In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Mahāhimavat (महाहिमवत्).—One of the seven mountain ranges (varṣadharaparvata) of Jambūdvīpa according to Jaina cosmology. On top of Mahāhimavat lies a lake named Mahāpadma, having at its centre a large padmahrada (lotus-island), home to the Goddess Hrī. Jambūdvīpa sits at the centre of madhyaloka (‘middle world’) is the most important of all continents and it is here where human beings reside.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Mahāhimavat (महाहिमवत्) refers to one of the seven mountain ranges of Jambūdvīpa which is situated in the “middle world” (madhyaloka), according to chapter 2.2 [ajitanātha-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:—“Now, there are 7 zones here in Jambūdvīpa: Bhārata, Haimavata, Harivarṣa, Videha, Ramyaka, Hairaṇyavata, and Airāvata from south to north. Making the division between these there are 7 mountain-ranges, bounding the zones: Himavat, Mahāhimavat, Niṣadha, Nīla, Rukmin, and Śikharin with equal diameter at the base and top. [...] On Mahāhimavat is a lake named Mahāpadma, twice the length and width of the lake Padma [...] In the space between Kṣudrahimavat and Mahāhimavat, there is a round Vaitāḍhya mountain, named Śabdāpātin. [...] Gandhāpātin is between Mahāhimavat and Niṣadha”.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 3: The Lower and middle worlds

Mahāhimavat (महाहिमवत्) or Mahāhimavān is the name of a mountain in Jambūdvīpa separating the regions Haimavata and Harivarṣa. Jambūdvīpa refers to the first continent of the Madhya-loka (middle-word), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.10. The hues of the six mountains (e.g., Himavān and Mahāhimavān) are golden and silver respectively. Why do the mountains Himavān and Mahāhimavān have their specific hues? They have the hues as the sand and stones which constitute these mountains and are golden and silvery in colours respectively.

Which lakes are there at the tops of the Himavān (Himavat), Mahāhimavān (Mahāhimavat), and Niṣadha mountains respectively? The lakes on tops of the Himavān, Mahāhimavān, and Niṣadha mountains are Padma, Mahāpadma and Tigiñcha respectively.

Jambūdvīpa (where stands the Mahāhimavat mountain) is in the centre of all continents and oceans; all continents and oceans are concentric circles with Jambūdvīpa in the centre. Like the navel is in the centre of the body, Jambūdvīpa is in the centre of all continents and oceans. Sumeru Mount is in the centre of Jambūdvīpa. It is also called Mount Sudarśana.

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

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mahāhimavat (महाहिमवत्).—m. Name of a mountain.

Mahāhimavat is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and himavat (हिमवत्).

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

Mahāhimavat (महाहिमवत्):—[=mahā-hima-vat] [from mahā > mah] m. Name of a mountain, [Śatruṃjaya-māhātmya]

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Maha, Vat, Himavat.

Full-text (+8): Mahapadma, Hri, Nishadha, Vikatapatin, Shabdapatin, Gandhapatin, Himavat, Kshudrahimavat, Mahahimavan, Shikharin, Hairanyavata, Airavata, Jambudvipa, Haimavata, Mahavideha, Mahapundarika, Tiginchi, Malyavat, Harivarshaka, Harivarsha.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Mahahimavat, Maha-himavat, Mahā-himavat, Mahahima-vat, Mahāhima-vat, Mahāhimavat; (plurals include: Mahahimavats, himavats, vats, Mahāhimavats). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)

Part 23: Description of Jambūdvīpa < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]

Part 7: The story of Kumāranandin and Nagila < [Chapter XI - The story of Rauhiṇeya]

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