, Dhaivat, and Nishaad.

Panchamee
The 5th day of the fortnight of the Lunar calendar.

Panchgavya         see          Brahm Koorch
Mixture of 5 things from cow.

Panchnad
The name of a place where Panch (five) Nad (rivers) flow, means Panjaab - these five rivers are Shutudree (Satalaj), Vipaashaa (Vyaas), Iraavatee (Raavee), Chandrabhaagaa (Chinaab), and Vitastaa (Jhelam or Behut).

Panchopachaar Poojaa

Panchraatra
(1) Five nights and five days.  (2) A Hindoo sect, perhaps as ancient as 100AD, which believed in one God and emphasized the path of devotion. Their deity was Vishnu who was also called as Naaraayan, Hari, Vaasudev, and Krishn. This sect did not believe in sacrifice and torture of the body to please God. In all these things it represented the best of Hinduism as it evolved after the age of Upanishad. Later it got corrupted by Taantrik doctrines and lost its flavor.
[Aangiras, p 209]

Panchsheel

Panchsoonaa Sin
The place to cook food (oven or cooking range etc), the place to grind flour, the place to crush or grind spices, the place to keep water, and the action of sweeping - these places are the possible places for Hinsaa (killing small Jeev) for a Grihasth (householder), therefore these come under Panchsoonaa Dosh (sin) for him.

Panchtantra
Name of a book of moral stories compiled by Vishnu Sharmaa (c 370-450 AD). It has been translated into Persian, Arabic, Greek and Hebrew during 600-900 AD. And from these languages to most European languages. Hitopadesh, a smaller book by Naaraayan is based on Panchtantra.

Panchvatee
Where five types of Vat (ficus) trees are there - Bilva, Peepal, Banyan, Ashok, and Dhaatri.

Pandit
(1) Learned person. (2) Indian priest.

Panjikaa      see         Panchaang

Pankaj
A compound word - Pank + Aj, means which is born from mud, means lotus.

Pannaa

Par      see also      A-Par
(1) Aatmaa (soul) is of two types Par Aatmaa and A-Par Aatmaa. Par Aatmaa is Param Brahm and is Nir-Gun; and A-Par Aatmaa or A-Par Brahm is said to be "with Ahankaar", that is Jeev Aatmaa. 
(2) Higher, or better.
(3) Brahmaa's Age. His half age, 50 Brahmaa years, is called Paraardh (a compound word - Par+Ardh)

Paraa Prakriti  and A-Paraa Prakriti       see        Prakriti
Superior energy.

Paraa Vidyaa
Knowledge about soul, or Aatmaa, or Brahm.

Paraag
Stamen.

Param
(1) Ultimate.  (2) Highest.

Paramaarth
A combined word - Param+Arth. Paramaarth is selfless Karm. Mostly people do every Karm with some kind of objective, that is why it is very difficult to do Paramaarth in which there is no objective. (1) The highest profit.  (2) To do good to others.  (3) Not to wish for worldly things, but to aspire for Brahm.

Paramaatmaa
Param means the ultimate, and Aatmaa means soul; so Paramaatmaa means the Ultimate soul, means Bhagavaan, God, Hari.

Parameshwar        see         Paramaatmaa

Parampad
Another name of Brahm Lok, Vishnu Lok, and Jan Lok, where Brahmaa, Vishnu and Sanakaadi Muni live.

Paramparaa
Traditions - the chain of some specific processes and behaviors beginning from very early period.

Parantap       see         Arjun
Another name of Arjun. 

Parabrahm
Supreme Soul

Paralok
It is a compound word - Par means beyond and Lok means world, so Paralok means the other world.

Param - (1) Highest.  (2) Absolute.  (3) Most excellent.

Param Dhaam
The dwelling place of Bhagavaan, this place is called Moksh also. There is a Divine city in the middle of this Param Dhaam which is called Ayodhyaa which is surrounded by boundary wall and high gates. There are pictures made from gems and gold. Chand etc guards and Kumud etc Dikpaal guard it constantly. On its eastern gate are Chand and Prachand; on its southern gate are Bhadra and Subhadra; on its western gate are Jaya and Vijaya; and on its northern gate are Dhaataa and Vidhaataa. Kumud, Kumudaaksh, Pundareek, Vaaman, Shankukarn, Sarvnidra, Sumukh, Supratishthit - these are the Dikpaal of that city.
[Padm Puraan, 5/36]

Param Gati
Final Moksh (beatitude).

