Pañca-Parameṣṭhi

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The Pañca-Parameṣṭhi (Sanskrit for "fivefold superiority") in Jainism are a five-fold hierarchy of religious authorities worthy of veneration:

  1. Arihanta: the 23 Tirthankaras or Jinas, the legendary founding figures of Jainism
  2. Ashiri: the Siddhas or "perfected" saints
  3. Acharya: "teachers"
  4. Upadhyaya: "preceptors"
  5. Munis: monks

The five initials, viz. A+A+A+U+M are taken as forming the Aum syllable.

[edit] See also