Mahadamshtra, Mahādaṃṣṭrā, Mahadanshtra, Mahādaṃṣṭra, Maha-damshtra: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Mahadamshtra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
The Sanskrit terms Mahādaṃṣṭrā and Mahādaṃṣṭra can be transliterated into English as Mahadamstra or Mahadamshtra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚāktismMahādaṃṣṭrā (महादंष्ट्रा):—Name of one of the goddesses to be worshipped during Āvaraṇapūjā (“Worship of the Circuit of Goddesses”), according to the Durgāpūjātattva (“The truth concerning Durgā’s ritual”). They should be worshipped with either the five upācāras or perfume and flowers.
Her mantra is as follows:
ह्रीं ओं महादंष्ट्रायै नमः
hrīṃ oṃ mahādaṃṣṭrāyai namaḥ
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMahādaṃṣṭra (महादंष्ट्र).—A commander of Bhaṇḍa.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 21. 86.
Mahādaṃṣṭra (महादंष्ट्र) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.95, IX.44.97) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Mahādaṃṣṭra) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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: Kathāsaritsāgara1) Mahādaṃṣṭra (महादंष्ट्र) is the name of a minister of Rākṣasa named Agniśikha from the city Dhūmapura, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 39. Accordingly, as Rūpaśikhā said to Śṛṅgabhuja: “... my father’s wound was at once healed by the minister Mahādaṃṣṭra, who excels all men in knowledge of potent drugs for curing wounds”.
2) Mahādaṃṣṭra (महादंष्ट्र) is the father of Padmaprabhā: one of the five Vidyādhara maidens vowed to take Naravāhanadatta as a husband, as mentioned in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 108. Accordingly, “... and he [Naravāhanadatta] saw those maidens with a blazing fire in front of them; and Vāyuvegayaśas, after dragging them away from it, said to the king: ‘[...] and this fourth is Padmaprabhā, the daughter of Mahādaṃṣṭra [...] and I am the fifth; all we five, when we saw you performing asceticism in the domain of the Siddhas, were bewildered with love...’”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Mahādaṃṣṭra, 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.
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’.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesMahādaṃṣṭra (महादंष्ट्र) refers to “having large fangs”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, “[...] [Standing on] Bhairava and Kālarātri on fire on the sun [disk] on the pericarp [of the lotus], [Heruka] is dancing. [He should visualize Heruka] [...] always having [his] mouth open [and showing] large fangs (mahādaṃṣṭrā-karāla) from the right and left [parts of the mouth]. [Three faces looking to the south, west, and north are colored] yellow, red, and in sequence (viz., green), [respectively,] and the other [fourteen] faces are colored like a black bee [He should meditate on Heruka, who] *is greatly awful and laughs loudly and* is grinning and terrifying. [...]”.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahādaṃṣṭra (महादंष्ट्र).—a species of big tiger.
Derivable forms: mahādaṃṣṭraḥ (महादंष्ट्रः).
Mahādaṃṣṭra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and daṃṣṭra (दंष्ट्र).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahādaṃṣṭra (महादंष्ट्र):—[=mahā-daṃṣṭra] [from mahā > mah] mfn. having gr° tusks or fangs, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a species of big tiger, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a Vidyā-dhara, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
4) [v.s. ...] of a man, [ib.]
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Damshtra, Maha.
Full-text: Padmaprabha, Karala.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Mahadamshtra, Mahādaṃṣṭrā, Mahadanshtra, Mahādaṃṣṭra, Mahadamstra, Maha-damshtra, Mahā-daṃṣṭra, Maha-damstra; (plurals include: Mahadamshtras, Mahādaṃṣṭrās, Mahadanshtras, Mahādaṃṣṭras, Mahadamstras, damshtras, daṃṣṭras, damstras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Ramayana of Valmiki (by Hari Prasad Shastri)
Chapter 27 - The Fight between the Gods and the Rakshasas < [Book 7 - Uttara-kanda]
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 27 - The description of the Jaya ablution < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]
Chapter 65 - Thousand names of Śiva (Rudra-sahasranāma) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 71 - Exploits of Durgā < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Chapter 17 - Vṛtra Killed: Bali Prepares for War < [Section 1 - Kedāra-khaṇḍa]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Chapter CIX < [Book XV - Mahābhiṣeka]
Chapter CVIII < [Book XIV - Pañca]
Chapter XXXIX < [Book VII - Ratnaprabhā]