Param Pad
Param means highest, and Pad means state or position; so Param Pad means highest state or position.

Param Tattwa
Absolute reality.

Paramaarth
(1) The ultimate Truth.  (2) The highest Truth.  (3) The noblest act of helping others.

Paramaatmaa
This is a compound word - Param means Highest and Aatmaa means Soul, so Paramaatmaa means the Highest or Supreme Soul.

Parameshwar
Supreme God

Parigraha       see also       A-Parigraha
To collect.

Parikarm
Parikarm is related to mathematics and is used in Jyotish (astrology). It includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square and square root, cube and cube root.

Parivaar
(1) Dependents.  (2) Family.

Parjanya
(1) Another name of Indra.  (2) Rains.

Parn Kutee
Cottage made out of leaves.

Parv
(1) Knot, as in bamboo.  (2) Joint.  (3) Auspicious occasion or festival. (2) Parts of a book, such as some Puraan are divided in Parv or MBH is divided in Parv.

Parvat
Mountain

Pashchim
(1) West direction.  (2) Behind.

Pashu       see also      List of Animals      Sounds of Animals
Animals

Pataakaa
(1) Flag.  (2) Banner.

Pati
(1) Husband, for example Ramaapati, means Husband of Ramaa, menas Vishnu.  (2) Lord.  (3) Owner.

Pativrataa
Devoted wife, or loyal wife.

Patthar
Stone.

Patra         see also          Panch Pallav
(1) Letter. (2) Very thin plate of any size and shape - such as "Taamra Patra" means "Copper plate", or "some markings are found on a Taamra Patra" means "some markings are found on a thin plate or sheet of copper." Now this sheet may be round, square, rectangular, or even an uneven shape. (3) Leaf - for example, "Bhagavan is pleased by offering even Patra."

Patraa           see           Panchaang

Paundra
Name of Bheem's conch.

Pavan
Wind.

Ped      see        Trees.

Peedhee
Generations.

Peepal
A sacred tree in India. In many places it is worshipped.

Peetaambar
A garment of yellow color, which normally is worn by Vishnu or Krishn.

Peeth
(1) Back.  (2) Stool.  (3) Chair.  (4) Seat or place. The circular base on which Shiv Ling is established is also called "Peeth". The main office of religious organization is also called "Peeth, for example Shankaraachaarya established four "Peeth" in four places in India -

Phal
(1) Fruits, such as mango, banana etc.  (2) Result - as "Karm Phal" means "the result of your action".

Phalaahaar
Phal means fruits, and Aahaar means food. Phalaahaar means eating fruits. But Shaastra permit a kind of special grain to eat under Phalaahaar, that is buckwheat. It is not counted under grains. People make several dishes out of its flour. Some people eat dried Singhaadaa (a fruit found in ponds - it is very common in UP, India) flour, preparing its flat bread and Halavaa (sweet dish). So it is not necessary to eat only fruits in Phalaahaar, since that special grain is also permitted, but of course its literal meaning is to eat only fruits, yogurt, milk, sugar, salt, and normally roots - potato and yucca, including pumpkin (not green and other kinds of vegetables)

Phalit Jyotish

Pinaak
Bow of Shiv, also called Ajagav.

Pind
(1) Lump.  (2) Globe.  (3) Ball of cooked rice, (or uncooked barley flour), honey, and butter offered to Pitar or the spirit of ancestors.

Pind Daan
Offering ball of cooked rice, (or uncooked barley flour), honey, and butter to Pitar or the spirit of ancestors.

Pishaach
A class of Raakshas (demons) fond of eating flesh.

Pitaa
Father.

Pitaamaha
Grandfather (father's father).

Pitar
The departed forefathers.

