Audio Glossary: P

panj kakke
The 'Five Ks' of Sikhism: uncut hair (kesh), comb (kangha), bracelet (kara), sword (kirpan), short trousers (kachera).
panj piara
The 'five beloved ones'. Guru Gobind Singh's closest disciples, initiated by him, and subsequently initiating him‚ into the Sikh khalsa during the festival of Vaisakhi in 1699. Initiation by amrit is now performed by persons representing the original panj piara.
panj vikaars
In Sikhism the five 'thieves of the soul': anger, false pride, greed, lust and attachment.
Panth
In Sikhism a collective name for all Sikhs. The Sanskrit word panth (literally 'path' or 'road') is used to designate groups in India following particular teachers or doctrines. The early Sikh community was thus known as the Nanak-panth or followers of Nanak, but later generations increasingly dropped the prefix and the community of Sikhs came to be known simply as the Panth.
Papacy
Pertaining to the Pope, whom Roman Catholics believe to be the successor to the Apostle Peter and God's representative on earth.
parable
A short story, frequently found in Jewish and Christian scriptures, which by analogy or metaphor contains moral or religious teaching.
Parkash karna
The ceremony at the beginning of each day when the Guru Granth Sahib is uncovered, opened and the day's worship begins.
parinirvana
Festival commemorating the BUddha's death.
parsad (or prasad)
In Hinduism, food which worshippers offer to a deity and which is subsequently distributed to other visitors to a mandir (see also Karah Prasad).
Parsi / Parsee
'The Persians'. Name given in India to followers of the Zoroastrian tradition.
No Audio
Parvati
Hindu female deity, consort of Shiva, also known as Maha-devi (Great goddess).
Pesach
A Jewish spring festival commemorating the release of the Israelite people from slavery in Egypt (the Passover).
Pentecost
A Jewish festival celebrated fifty days after Passover (see also Shavuot). Also a Christian festival celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit to Jesus' disciples. As the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles on this day after the Resurrection the name was applied by the Christian Church to the feast celebrating this event.
Pillars of Islam
The basic institutions of Islamic religious practice: profession of faith (shahadah), worship (salat), alms-giving (zakat), pilgrimage (hajj) and fasting (sawm).
pilgrimage
Journeys undertaken in many religious traditions for purposes of devotion, thanksgiving, penance or the fulfilment of a vow.
No Audio
pravachan
In Hinduism, a lecture or talk usually based on scriptures.
Progressive Judaism
Generic expression for those Jewish communities and individuals not holding to traditional observances and beliefs, but still committed to a form of religious belief and practice. Liberal Judaism and Reform Judaism are the two movements which together constitute progressive Judaism in the UK.
Prophecy
The act of bringing forth ‚via spoken or written word or symbolic act, what is perceived as revelation from a divine being.
No Audio
Protestant
Christian groups which reject those doctrines of the Catholic Church that are perceived to lack the authority of scripture. Traditionally these denominations tend to derive their theology from a Calvinist or a Lutheran source.
puja
Ritual worship in Hinduism. Puja, joining in an offering to the deity, is in contrast to darshan, seeing the deity or being in their presence and hence receiving a blessing.
Purim
Minor Jewish festival celebrating an event 2,300 years ago recorded in the biblical Book of Esther when the Jews of Persia were saved from Haman's plan to destroy them by Queen Esther's intercession.