Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Munnu included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana�).
Story of Mūnnu
(three) The importance of the number three is indicated below:
Agnitraya (Three agnis).
The three agnis are ٲṣiṇa, 貹ٲⲹ and Āīⲹ. Of these the first is in the shape of a semi-circle, the second in the shape of a full circle and the third, a square.
Adhamatraya.
(Three kinds of low people). The three classes of people who are considered to have a very low position in society are the wifeless, sonless and servantless ones.
ٲٲٰⲹ.
(Three dealings with men of equal nobility). The three important dealings which should be had with only people of equal nobility are alliance, marriage and litigation.
Abhinayatraya.
(Three kinds of acts). The three kinds of acts are the Hastābhinaya (actions with the hand), Āṅgyābhinaya (actions with gestures) and Rasābhinaya (actions with expressions of sentiment).
ٳٰⲹ.
Man lives always in any one of the following states: Wakefulness, Dreaming and Sleep.
ٳ岹ٰⲹ.
The three different forms in which matter exists are as Ghana, (solid) Drava (liquid) and ٲ첹 (gas).
ĀԲٰⲹ.
Three kinds of important postures are īԲ, ʲ峾Բ. and پԲ.
پṛtٲٰⲹ.
The three kinds of plots in a story are Prakhyāta, Utpādya and Ѿś.
Ṛṇٰⲹ.
The three different kinds of debts of man are Deva-ṛṇa (debts to gods), ʾ�-ṛṇa (debts to the Manes) and Ṛṣi-ṛṇa (debts to ṛṣis).
ṣaṇātⲹ.
Eṣaṇ� means desire. The three kinds of eṣaṇās are Putraiṣaṇ� (desire for children), Vittaiṣaṇ� (desire for wealth) and Dāraiṣaṇ� (desire for wife).
ṇaٰⲹ.
The three instruments of action are mind, speech and body.
Karmatraya.
The three actions are ṛṣṭi (creation), Sthiti (maintenance) and ṃh (destruction). Yāga, Vedapaṭhana and Dharma also form one Karmatraya.
ṇaٰⲹ.
The three kinds of causes of action are knowledge, what is to be known and what has already been known (ñԲ, Jñeya and ñ).
ٰⲹ.
Past, present and future are the three divisions of time.
屹ⲹٰⲹ.
Gadya (prose), Padya (verse) and Ѿś (combination of gadya and padya) are the three different constituents of literature.
屹ⲹṇaٰⲹ.
The three chief qualities of poetic compositions are ʰ岹 (clearness of style), ܰⲹ (sweetness of style) and Ojas (force of expression).
屹DZٰⲹ.
The three main attributes of poetic compositions are Vastu (plot), īپ (diction) and Rasa (sentiment).
Gandharvadharmatraya.
The three duties assigned to a Gandharva are Pūjyasevā (serving venerable people worthy of worship), ṛtⲹgītavādyaparijñāna (study of dance, music and instrumental music) and remaining devoted to ī (goddess of learning).
ҳṇaٰⲹ.
The three distinguishing properties of nature (ṇa) belonging to all created beings are ٳٱṇa, Rajoguṇa and Tamoguṇa The three good qualities (ṇa) of Man are Satya (truth), 峦 (good conduct) and (modesty). The three results or benefits (ṇa) to which man aspires are Dhana (wealth), īپ (fame) and Svarga (heaven).
Gurutraya.
The three gurus are (mother) ʾ (father) and Āⲹ (preceptor). Guru, Paramaguru and Parameṣṭhiguru are also three gurus.
貹ٰⲹ
The three kinds of miseries (which human beings have to suffer in this world are Āٳ첹 (of the body and mind), Āܳپ첹 (inflicted by animals) and Ā岹첹 (by fate). The other three 貹 (agonies) are Anakṣarajñasambhāṣaṇa (conversing with illiterate persons), Duṣprabhusevana (serving arrogant masters) and Lambapayodharāliṅgana (embracing women with hanging breasts).
Tauryatrika.
The three constituents of triple symphony are Dance, Music and Instrumental music.
پٰⲹ.
The three distinguishing types of all created beings are Uttama (best), Madhyama (mediocre) and Adhama (worst).
ٴṣaٰⲹ.
The disorders of the three humours of the body are ٲ (wind), Pitta (Bile) and Kapha (phlegm). پ, پپ and Asambhava are also three ṣa (fallacies).
հṭi.
ñ (knower), ñԲ (knowledge) and Jñeya (the object of knowledge) are the three ṭi. Subject, predicate and object are also three ṭi.