Pitar Amaavasyaa     see      Amaavasyaa

Pitra Paksh    see also    Shraaddh
From Poornimaa of Bhaadrapad to the Amaavasyaa of Aashwin - 16 days, are called Pitra Paksh. During these days Pitar are satisfied, Braakhman are fed, Tarpan to Pitar are offered.

Polar Star       see       Dhruv Taaraa

Poojaa

Poorak        see also       Praanaayaam
One of Praanaayaam's four processes - inhaling the breath; others are Rechak, Kumbhak and Shoonyak.

Poorn Aahuti       see       Aahuti

Poornimaa       see        Poornmaasee

Poornmaasee
The full-Moon day and night

Poort        see also       Isht
Digging ponds and wells, building temples, and inns, planting gardens and trees etc are called Poort or Ishtaa Poort Karm.

Poorv
(1) One of the four directions - East.  (2) Prior, earlier.  (3) In front.

Poorv-Meemaansaa        see also          Darshan
A system of philosophy founded by Jaimini. Poorv-Meemaansaa school is based entirely on the study of Rig Vaidik ritual and sacred texts. For its followers, salvation was equated with the precise performance of the Som sacrifice, since everything prescribed in the Ved must be taken literally as eternal truth. But this system attracted fewer and fewer people over time.

Poorv-Viddhaa
This is in context with Tithi (days). When one Tithi is united with its previous Tithi at sunrise it is called Poorv-Viddhaa Tithi. Some Tithi are good when they are Poorv-Viddhaa; while others are not good. The 7th, Poornimaa, Amaavasyaa, the day of annual Shraaddh of father days must be adopted when they are Poorv Viddhaa. Who desire for Dharm, Arth, Kaam they should not keep fast on 2nd, 6th, 8th and 11th Tithi when they Poorv-Viddhaa.

Poorvaj
Ancestors, or Pitar.

Pooshaa
A Vaidik Divinity who nourishes the people, saves them from harm and keeps their paths accessible to them.

Praakrit
(1) Related to Prakriti (nature).  (2) An old language used in India.

Pramaan
Proof.

Praamaanik
(1) Genuine.

Praan      see also       Vaayu
The air we breath is called Praan - breath of life. When this air is gone, the man dies. The life force. In Yogic tradition, Praan is said to be tenfold depending on its nature and function. Of the ten Praan (inhalation) and Apaan (exhalation) are the most important. According to Bhagavad Geetaa, a Yogee should balance and control the movement of Praan and Apaan in order to have control over the modifications of the mind and thus attain Samaadhi. According to Bhaagvat 3/6 ten Praan are - Praan, Apaan, Udaan, Samaan, Vyaan, Naag, Koorm, Krikal, Devatatt, and Dhananjaya.

Praan Pratishthaa
It is the process, completed with the help of Mantra, to invoke life in a statue or idol before worshipping it. This process fills life in the statue or idol. Without invoking life, statue is only a statue, not god.

Praanaagnihotra
As there are five Praan, there are five Mantra for them, they are - "Praanaaya Swaahaa, Apaanaaya Swaahaa, Samaanaaya Swaahaa, Vyaanaaya Swaahaa, Udaanaaya Swaahaa". When one eats five morsels pronouncing these five Mantra, it is called Praanaagnihotra. It is a compound word - Praan+Agni-Hotra.

Praanaayaam        see also         Ashtaang Yog;     Vaayu

Praarabdh         see also          Karm
Fruits of previous lives' Karm. There are three types of Karm - Sanchit (collected ones) 

Praashan
(1) The first thing to eat after a fast.  (2) Eating or tasting. Ann Praashan is a major Sanskaar of a child when he tastes the Ann (cereal) for the first time.

Praati Shaakhya

Praayashchit
Repentance. In Hindoo religion, most kinds of sins can be cleared by doing Praayashchit. This Praayashchit is mostly in the form of fast, donation, Yagya etc.

Prabodh Kaal      see       Brahm Muhoort

Prabhu
(1) God.  (2) Master

Pradhaan
(1) The elements of the material manifestation.  (2) Mool Prakriti, means original nature. It is the first thing which appeared directly from Brahm. All other things have appeared from it.

Pradosh

Pragyaa
(1) Wisdom.  (2) Another name of Saraswatee.

