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paṭighasaññānaṁ

paṭighasaññā

genitive plural feminine of paṭighasaññā (feminine noun)

1. perception of resistance/hardness
2. sense of solidity
3. tactile awareness

Built from

• paṭi — prefix · back, against
  The prefix carries its sense of counter-action or reactive response—the perception arises in return to striking.
• gha — root · strike, hit
  The root gha (possibly related to Sanskrit √han) implies forceful contact or impact.
• saññā — stem · perception, label
  From √jñā "to know"; denotes cognitive labelling or the mental factor of recognition.

Analysis. paṭi-gha-saññā: paṭi (back, counter) + gha (strike, contact) + saññā (perception). The compound denotes the perception that arises in reaction to contact with resistant matter.

Etymology. saññā derives from the root √jñā (know, perceive; cognate with English "ken"). paṭi-gha-saññā is an Abhidhamma technical term for one of the mental factors arising with contact-reaction, especially the tactile sense-impression of solidity or impenetrability.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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