panch

Panch is a term of Sanskrit origin meaning five. It is used across many Indian languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Bengali, often as a standalone noun or as a prefix in compounds. The root panca appears in various forms in Indo-Aryan languages and cognates in related languages, reflecting the historical influence of Sanskrit.

In social and cultural contexts, panch is closely linked to five-member assemblies and calendars. Panchayat refers to a village or local council, originally composed of five elders, and today denotes rural self-government bodies in parts of South Asia, with a constitutional framework in India supporting local governance through the 73rd Amendment Act of 1992. Panchanga is the Hindu calendar almanac used to determine auspicious times, traditionally comprising five elements: tithi (lunar day), vara (weekday), nakshatra (star/asterism), yoga, and karana.

Other notable uses include Pancha-tattva, the five aspects of the divine in Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and Panchatantra, an ancient Sanskrit collection of interrelated animal fables that has influenced world literature. In Ayurveda, Panchakarma denotes a fivefold detoxification therapy, traditionally including vamana (therapeutic vomiting), virechana (purgation), basti (enemas), nasya (nasal administration), and raktamokshan (bloodletting). In music, Pancham is the fifth note in Indian classical scales. The prefix appears in many place names and local terms, reflecting historical or regional associations with the number five.

See also: Panchayat, Panchanga, Panchakarma, Pancha-tattva, Panchatantra.