Prahar
Prahar is a part of the day. Eight Prahar make one day and night - four Prahar in the day and four Prahar in the night. So one Prahar may be taken as equal to three hours. It is also called Yaam.

Prajaapati
(1) Lord of all creatures.  (2) Name of the 11 atmospheric deities in Rig Ved. The entire hymn (10-121) of Rig Ved is devoted to Prajaapati where this term is used synonymously with God and wherein this is acknowledged in question from stating - "Whom (save Him) shall we worship?" The word Prajaapati is also used in the sense of progenitor. It is therefore applied to Brahmaa, the Creator, and Swaayambhuv Manu, supposedly the first human.  (3) Name of a person who was the descendent of Praanshu (2900 BC).  (4) Name of Rishi who was the son of Vishwaamitra.
[We have never heard that Vishwaamitra had a son named Prajaapati. His son's name was Raivya.]

Prakriti

Pralaya
Deluge or the Great deluge. The dissolution of the Universe. At this time it is believed that everything gets destroyed and is absorbed by the Param Paramaatmaa (God). Then after some time creation is started again afresh. According to Hindoo and Jain, Pralaya is the recurring event in the never-ending cycle of creation and dissolution of the Universe. It is claimed that every cycle takes the same time to complete.

Pramaad
Useless efforts of Indriyaan and heart are called Pramaad.

Pramath
Another name of Shiv - meaning destroyer.

Pranaam        see also        Saashtaang Pranaam
Greeting. In Indian culture Pranaam is done normally by joining hands, bending a little in respect of the person and saying a word for greeting, such as "Namaskaar", "Namstey", "Pranaam", "Jaya Shree Raam", "Jaya Shree Krishn" etc. If the person is a close relative, or a saint, the younger people touch his or her feet instead of joining hands.

Pranav Mantra
Aum word is known as Pranav, Beej or Mool Mantra. Pranav consists of three letters - Akaar, Ukaar and Makaar and thus it is said to be the form of three Ved. This is the dwelling place of Brahm. Akaar represents Vishnu, Ukaar represents Lakshmee Jee and Makaar is their servant "Jeev" which is the 25th element also.
[10 Indriyaan, 5 Bhoot, 5 Tanmaatraa, mind, Ahankaar, Mahat Tattwa, and Prakriti - these are the 24 Tattwa; and their witness Consciousness is the 25th Tattwa.]

Prasaad
(1) Gift.  (2) Blessings.  (3) Food graced by God. Food offered to Bhagavaan or the deity. After the offering of sweets or fruits or dry fruits or food is made for Bhagavaan, it is distributed to Bhakt community, that is called Prasaad. It is customary to have Prasaad after a worship (Poojaa) with great respect, Bhakti (devotion) and Shraddhaa. It doesn't need to be in a great amount, even sesame seed like quantity is enough. That is why people normally take it in their right hand putting their left hand beneath it. Although it may be in large amount also like full food.

Prasooti
(1) Giving birth to a child.  (2) Prasooti Kaal - Delivery time of a woman.

Prasth         see also         Weight Measurement
It is a weight measurement, for example, 1 Prasth gold. One Prasth is equal to 4 Kudava; and 1 Kudava is equal to about 12 double handfuls.

Prasthaan-Trayee        see also        Ved
A collective name of Upanishad, Bhagvad Geetaa and Vedaant Sootra.

Pratham
(1) First.  (2) Foremost.  (3) Primeval.

Pratilom          see also       Vivaah
(1) Reverse, such as Pratilom Vivaah. Pratilom Vivaah means when a lower Varn boy marries a higher Varn girl, it is called Pratilom Vivaah.  (2) Contrary.

Pratipadaa
The first day of the fortnight of the Lunar calendar - also called Padavaa.

Pratisarg       see also      Sarg
Destruction or Pralaya.

