Maccha, Macchā: 16 definitions
Introduction:
Maccha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Alternative spellings of this word include Machchha.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationMaccha (मच्छ) refers to a “ridge” [?], according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.11.—Accordingly, as Himācala (i.e., Himālaya) said to his attendants and family-members: “From now onwards, none of you shall go to the ridge of mine [i.e., maccha-āsana], called Gaṅgāvataraṇa. This is my command. I am telling you the truth. If anyone of you goes there I shall punish that rogue particularly. This is the truth I am speaking. O sage, after thus checking all of his attendants, the mountain made other arrangements also. I now tell you all about the same”.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesA country, with its people, included in the traditional List of the sixteen Mahajanapadas (A.i.213; iv. 252, 256, 260).
The Maccha are generally mentioned with the Surasena (E.g., D.ii.200; cp. Kasikosala, Vajjimalla). In the Vidhura Pandita Jataka (J. i.280) the Maccha are mentioned among those who witnessed the game of dice between the king of the Kurus and Punnaka.
The Maccha country lay to the south or south west of Indraprastha and to the south of Surasena. Its capital was Viratanagara or Vairat, so called because it was the city of King Virata. Rv.vii.6, 18; Law: Anct. Geog. Of India, p. 19.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka MaṇḍalaMacchā (मच्छा) is the name of a Ḍākinī who, together with the Vīra (hero) named Maccha forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Jalacakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the jalacakra refers to one of the three divisions of the saṃbhoga-puṭa (‘enjoyment layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs [viz., Macchā] and Vīras are white in color; the shapes of their faces are in accordance with their names; they have four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife..
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarymaccha : (m.) a fish.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryMaccha, (cp. Vedic matsya) fish A. III, 301; Sn. 605, 777, 936; J. I, 210, 211; V, 266 (in simile); VI, 113 (phandanti macchā, on dry land); Pug. 55; Sdhp. 610.—maccha is given at Nd2 91 as syn. of ambucārin.—pūti° rotten fish M. III, 168; & in simile at It. 68=J. IV, 435=VI, 236 =KhA 127. Cp. J. P. T. S. 1906, 201. bahu° rich in fish J. III, 430. loṇa° salt fish Vism. 28. rohita° the species Cyprinus rohita J. II, 433; III, 333; DhA. II, 132. On maccha in simile see J. P. T. S. 1907, 121. Of names of fishes several are given in the Jātaka tales; viz. Ānanda (as the king of the fishes or a Leviathan) J. I, 207; II, 352; V, 462; Timanda & Timirapiṅgala J. V, 462; Mitacintin J. I, 427; Bahucintin J. I, 427.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarymaccha (मच्छ).—m (S) A fish. 2 fig. The sharp-edged member of a pier which meets and sustains the force of the stream. 3 also macchayantra n The mariner's compass.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishmaccha (मच्छ).—m A fish.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMaccha (मच्छ).—A fish (corrupted from matsya).
Derivable forms: macchaḥ (मच्छः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryMaccha (मच्छ).—(Pali id.), MIndic for Sanskrit matsya, fish: Mahāvastu i.15.10.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMaccha (मच्छ).—m.
(-cchaḥ) A fish in general. E. mad to delight, and śa aff., form irr. see matsya .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryMaccha (मच्छ):—m. ([Prakrit] for matsya) a fish, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMaccha (मच्छ):—(cchaḥ) 1. m. A fish in general.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Maccha (मच्छ) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Matsya.
2) Maccha (मच्छ) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Matsya.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMaccha (ಮಚ್ಛ):—[noun] = ಮಚ್ಚ [macca]3.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+18): Maccha Jataka, Maccha Sutta, Macchabandha, Macchabhatta, Macchada, Macchadani, Macchagandha, Macchagna, Macchagnapada, Macchagumba, Macchakshanka, Macchala, Macchamamsa, Macchamdha, Macchamdia, Macchamta, Macchamuni, Macchanda, Macchandar, Macchandar Vahal.
Ends with: Alikamaccha, Caramaccha, Drumaccha, Kapila Maccha, Khiṇamaccha, Nimmaccha, Putimaccha, Rohitamaccha, Samaccha, Samaccha, Umaccha, Umaccha.
Full-text (+39): Matsya, Maccharattha, Kapila Maccha Vatthu, Macchi, Varija, Pathina, Macchakshanka, Macchika, Macchamamsa, Mahajanapada, Khiṇamaccha, Ambucarin, Macchavalaka, Macchabhatta, Vilopa, Shakunika, Macchabandha, Pagusa, Magara, Ananda.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Maccha, Macchā; (plurals include: Macchas, Macchās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)
Jataka 216: Maccha-jātaka < [Book II - Dukanipāta]
Jataka 34: Maccha-jātaka < [Book I - Ekanipāta]
Jataka 75: Maccha-jātaka < [Book I - Ekanipāta]
Vinaya (3): The Cullavagga (by T. W. Rhys Davids)
Cullavagga, Khandaka 5, Chapter 29 < [Khandaka 5 - On the Daily Life of the Bhikkhus]
The Life of Sariputta (by Nyanaponika Thera)
Vinaya Pitaka (1): Bhikkhu-vibhanga (the analysis of Monks’ rules) (by I. B. Horner)
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 22: Duel between Tripṛṣṭha and Hayagrīva < [Chapter I - Śreyāṃsanāthacaritra]
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter IV(a) - The story of Abhiya < [Volume I]