PRAJAPATI, prd-jil'pn-te (Skt., lord of be ings). The name of a Hindu divinity. In the Rig-Veda the word is used also as an epithet of Savitar (q.v.), the revivifying aspect of the sun, and of the. invigorating Soma (q.v.). Prajapati's character was essentially that of a creator. and he thus became not only a synonym of Brahma (q.v.), but also, when Brahma's creative godhood was to be emphasized, of those divine personages who, produced by Brahma, created all existing beings, including gods and demons. Maim names ten such Prajapatis engendered, through pure meditation, by Brahma, Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Prachetas or Daksha, Vasishtha, Bhrigu, and Narada. The Puranas (q.v.) contain many legends about them, together with varying accounts both of their number and origin. 'In modern India the cult of Prajapati has almost disappeared, although the Kumbars, or potter caste, of the Punjab still worship him. Consult: Muir, Original Sanskrit Texts (London, 1808-7-1) ; Hopkins, Religions of India (Boston, 1S95) Macdonell, Vedic Mythology (Strassburg, 1897).
PRAJkA PARAMITA, prienya (Skt., wisdom which has gone to the other shore: absolute or transcendental wisdom). The title
of the principal Sutra of the :Mahayana School of the Buddhists. Its main object is metaphys ical, and its doctrine is the entire negation of the subject as well as the object, teaching that the supreme good, defined by it as the wisdom which releases from transmigration. has no more reality than he who strives to gain it. The com mencement of the work is merely a eulogy of Buddha, and of the Bodhisattvas, who form his retinue. Other parts contain narratives of won derful phenomena connected with the apparition of Buddhist saints, descriptions of the benefits arising from an observance of Buddhistic doc trine, or verses in which the Buddha is praised by his disciples. Both on account of the extent to which such episodical topics could easily be expanded, as well as by reason of the amplifica tions of the real substance of the work, several recensions of the Prajila Paramit5 are in exist ence. Some of these do not contain more than 7000 slokas, or distichs, hut others amount to 18,000. :25,000, or even 100,000 slokas.