Pratishthaa
(1) Idol worship is very common in Hindoo religion. But every idol is not to be worshipped. When it is established in temples, it needs Pratishthaa. Pratishthaa means "to request god to come and live in that idol so that we can worship him". It is because we do not worship just idol, we worship it as the image of God. And to make it an image of God we will have to perform some ceremonies. When it is kept in houses, it takes time, for example we daily worship it, we treat it as our God, then only it turns into an image of God. So Pratishthaa is a process in which an idol is turned into an image of God.
(2) Any good work is started by worshipping God, so the the worship done to start that work is also called Pratishthaa. By doing this worship we wish that "our work finishes without obstacles, and it should be for the welfare".   (3) Respect.

Pratyaahaar       see also       Ashtaang Yog
To control one's Indriyaan (senses).

Pratyaksh
Visible.

Pravachan
Religious discourse or exposition.

Pravritti and Nivritti  
Efforts made to enjoy worldly comforts and  pleasures, or to make living, or acts done in pursuance of the religion is called Pravritti. Ni means no, and Vritti means living. So Nivritti means not doing anything for living; or non-indulging in something, or washing away one's hands from something. When one has nothing to do with any of his actions that is called Nivritti. Abstention from actions is called superior state to Pravritti.

Praya
Sitting down at a particular spot abstaining from food and drink to die. Restraining from food and drink.

Prayaag         see also          Sangam
Prayaag is called the place where two rives meet. Thus there may be many Prayaag. But if somebody says "Prayaag", normally it is understood as Allaahaabaad (UP) where Gangaa and Yamunaa rivers meet. There are other Prayaag also famous as Prayaag but they are less known than Allaahaabaad. These Prayaag come on the way to - (1) Dev Prayaag (Sangam of Bhaageerathee and Alaknandaa, on the way to Badree Naath) (2) then comes Rudra Prayaag, (3) Son Prayaag (Sangam of Mandaakinee and Son Gangaa Rivers on the way to Kedaar Naath), (4) Karn Prayaag,  (5) Nand Prayaag, and (6) Vishnu Prayaag.

Pret
(1) Dead person.  (2) Those who die, first become Pret. They remain so for one year till the Sa-pindeekaran Shraddhaa is performed for them. Then they unite with Pitar (ancestors). The gifts made in this Shraddhaa, as well as in the monthly ones, have the virtue of rescuing the Pret, or bringing him an accession of merit. The gifts made in annual Shraddhaa also have the same effects.

Preya       see also         Shreya
According to Kath Upanishad Preya is "what is pleasant" for a man, it may or may not be useful or good for him

Prithvi

Prithvi Sookt
The first hymn of the 12th Kaand of Atharv Ved (12-1) consisting of 63 Mantra. It is an outstanding Sookt (hymn) dedicated to the praise of one's own land of birth from the point of view of the contents and poetic beauty. It is also called Bhoomi Sookt also.

Puchchhal Taaraa
(1) Dhoomketu.  (2) Comet.

Pujaaree
Priest or official worshipper.

Pukharaaj
Yellow Sapphire. Pushp-raag. One of the nine gems or precious stones. Some of the others are (1) Heeraa - Diamond; (2) Pannaa - Emerald; (3) Laal - Ruby, Chunnee, (4) Motee - Pearl; (5) Moongaa - Coral; (6) Neelam - Sapphire, Indraneel, Neelmani; (7) Vaidoorya Mani (Lahasuniyaa); (8) Pukharaaj - Yellow Sapphire - all are called Mani or Ratn. Yellow sapphire is found in yellow, golden, and orange colors, as well as in a colorless variety known as white sapphire. The best gem is said to be of lemon-yellow color. The color in yellow sapphire is due to the presence of iron and titanium. The best yellow sapphires, famous for their luster, smoothness, brilliance, and transparence, come from Mogok, situated in the upper region of Burma. Sri Lanka produces sapphires in yellow, light green, and color-less varieties in sufficient quantities. These sapphires are of some-what inferior quality to the Burmese Pukharaaj. Good quality sapphires in shades of yellow, green, pink, red, blue, violet, and white (colorless) are found in abundance in Brazil.

Punarjanm
Punar=again, and Janm=birth, so Punarjanm means - one who has already taken birth before, if he takes birth again after his death, it is called his Punarjanm. If god himself comes on Prithvi,, it is called His Avataar, but when a man or animal who has already taken birth, he comes again on Prithvi, it is called his Punarjanm, or Janmaantar Janm... so goes the Kaarmik cycle.

