After the ceremony...

After the ceremony, the water of the bath, the fruit and other precious substances are partaken of as prasada by the devotees. See: guru, guru bhakti, paduka, prasada, ucchishta. padartha: (Sanskrit) "Constituent substance." Primary categories or essential elements of existence, defined differently or uniquely by each philosophical school. For example, in the Sankhya Darshana, the padarthas are purusha (spirit) and prakriti (matter).

According to Advaita Vedanta, they are chit (spirit) and achit (nonspirit), which from an absolute perspective are taken as the One padartha, Brahman. In Shakta and Saiva traditions, the padarthas are Pati (God), pashu (soul) and pasha (world, or bonds). paddhati: (Sanskrit) "Foot-path; track; guide." The name of a class of expository writings, e.g., Gorakshanatha's Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati, and the many paddhatis that are guidebooks for ritual temple rites.

There are paddhatis for the Vedas and for the Agamas. padma: (Sanskrit) The lotus flower, Nelumbo nucifera, symbol of spiritual development and the chakras. Because it grows out of mud and rises to perfect purity and glory, it is an apt representation of spiritual unfoldment. Padma Purana: (Sanskrit) One of the six main Vishnu Puranas.

paduka: (Sanskrit) "Sandals." Sri Paduka refers to the sandals of the preceptor, the traditional icon of the guru, representing his venerable feet and worshiped as the source of grace. Paduka also names one of Vira Saivism's eight aids (ashtavarana) to faith--the practice of drinking the water from the ceremonial washing of the Sivalinga or the guru's feet. See: guru bhakti, padapuja, prasada, satguru, ucchishta.

pagan: Term used negatively by Semitic faiths to indicate a follower of another religion, or of no religion. Also names the pre-Christian religion of Europe, akin to shamanism and other of the world's indigenous faiths, which have survived to this day despite organized persecution. Pagans are gradually surfacing again, and have acknowledged their kinship with Hinduism. See: mysticism, shamanism. pageantry: A spectacular and grand representation, elaborately decorated show, procession, drama, etc.

See: festival. Paingala Upanishad: (Sanskrit) Belongs to the Shukla Yajur Veda. A 12-verse dialog between Sage Yajnavalkya and his disciple Paingala covering a wide range of topics, including liberation and the five sheaths of man. panchabhuta: (Sanskrit) "Five elements." Earth, water, fire, air and ether. Also called mahabhuta.