Dictionary of common Sanskrit spiritual words
paramparA - prameya

Note that words appear in order of the Roman alphabet, not the Sanskrit alphabet.

parampara

literally “proceeding from one to another”; “guru paramparA” refers to the tradition of guru – disciple passing on wisdom through the ages. See also sampradaya.

parechcha

relating to the desires of others – see prarabdha.

paribhasa

speech, discourse, words; an explanatory rule or general definition; a rule or maxim which teaches the proper interpretation or application of other rules. (e.g. vedAnta paribhAshA of dharmarAja adhvarindra).

parinama

literally “change, transformation into”; encountered in the context of a material cause in which the effect is a transformation from its cause as opposed to simply distinguishable from, e.g. butter made from milk as opposed to cloth made from cotton.

parinama vada

the doctrine of evolution as proposed by sAMkhya philosophy.

paripurna

completely filled or covered with; accomplished, perfect, whole, complete.

paroksha

remote, mysterious, invisible, hidden (also pArokShya); opposite of pratyakSha.

pashyanti

seeing; the second of the four stages of sound production. Could be translated as “visualization,” from the verb pash, meaning “to see.”

patala

hell. (Also naraka.)

Patanjali

philosopher, author of the “Yoga Sutras” and responsible for aShTA~Nga or rAja yoga.

phala

fruit; often used in the context of the consequences that necessarily follow as a result of action. See karma phala. It is also used in respect of the emotional benefits of self-knowledge – j~nAna phala or jIvanmukta.

pluta

a lengthened vowel in Sanskrit (sounded for 3 or more mAtrA-s or measures).

pradhana

most important or essential part of anything; primary matter or nature; supreme or universal soul.

prajna

(verb) to know or understand, find out, perceive or learn; (noun) wisdom, intelligence, knowledge. Not to be confused with prAj~na below.

prajna

the “deep sleep ego” in the deep sleep state of consciousness, suShupti. Literally, “wise, clever” (adj.) or “a wise man” or “intelligence dependent on individuality.” See also visva, taijasa.

prajnana

consciousness.

prakarana

subject, topic, treatise etc. but especially opening chapter or prologue.

prakarana grantha

this is the term used to refer to authoritative commentaries on the scripture but which are not part of the prasthAna traya. It is frequently used in respect of the works attributed to Shankara such as upadesha sAhasrI, vivekachUDAmaNi etc. The word grantha literally means “tying or stringing together” though can itself mean composition or treatise.

prakriti

literally the original or natural form or condition of anything; generally used to refer to what we would call “nature.”

prakriya

a methodology of teaching; literally a chapter (esp. the introductory chapter of a work).

pralaya

dissolution, destruction, annihilation, especially relating to the destruction of the universe at the end of a kalpa. See kalpa.

prama

true knowledge, basis or foundation.

pramana

valid means for acquiring knowledge. There are 6 of these in Vedanta: - perception (pratyakSha), inference (anumAna), scriptural or verbal testimony (shabda or Agama shruti), analogy (upamAna), presumption (arthApatti) and non-apprehension (anupalabdhi). The first three are the major ones referred to by Shankara.

pramatri

the subject of knowledge obtained via a pramANa; authority, one who has a correct notion or idea.

prameya

the object of knowledge obtained via a pramANa; also “thing to be proven” or “topic to be discussed.”

pramiti

correct notion, right conception, knowledge gained or established by pramANa.