Every number has a certain power which is expressed both by its symbol to denote its representation and by its connection to universal principles. Numbers have relationships with all things in nature, thus making them supremely powerful symbolic expressions.

  • Muslims pray 5 times in a day.
  • Five major disasters – war, epidemics, famine, pollution and poverty.
  • Five Yamas (code of conduct as per Patanjali) – Ahimsa (nonviolence), Brahmacharya (abstain from sexual intercourse), Asteya (non – stealing), Satya (truth in words and thoughts) and Aparagraha (absence of avarice).
  • Five sacred symbols of Sikh religion as prescribed by Guru Gobind Singh known as Panj Karas or five ‘k’s are – Kesh (uncut hair), Kangha (comb), Kara   (steel bracelet), kachha (soldiers shorts) and kirpan (sword).
  • Five basic tastes – sweet, sour, bitter, salty and savouriness.
  • Panchopachara – five ways of offering daily prayer to the God – Gandha- The worshipper offers sandal paste to the deity, Pushpa – The worshipper offers flowers to the deity, Dhupa – Lighting of incense sticks and placing them in front of the deity. Deepa – Lighting a lamp and Naivedya – Offering of food to the deity.
  • Panchabhuta – Prthvi (earth), Ap (water), Tejas (fire), Vayu (air) and Akasa (ether) are the Pancabhutas (five elements) .
  • Panchabrahmasana – This is a divine cot with Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Isvara as its four legs and Sadasiva as the couch. Devi rests on this cot always.
  • Pancadevis – Durga, Radha, Laksmi, Sarasvati and Savitri are the Pancadevls.
  • Panchaksharamahatmya – . Namas’sivaya composed of five letters (Na-mah si va ya) is called the mantra of Pancaksara.
  • Pancamahayagya – For a Grhasthasraml (householder) the following five apparatuses are unavoidable : A sifter, a grinding stone, a broom, a wooden mortar and a water-pot. It is believed that a sin is committed when each of these is used and to remove the sins thus committed the ancient sages have prescribed five yajnas and these five yajnas are called the Pancamahayajnas. They are the Brahmayajna, Pitryajna, Devayajna, Bhutayajna and the Manusayajna. Reciting of Vedas is Brahmayajna. Pleasing the manes by offering rice or libations of water is called Pitryajna. Giving offerings to the demi-gods in the sacrificial fire is called Devayajna and religious offerings of rice to the crows are called Bhutayajna. Giving food for the guests is Manusayajna. One who does not do the Pancamahayajnas is no better than dead. Some scholars have classified the Pancamahayajnas as Huta, Prahuta, Brahmyahuta, Prasita and Ahuta.
  • Pancapranas-The five pranas (life breaths) of any living being are Prana, Apana, Vyana, Samana and Udana.
  • Panca mutra – urine of 5 female animals viz. cow, goat, buffalo, sheep and ass.
  • Panca ratna – a collection of 5 jewels or precious things viz gold, diamond, sapphire, ruby and pearl.
  • Panca lavana – 5 different kinds of salt viz kaca, saindhava, samudra, vida and sauvarcala.
  • Panca sugandhaka – a collection of 5 kinds of aromatics vegetable substances viz cloves, nutmeg, camphor, aloe wood and kakkola.
  • Panca suna – 5 things in a house by which animal life may be accidentally destroyed viz the fire place, slab for grinding condiments, broom, pestle & mortar and water pot.
  • Pancanga – 5 members or parts of a body.
  • 5 parts of a tree Viz root, bark, leaf, flower and fruit.
  • 5 modes of devotion – silent prayer, oblations, libations, bathing idols and feeding Brahmins.
  • A calendar of almanac treating 5 things – solar days, lunar days, nakshatras, yogas and karanas.
  • Panca pranama – obeisance made with arms, knees, head, voice and look.
  • Panca tantra – well known collection of moral stories and fables divided into 5 sections.
    • Mitrabheda – breaking the friendship – benefits of divide and rule policy between our enemies.
    • Mitralabha – acquisition of friends. Advantage of selecting your friends judiciously.
    • Kakolukiya – tales of crows and owls – this brings out the dangers of friendship between those who are natural enemies.
    • Labdapranasa –loss of what has been acquired – shows how certain weakness lead to loss of one’s own possessions.
    • Apariksitakaritam – results of inconsiderable actions – illustrates the general principle of haste makes waste.
  • Panca karma – 5 kinds of Ayurveda treatment viz. giving emetics, purgative medicines, sternutatories and enemas of two kinds: oily and not oily.
  • Panca kashaya – decoction made from the fruits of 5 plants – the jambu, salmali, vatyala, bakula and badara.
  • Panca gupta – protected or covered in a fivefold manner – like a tortoise drawing its feet and head.
  • Panca chaksu – 5 eyes of Buddha – Mamsa Chakshu (the carnal eye), dharma chakshu (the religious eye), prajna chakshu (the eye of intellect), divya chakshu (the divine eye) and Buddha chakshu (the eye of Buddha).
  • Pancajana – 5 classes of beings – gods, men, gandharvas & apsaras, serpents and pitrs.
  • Panchagni – the 5 fires to which an ascetic who practices self-mortification exposes himself Viz one fire towards each of the four quarters and the sun overhead.  
  • Panca tikta – 5 bitter things Viz nimba, amrita, vrisha, patola and nidigdhika.
  • Panca tirthi – 5 principal places of Hindu pilgrimage – Visrauti, Saukara, Naimisha, Prayaga and Pushkara.
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