pradak•iæa
See CIRCUMAMBULATION.pradak•iæa pätha
A CIRCUMAMBULATORY pathway in a
temple.pradhäna (‘the first’)
Primary matter, inert matter, nature as
opposed to spirit. According to
SÄßKHYA pradhäna is opposite of
PURUÆA: it does not possess conscious-
ness, but under the influence of puru•a
everything evolves out of pradhäna
(prakøti). The relationship between
pradhäna and puru•ais illustrated via
the simile of a blind but strong person
(pradhäna) carrying a lame but sighted
person (puru•a) on her shoulders. They
do everything jointly, but the sighted
person directs the blind one. ŸA¢KARA
(2) argues against the possibility of an
eternal material principle, and against
pradhänaas the source of all things.Pradyumna (1)
Kø•æa’s son by RUKMIŒÏ.Pradyumna (2)
One of the names of KÄMA, the god of
love.Pradyumna (3)
Another name for SANAT-KUMÄRA, son
of Brahmä.Prahläda
Son of the DAITYAking Hiraæyakaÿipu.
As a boy he became an ardent devotee
of Vi•æu, proclaiming Vi•æu sovereign,
and thus enraging his father who had
claimed world rulership. Hiraæyakaÿipu
attempted to kill Prahläda in many dif-
ferent ways but failed due to Vi•æu’s
intervention. Finally Vi•æu appeared as
NÄRASIMHA (a man-lion) and killed
Hiraæyakaÿipu.Prajäpati (‘Lord of creatures’)
Progenitor, in a generic sense. In the
Veda, Indra and other devas are called
Prajäpati. Later the title is applied to
Brahmä, the creator. Most commonly
the title is given to the ten mind-born
sons of Brahmä: Marïci, Atri, Aögiras,
Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasi•flha,
Pracetas (Dak•a), Bhøgu and Närada.
Different sources give different numbers
and different names for the Prajäpatis.Prajñä-tïrtha
One of the names of MADHVA.prakøti (‘nature’)
In a general sense, matter, generative
substance. See also PRADHÄNA.pralaya
The dissolution of the world at the end
of a KALPA.pramäda (‘error’)
A mistake, the opposite of right know-
ledge (VIDYÄ).pramäæa
A means of establishing truth; tradi-
tionally six pramäæas have been recog-
nized: pratyak•a (perception); anumäna
(inference); ÿabda (verbal authority);
upamiti (analogy); arthäpatti (pre-
sumption); abhäva (negation). Of these
the CÄRVÄKAS accept one only, the
VAIŸEÆIKAStwo, the SÄßKHYASthree,
the NAYÄYIKASfour, the Prabhäkara
school of MÏMÄßSA five, the Bhaflfla
school of Mïmäƒsä and the VEDÄNTINS
six. Pramäæas are an important part of
every Indian philosophical investiga-
tion.präæa (‘breath’)
Breath is often identified with life. (See
alsoPRÄŒAYAMA.)pradak•iæa 140Encyclo - Letter P 10/2/03 9:56 am Page 140