Mahakarna, Maha-karna, Mahākarṇa: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Mahakarna 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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Mahākarṇa (महाकर्ण).—A Kādraveya Nāga.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 34; Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 71.
1b) A sage.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 200. 7.
Mahākarṇa (महाकर्ण) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.44.83) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Mahākarṇa) 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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II) (shaivism)Mahākarṇa (महाकर्ण) is the name of a Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) and together with Bhagnanāsā they preside over Rājagṛha: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the Kubjikāmatatantra. Their weapon is the vajra and śakti. A similar system appears in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18).
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)Mahākarṇa (महाकर्ण) or Jhillīrava is the name of a Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) and together with Vipannā Devī they preside over Rājagṛha: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18). Their weapon is the varja and aṅkuśa. A similar system appears in the tradition of Hindu Tantrims, i.e., in the Kubjikāmatatantra (chapter 22), which belongs to the Śākta sect or Śaivism.
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 dictionaryMahākarṇa (महाकर्ण).—an epithet of Śiva.
Derivable forms: mahākarṇaḥ (महाकर्णः).
Mahākarṇa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and karṇa (कर्ण).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryMahākarṇa (महाकर्ण).—name of a yakṣa: Āṭānāṭiya Sūtra, Hoernle [Manuscript Remains of Buddhist literature found in Eastern Turkestan] 26.11 (Obv. 6).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahākarṇa (महाकर्ण):—[=mahā-karṇa] [from mahā > mah] mfn. having large ears (said of Śiva), [Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of a Nāga, [Harivaṃśa]
[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: Rajagriha, Mahakarni, Bhagnanasa, Vipanna, Jhillirava, Pumsasvara, Bhoga.
Relevant text
Search found 9 books and stories containing Mahakarna, Maha-karna, Mahā-karṇa, Mahākarṇa; (plurals include: Mahakarnas, karnas, karṇas, Mahākarṇas). 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)
Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)
Lineages of Vasiṣṭha < [Chapter 6 - Human history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 32 - Description of Creation (3): The family of Kaśyapa < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Tibetan tales (derived from Indian sources) (by W. R. S. Ralston)
Harivamsha Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter 3 - An Account of Various Families; Daksha’s Offspring < [Book 1 - Harivamsa Parva]
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 82 - Hymn of purification (vyapohana-stava) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Chapter 65 - Thousand names of Śiva (Rudra-sahasranāma) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]