Panchamakara or Panchatattva, also known as the Five Ms, is the
Tantric term for the five transgressive substances used in a Tantric practice. These are (
alcohol
Alcohol most commonly refers to:
* Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom
* Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks
Alcohol may also refer to:
Chemicals
* Ethanol, one of sev ...
), (
meat), (
fish
Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% ...
), (pound grain), and (
sexual intercourse).
Taboo
A taboo or tabu is a social group's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons.''Encyclopædia Britannic ...
-breaking elements are only practiced literally by "left-hand path" tantrics (''
vāmācārin''s), whereas "right-hand path" tantrics (''
dakṣiṇācārin''s) oppose these.
Interpretations of the Panchamakaras
Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe)
In the introduction of his translation of the ''Mahanirvana Tantra'',
Sir John Woodroffe, under the pseudonym ''Arthur Avalon'', describes the Panchamakara thus:
Vamachara and dakshinachara
In the right-handed path, the
Dakshinachara (), as described for example by the spiritual leader
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar (21 May 1921 – 21 October 1990), also known by his spiritual name Shrii Shrii Ánandamúrti (Ánanda Múrti="Bliss Embodiment"), and known as Bábá ("Father") to his disciples, was a spiritual Guru, philosopher, so ...
,
[ and ] the five M's have dual meanings, one crude (left-handed,
Vamachara) and one subtle (right-handed,
Dakshinachara).
According to Sarkar, the purpose of the Five M's is dual: for people to practice yoga sadhana (meditation) while in the "midst of crude enjoyments" and then gradually reduce the consumption of wine, meat, fish, etc. and not to overindulge in sexual activities; and after learning to resist the allure of these activities, to engage in the subtle practices of Tantra meditation.
See also
*
Ganachakra
*
Yogini#Panchamakara
References
Cited sources
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{{Worship in Hinduism
Tantric practices