Pundareek
Lotus flower of white color.

Punsavan Sanskaar       see also        Sanskaar
1 of the 16 Sanskaar for Hindoo to influence the sex of the fetus so that a male child is born. It was performed in the 3rd or 4th month of pregnancy wherein some mantra are chanted and a medicine is administered to the pregnant woman. The ritual has practically died.

Punya         see also        Paap
(1) Good actions. All those actions which are done to do good to others are called Punya.
(2) Dhaarmik Actions - Actions according to Shaastra. They also come in this category as they are done to please Bhagavaan or Devtaa or Pitar etc.  (3) Virtue.

Pur
City or town.

Puraan

Puraaree
Another name of Shiv.

Purandar
Another name of Indra. it means the destroyer of strongholds.

Purashcharan      see also     Mantra Jaap
125,000 repetitions of a Mantra - this practice is called a Purashcharan. This is equivalent to 1250 rounds of a Maalaa in 40 days - 31 Maalaa per day. If somebody takes some 20 minutes to recite the Mantra 108 times, 20 Maalaa will take  approximately 7 hours, and 10 Maalaa 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Purohit
In charge of religious activities of a house. Family priest.

Purush
God. Bhagavaan. Brahm.

Purush Sookt

Purushaarth
Aims or objectives (of life) or human values to achieve in life. A Hindoo has four Purushaarth or four goals of his life -
(1) Dharm - the first and the foremost goal of life. Actions according to Ved and Shaastra, Varn and Aashram, leading a moral and spiritual life with faith and trust in God.
(2) Arth - earning money with honesty and diligently to become prosperous to achieve a decent worldly life and to d Dharm actions.
(3) Kaam - desire, so fulfill one's desires to enjoy life. and
(4) Moksh - emancipation, or perfection or beatitude or to be free from the cycle of birth and death.

Among these four, only the first three are normally referred to, and they are called Tri-Varg (three things). Dharm is the driving force, that is why it is the prescribed conduct, by scriptures or by society, and it does not entail any merit or demerit, just obligatory duty. While the other two are the means to achieve Dharm; and all lead to Moksh. Raamaayan and Mahaabhaarat are structured on these four Purushaarth alone. Raamaayan's main import is virtuosity of human living.

Purushottam
The noblest man - God. Normally it is used for Vishnu and His incarnations - Krishn and Raam (Maryaadaa Purushottam).

Purushottam Maas         see         Adhik Maas

Pushkar
(1) Means lotus in Vaidik Sanskrit.  (2) and Pond in modern Sanskrit.  (3) A sacred lake in Ajmer, Raajsthaan, India.

Pushpak Vimaan
This was a airplane given by Brahmaa Jee to Kuber. But when Raavan had got the Var to be like immortal, he defeated Kuber and took his Pushpak Vimaan. Raam used the same Pushpak Vimaan to come back to Ayodhyaa. It's specialties were that it could be smaller or larger according to one's needs. It used to fly with the speed of mind, and it moved by thoughts only. It had all the amenities in it.

Pushp-raag         see          Pukharaaj

Putra
Son. Shrutis say the son as Putra, because one is rescued by him. (MBH, Ashwamedh, 90). Putra are of 5 types -
(1) Kshetraj Putra - Son from a legal married wife and husband;
(2) Auras Putra - If a legal wife has a son from her husband, and if another man has also relationship with that wife, then the first will be Auras son of the second man. As Brihaspati and Utathya were two brothers. Utathya's son Bharadwaaj was Brihaspati's Auras son, because Brihaspati also had illicit relations with his brother Utathya's wife Mamataa. His name was Bharadwaaj and Devtaa gave him to Bharat as his queens killed all his sons.
(3) Dattak Putra - When one adopts somebody else' son he becomes the Dattak Putra of his new parents.

Putree
Daughter

Putrikaa Dharm        see also        Vivaah
In Putrikaa Dharm, the first son born to the daughter belongs to the father of the daughter. It normally happens when the girl has no brother, but can happen otherwise also.

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