OM: The first sound symbol.

PADMA: Lotus.

PADMASANA: One of the sitting poses in practising Yoga.

PADMAVATI: Consort of Lord Venkateswara at Tirupati.

PAKSHA: Lunar fortnight.

PAKSHI TEERTHA: A shrine in Chingleput District where two kites appear at midday for partaking food offered to them at the temple.

PANCHAKSHARA MANTRA: The five-lettered hymn 'Namasivaya'.

PANGUNI: Tamil month approximating to 16th March-15th April.

PAPA: Sin.

PAPANASAM: A place in Tirunelveli District considered sacred. A hydro electric scheme also exists there at present.

PAPAINASANA: Removing all sins.

PARTHASARATHY: Charioteer of Arjuna; name of Lord Krishna in Triplicane.

PARVATI: Consort of Lord Siva.

PASUPATA ASTRA: A powerful weapon of Lord Siva.

PATANJALI: The name of the sage who wrote Yogasutra.

PATTESWARAM: Temple of Goddess, Parvati near Tanjore.

PATTINATHAR: A Saivite saint.

PERUMAL: Originally Vishnu; also applied to other gods.

PEYALWAR: One of the Vaishnavite saints.

PILLAIYAR: Vinayaka.

POIGAI: Pond; tank.

POIGAI ALWAR: One of the Vaishnavite saints.

PRAHLADA: Son of Hiranyakasipu.

PRAKARAM: Wide corridors surrounding the sanctum sanctorum of a shrine; also enclosure walls of a temple.

PRAKRITI: Nature; creation; the action principle in contrast to Purusha, the driving power.

PRALAYA: Deluge at the end of a Yuga.

PRANAYAMA: Method of breath control.

PRITHVI LINGAM: The earth lingam.

PUJA: Worshipping God chanting mantra".

PURANA: Mythological and legendary lores, of which there are 18.

PURATTASI: Tan-dl month approximating to 16th September-15th October.

PURNIMA: Full-moon day.

PURUSHA: The male element (motive power) of creation.

PUSHKARANI: Sacred tank in a temple.