''Pancikarana'' ( sa, पञ्चीकरण, Pañcīkaraṇa, quintuplication) is a

Vedantic ''Vedanta'' (; sa, वेदान्त, ), also ''Uttara Mīmāṃsā'', is one of the six (''āstika'') schools of Hindu philosophy. Literally meaning "end of the Vedas", Vedanta reflects ideas that emerged from, or were aligned with, t ...

theory of how matter came into existence, originating from the primordial five subtle elements.

History

Adi Shankara Adi Shankara ("first Shankara," to distinguish him from other Shankaras)(8th cent. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya ( sa, आदि शङ्कर, आदि शङ्कराचार्य, Ādi Śaṅkarācāryaḥ, lit=First Shanka ...

wrote a treatise on this theory, titled – ''Pancikaranam'', which was elaborated by his disciple Sureshvaracharya, and later on commented upon in 2400 slokas by Ramananda Saraswati, disciple of Ramabhadra, and in 160 slokas by Ananda Giri, disciple of Suddhananda Yati. The Chandogya Upanishad teaches the doctrine of tripartition () from which developed the Vedantic theory of ''pancikarana'' with regard to the creation of the transformed evolutes of the original elements. This theory is also found narrated to

Narada Narada ( sa, नारद, ), or Narada Muni, is a sage divinity, famous in Hindu traditions as a travelling musician and storyteller, who carries news and enlightening wisdom. He is one of mind-created children of Brahma, the creator god. He ...

in the '' Srimad Devi Bhagavatam''.

Overview

''Pancikarana'' is the creation of the elements (''bhūtasarga'') by a process in which subtle matter (or the prior stage of matter) transforms itself into gross matter. Intelligence is the subtle manifestation of

consciousness Consciousness, at its simplest, is sentience and awareness of internal and external existence. However, the lack of definitions has led to millennia of analyses, explanations and debates by philosophers, theologians, linguisticians, and scien ...

and matter its gross manifestation. ''Pancikarana'' is the "quintuplication" of the basic/primordial five subtle elements. The subtle elements stand alone ('' tanmātrā''). During ''pancikarana'', each is firstly divided into two halves, one part of which was further divided into four parts, equal to 1/8 parts of each subtle element, which then recombined with the undivided halves of each element. Thus, each of the five gross elements ('' pañcabhūta'') consists of half of the corresponding subtle element and four fractions from each of the other four subtle elements. Accordingly, each gross element has a five fold composition. It was also assumed that this process of division and recombination goes on till the gross elements are produced as a continuous unending process, with the processes of ''Srishti'' ("creation"), ''Stithi'' ("sustenance"), and ''Samhara'' ("dissolution") continuing without change or interruption. ''Pancikarana'' involves one half of the original subtle element to be mixed up with 1/8 part each of the other original subtle elements to produce the gross element of the subtle element contributing its own one half. When gross elements are produced then consciousness enters into these elements as their presiding deities, then comes the feeling of

egoism Egoism is a philosophy concerned with the role of the self, or , as the motivation and goal of one's own action. Different theories of egoism encompass a range of disparate ideas and can generally be categorized into descriptive or normativ ...

(I-ness) identifying with the body. Gross elements solidify and assume forms as per their fundamental qualities.

References

{{Reflist Vedanta Hindu philosophical concepts Metaphysical theories Adi Shankara Classical elements Advaita Vedanta texts

History

Overview

See also

References