Mahamati, Mahāmati, Maha-mati: 20 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Kavya
3. Shaivism
4. Yoga
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Mahamati means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Mahāmati (महामति).—The seventh son of the sage Aṅgiras. There is a reference to him in Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 218, Verse 7.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Mahāmati (महामति) refers to “one who is intelligent” and is used to describe Nārada, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.18 (“The conversation between Nārada and Jalandhara”).—Accordingly, as the Gods said to Nārada: “[...] The great Asura Jalandhara who has suppressed the gods and who is very powerful has made Viṣṇu subservient to him in the battle. Becoming subservient because of helplessness occasioned by the boon granted to him, Viṣṇu who carried out our tasks has now begun to stay in his palace along with Lakṣmī. O intelligent one (mahāmati), please exert yourself for the destruction of Jalandhara. You have fortunately come to us and you have always been the person who can achieve everything for us”.

context information

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.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Mahāmati (महामति) is the son of Sumati, minister (mantrin) of king Mahendrāditya from Avanti, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 120. Accordingly, as sage Kaṇva narrated to Naravāhanadatta: “... When some more days had passed, there was born to that king’s minister named Sumati a son, of the name of Mahāmati, and the warder Vajrāyudha had a son born to him, named Bhadrāyudha, and the chaplain Mahīdhara had a son of the name of Śrīdhara. And that prince Vikramāditya grew up with those three ministers’ sons as with spirit, courage and might”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Mahīdhara, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Mahāmati (महामति) refers to “great understanding”, according to the Mālinīvijayottaratantra, chapter 18 (“appropriate conduct of the accomplished Yogin”) verses 18.74-81 (as quoted in the Tantrāloka verse 4.213-221ab).—Accordingly, “[...] Moreover, the one whose consciousness is fixed on reality, partaking even in the pleasures of the senses, is not touched by bad consequences, just as the petal of a lotus (is not affected) by water. The Yogin who has great understanding [i.e., mahāmati] is the one who is similar to the person who, armed with mantras that counteract poison and the like, is not deluded by the poison even while devouring it”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Mahāmati (महामति) or Sumahāmati refers to a “great undertaking” [?], according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 2.17-19]—“The pure-souled Ācārya should draw an eight petaled lotus, in smooth, pure earth [that is] smeared with sandal and aloe wood [and] scented [with] fragrant camphor and strong saffron. After he has drawn [the lotus] with a great undertaking (su-mahāmati), [the Ācarya,] decorated and adorned with a crown, smeared with sandalwood, [writes] the mātṛkā. Having placed oṃ in the middle [on the pericarp of the lotus], he should draw [the phonemes of the mātṛkā on the petals] starting in the East”.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Mahāmati (महामति) refers to “great adepts (of Yoga)”, according to the Yogatārāvalī: a short Yoga text of twenty-nine verses presenting Haṭhayoga as the means to Rājayoga (i.e., Samādhi).—Accordingly, while discussing the connection between Haṭhayoga and Rājayoga: “For great adepts (mahāmati) [of yoga], an extraordinary absorption of the breath arises, [which is] free from the activity of all the senses. [It is brought about] by the cessation of the [normally] unrestrained process of breathing. [Such cessations] are called Kevalakumbhaka. There are no gazing points, no fixing of the mind [on a meditation-object], no time or place, no [deliberate] stopping of the breath, nor the effort of concentration and meditation when Rājayoga is flourishing”.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

Mahāmati (महामति) is the (Mortal) Bodhisattva associated with by Buddha Vipaśyī: one of the seven mortal Buddhas (mānuṣī) whose names appear last in the list of thirty-two Buddhas in Mahāyāna Buddhism.—The last seven Tathāgatas are well-known, and are designated by the Mahāyānist as Mānuṣī or “Mortal Buddhas”. When represented, the last seven Mortal Buddhas appear all alike; they are of one colour and one form, usually sitting cross-legged,with the right hand disposed in the Bhūmisparśa-mudrā (earth-touching attitute), which is the mudrā peculiar to Akṣobhya. [...] In paintings, the Mortal Buddhas [viz., Vipaśyī and Mahāmati] have usually a yellow or golden complexion. [...] Sometimes they are represented as standing, in which case the appear under a distinguishing Bodhi Tree and with a distinguishing mudrā.