ṛpܰ.
The three demons who always formed a group are Tārakākṣa, ṣa and վܲԳī.
Tribhuvana.
Svarga (heaven), ū, (earth) and (Netherworld) are the three bhuvanas. (worlds).
Trimadhura.
The three sweet things are honey, sugar and 岹ī (plantain fruit).
հūپ.
The three ūپ (deities) are , վṣṇ and Ѳś.
հṅg.
The three ṅg (genders) are Pulliṅga (masculine), Strīliṅga (feminine) and ṃs첹 (neuter).
Triloka.
The three worlds are ѲԳṣyǰ첹 (world of men), ʾṛloka (world of the Manes) and Devaloka (world of the gods).
Trivarga.
The following groups of three are classed as Trivargas (a) Dharma (Virtue), Artha (wealth) and 峾 (desire). (b) ṛd (increase) ٳԲ (same position) and ṣaⲹ (decrease). (c) Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.
Pralayatraya.
The three pralayas (floods) are Naimittika (floods due to rains in and out of season) Prākṛtapralaya (floods arising out of saṃvarttāgni) and Ātyantikapralaya (floods due to heavy rains).
հⲹñ.
۲ñ are of three kinds. Karmayajña, Upāsanayajña and ñԲyajña. There are six divisions in Karmayajña namely, Nityakarma, Naimittikakarma, Kāmyakarma, Āٳ첹karma, Ā岹첹karma and Adhibhautikakarma. For Upāsanayajña there are nine divisions namely, Nirguṇopāsana, Saguṇopāsana, Bhūtapretopāsana, Mantrayogavidhi, Aṣṭāṅgayogavidhi, Layayogavidhi, Rājayogavidhi, Avatāropāsana and Maharṣidevopāsana. ñԲyajña has got three divisions namely, Manana, Nididhyāsana and Śṇa.
հṛtپ.
ղ岹ī, ñī and Ҳḍ� are the three Kāvyavṛttis.
Triveda.
The three Vedas are ṻ岹, Yajurveda and Sāmaveda.
հśپ.
The three kinds of powers are, power of wealth and position, power of endeavour and power of good counsel (ʰśپ, Utsāhaśakti and Mantraśakti).
հśī.
The three bodies or physical adjuncts of a soul are ٳū, ūṣm and ṇa and the three bodies of ʲٳ are Īśa, ūٰ and վ�.
հԻ.
ʰٲ (morning), Madhyāhna (midday) and Sāyāhna (evening) are the three Ի (union of two divisions of time).
ūṣaṇaٰⲹ.
ٲ, Pitta and Kapha are the three ūṣaṇa (disorder of the humours in a body).
ḍītⲹ.
The three ḍīs of the body are Iḍ�, ʾṅg and ṣu.
ʳܰṣaٰⲹ.
The three classes of men are Uttama (best), Madhyama (mediocre) and Adhama (lowest).
ʰṇaٰⲹ.
The three kinds of means of valid knowledge are ʰٲⲹṣa (what can be seen), ԳܳԲ (what can be logically inferred) and Ā (Verbal testimony.)
ṣaṇaٰⲹ.
Śܻ, Ś and ŚԳٲ are the three Brahmalakṣaṇas.
Munitraya.
The celebrated trio of sages are ṇiԾ, ʲٲñᲹ and ٲⲹԲ.
Yogatraya.
The three kinds of yogas are: ñԲyoga, Bhaktiyoga and Karmayoga.
īپtraya.
The three īپ are ղ岹ī, ñī and Ҳḍ�.
ū貹첹ٰⲹ.
ṭy, ṛtⲹ and ṛtٲ are the three ū貹첹.
ղśⲹṛtپٰⲹ.
The three duties of a Vaisya are Kṛṣ (agriculture), Paśupālana (Breeding of cattle) and ṇiⲹ (trade).
ṇaٰⲹ.
Buddha, Dharma and ṅg are the three Śṇa.
Siddhitraya.
The following groups of three are considered to be Siddhitrayas. (a) Karmasiddhi, Yogasiddhi and ñԲsiddhi. (b) Aiśvaryasiddhi, ñԲsiddhi and Vairāgyasiddhi. (c) Ś, Vitta and 岵ⲹ. (d) Ѳṇi, Mantra and ṣa. (Siddhi means attainment, accomplishment).
Svaratraya.
The different kinds of vowel are three in number namely Hrasva (short), ī (long) and Pluta (prolated). ٳٲ, Գܻٳٲ and Svarita are also three different kinds of accent, i.e. the acute grave and circumflexed).