Mahaghora, Mahāghora: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Mahaghora 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationMahāghora (महाघोर) refers to “being afraid”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.10 (“Boasting of Tāraka”).—Accordingly, as Tāraka-Asura fought with the Gods: “[...] The fight between Tāraka and Kumāra was terrific and unbearable. All the living beings were afraid (mahāghora). O sage, even as all the persons stood gazing wonderingly, both of them fought each other with spears in their hands. Each was wounded in the heart by the other with the spear. Each tried to escape from the other’s. thrust. Both were equally strong like two lions. Both were fully equipped for the fight. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMahāghora (महाघोर).—A hell.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 101. 148.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of ŚivaMahāghora (महाघोर) or Mahāghorāgama refers to one of upāgamas (supplementary scriptures) of the Vijayāgama which is one of the twenty-eight Siddhāntāgama: a classification of the Śaiva division of Śaivāgamas. The Śaivāgamas represent the wisdom that has come down from lord Śiva, received by Pārvatī and accepted by Viṣṇu. The purpose of revealing upāgamas (e.g., Mahāghora Āgama) is to explain more elaborately than that of mūlāgamas (e.g., Vijaya-āgama) and to include any new idea if not dealt in mūlāgamas.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramMahāghora (महाघोर) refers to “very terrible”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “If one sees a very terrible sight [i.e., mahāghora-bhaya] or the family is being destroyed, one should worship the sacrifice of the sacred seats; then peace comes and troubles are destroyed”.
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāMahāghora (महाघोर) refers to “great terror”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] At that time, sixty koṭis of Bodhisattvas, having stood up from the congregation, joined their palms, paid homage to the Lord, and then uttered these verses in one voice: ‘[...] (207) In such a time of great terror (mahāghora) and disruption for living beings, agitating ascetics and kings alike, we will uphold the true dharma. (208) Any of the Sūtras will not be collected nor practiced; they will always believe what they say. [...]’”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesMahāghora (महाघोर) refers to the “very terrifying one”, 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, “[...] [This is] a visualization of the very terrifying one (mahāghora) [who] resides on a corpse; [he] brings benefits to the world. [A practitioner] should take recourse in every kind of meditation instantly. [...]”.
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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāghora (महाघोर).—mfn.
(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Very formidable, terrific, horrible. m.
(-raḥ) A division of Tartarus or hell. E. mahā great, much, and ghora terrific.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāghora (महाघोर).—[adjective] most horrible.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahāghora (महाघोर):—[=mahā-ghora] [from mahā > mah] mfn. very terrible or formidable, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Kathāsaritsāgara]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a hell, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāghora (महाघोर):—[mahā-ghora] (raḥ) 1. m. A division of Tartarus or hell. a. Very horrible.
[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)
Full-text: Mahatighora, Ghur, Ghora, Stanita, Vijayagama, Maha, Nard, Bhram.
Relevant text
Search found 7 books and stories containing Mahaghora, Maha-ghora, Mahā-ghora, Mahāghora; (plurals include: Mahaghoras, ghoras, Mahāghoras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.5.602 < [Chapter 5 - The Pastimes of Nityānanda]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 5 - Rewards and Punishments Resulting from Previous Karmas < [Section 3b - Arunācala-khaṇḍa (Uttarārdha)]
The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 65 - Thousand names of Śiva (Rudra-sahasranāma) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
5. Epithets of Rudra-Śiva tracked in the Upaniṣadic literature < [Chapter 6b - Epithets (References)]
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 1.2 - Lingodbhava-murti (depiction of the pillar of fire) < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]