Mahāmati is brought into existence by the (Mortal) Buddha Vipaśyī with his (Mortal) Buddhaśakti named Vipasyantī.

context information

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

1) Mahāmati (महामति) is the name of one of the ministers of Mahābala (one of Ṛṣabha’s previous incarnations), according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly, “[...] One day, [Mahābala] occupied his assembly-hall which was adorned by many ministers and vassals as if by additional jeweled pillars. All the councilors sat down in their proper places after bowing to him and, with their eyes fixed on him, had the appearance of Yogis. The ministers Svayambuddha, Sambhinnamati, Śatamati, Mahāmati were present there. [...]”.

2) Mahāmati (महामति) is the name of an ancient Muni, according to chapter 5.1 [śāntinātha-caritra].—Accordingly:—“Once upon a time King Amitatejas and King Śrīvijaya went together to the garden Nandana to worship the eternal Arhats. After they had finished the worship of the eternal Arhats, while they wandered around from curiosity to see the grounds of the garden Nandana, they saw two excellent flying Munis, great Sages, named Vipulamati and Mahāmati, standing on a slab of gold. After they had circumambulated and worshipped the two Munis, the two excellent kings, who were laymen, listened to a sermon in their presence. [...]”.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

mahāmati : (m.) a great wise man.

context information

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 Dictionary

mahāmati (महामति).—a S mahāmanā a S Magnanimous or nobleminded.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

mahāmati (महामति) [-manā, -मना].—a Noble-minded.

context information

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 dictionary

Mahāmati (महामति).—a.

1) high-minded.

2) clever.

-tiḥ Name of Bṛhaspati or Jupiter.

Mahāmati is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and mati (मति).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Mahāmati (महामति).—(1) name of a Bodhisattva who plays a leading rôle in Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra, 1.10 etc.; (the same, or another Bo- dhisattva?) (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 40.16; 63.4; 68.20; (2) name of a yakṣa: Mahāvyutpatti 3370; (3) name of a lay-disciple: Gaṇḍavyūha 51.11; (4) name of a king: Gaṇḍavyūha 360.22; (5) in Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 365.2 (verse) apparently a different person from (1), a pupil of the Buddha Viraja, called Mati (4), q.v., in 365.3 (verse).

--- OR ---

Mahāmatī (महामती).—name of the mother of a previous incarnation of Śākyamuni: Samādhirājasūtra p. 60, line 30.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahāmati (महामति).—mfn. (-tiḥ-tiḥ-ti) Magnanimous, high-minded. m.

(-tiḥ) The planet Jupiter. E. mahā, mati mind.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahāmati (महामति).—adj. highmanded, Chr. 6, 4. Yathā-mati, adv. according to one’s understanding or intellect, [Vedāntasāra, (in my Chrestomathy.)] in Chr. 202, 4.

Mahāmati is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and mati (मति).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahāmati (महामति).—[adjective] = mahābuddhi.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Mahāmati (महामति):—[=mahā-mati] [from mahā > mah] mfn. great-minded, having a great understanding, clever, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] m. the planet Jupiter, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

3) [v.s. ...] Name of a king of the Yakṣas, [Buddhist literature]

4) [v.s. ...] of a Bodhi-sattva, [ib.]

5) [v.s. ...] of a son of Su-mati, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

6) [v.s. ...] f. Name of a woman, [Catalogue(s)]

7) Mahāmatī (महामती):—[=mahā-matī] [from mahā-mati > mahā > mah] f. a [particular] lunar day personified as a daughter of Aṅgiras, [Mahābhārata]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahāmati (महामति):—[mahā-mati] (tiḥ-tiḥ-ti) a. Magnanimous, high-minded.

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahamati in German

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 24 books and stories containing Mahamati, Mahāmati, Maha-mati, Mahā-mati, Mahāmatī, Mahā-matī; (plurals include: Mahamatis, Mahāmatis, matis, Mahāmatīs, matīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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1. Gradual cultivation < [Chapter 5 - The Practice of Buddha-Nature in the Laṅkāvatārasūtra]

6. The Other Power (adhiṣṭhāna) < [Chapter 5 - The Practice of Buddha-Nature in the Laṅkāvatārasūtra]

2. Tathāgatagarbha and Ātman < [Chapter 4 - The Thought of Buddha-Nature in the Laṅkāvatārasūtra]

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Section CCXVII < [Markandeya-Samasya Parva]

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Verse 2.4.149 < [Part 4 - Transient Ecstatic Disturbances (vyābhicāri-bhāva)]

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