Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

139 präcärya

the ancestors in connection with the last

rites by the nearest (male) relation. By

connotation it then means (close) degree

of relationship, such as in sapiæõa, for-

bidden to marry.

piÿäca (fem. piÿäcï)

Fiend, evil spirit. It is the most malig-

nant of ghosts, often mentioned in

Vedas, Brähmaæas and epics. (See also

BHÜTA; PRETA.)

pitämaha

Paternal grandfather. A title of

BRAHMÄ, especially in the Mahäbhärata.

Pitäƒbara (‘dressed in a yellow

garment’)

A name of VIÆŒU/KØÆŒA.

Pïflha, also Pïflha sthäna

The 51 places where the limbs of Satï

fell, when scattered by Ÿiva after his

destruction of DAKÆA’s sacrifice. Also

called ÿakti-pïflhas, they are important

places of pilgrimage for Tantrikas. (See

also KÄLIKÄPÏfiHA.)

pitøs

Fathers, forefathers, ancestors, to whom

PIδASare offered.

planets

Hindus knew and observed the move-

ments of the planets (Jupiter, Saturn,

Mercury, Venus, Mars, together with

the sun and the moon) from ancient

times and used constellations to deter-

mine auspicious and inauspicious times.

HOROSCOPESwere based on planetary

astronomy. (See alsoASTROLOGY.)

Poddar, Hanuman Prasad

(1892–1971)

Journalist, religious leader and founder

of the Gïtä Press in Gorakhpur, the

largest publisher of Hindu religious lit-

erature in Sanskrit, Hindï and English.

He was the founder-editor of Kalyäæ, a

Hindï religious monthly, and Kalyäæa

Kalpätaru, an English-language religious

Hindu monthly, with large circulations.

Poögal

The greatest festival of Tamilnäõü, and

a public holiday. It is a combination of

New Year and harvest/thanksgiving cel-

ebrations. One day is called maflflu-

poögal, when COWSand oxen are decor-

ated and worshipped as an expression

of thanks for their work.

Pope, George Uglow

(1820–1908)

Christian missionary, educator and

scholar of Tamil. He taught at

Tinnevelly, Tanjore and Ootacamund,

and lectured in Tamil and Telugu at

Oxford University; author and editor of

many Tamil works, translator of the

Tamil classic Tirukkural and the Tiru-

vacakamby MÄŒIKKAVÄCAKAR.

power

SeeŸAKTI.

Prabandham

Also known as the ‘Tamil Praban-

dham’, the collection of hymns by the

Ä®VÄRS, undertaken by Näflha Muni,

which is used in ŸRÏVAIÆŒAVAworship

alongside Sanskrit hymns.

Prabhäkara Miÿra

(c. 600–50 CE)

A famous MÏMÄßSAKAscholar, founder

of the Prabhäkara school, author of

Bøhati and Vivaraæa, and commentaries

on the Ÿäbarabhä•ya.

präcärya

A guru’s GURU.

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