Mahamatra, Mahāmātra, Maha-matra: 14 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
India history
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Mahamatra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Index

Mahāmātra (महामात्र).—Kaṃsa addressed the hastipa thus;¹ there was more than one mahāmātra in charge of the elephant, Kuvalayāpīḍa; all of them were killed by Kṛṣṇa.²

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 36. 24 [1-4] and 25;
2) Ib. X. 43. 12 and 14; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 38. 24.

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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Mahāmātra (महामात्र) refers to the “high royal officer”, who should be represented with an ardhamukuṭa (small crown), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. Providing masks is a component of nepathya (costumes and make-up) and is to be done in accordance with the science of āhāryābhinaya (extraneous representation).

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Mahāmātra (महामात्र) refers to “ministers”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 9), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If Venus should enter the constellation of Āśleṣā there will be much suffering from serpents; it Venus should pass through the constellation of Magha, elephant keepers or ministers will suffer [i.e., mahāmātra-doṣakṛt] and there will be abundance of rain. If Venus should pass through the constellation of Pūrvaphalgunī, hill men and the people of Pulinda will perish and there will be abundance of rain; if she should pass through the constellation of Uttaraphalgunī, the people of Kuru, of Jāṅgala and of Pāñcāla will perish, and there will also be rain”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: University of Vienna: Sudarśana's Worship at the Royal Court According to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā

Mahāmātra (महामात्र) refers to a “chief minister”, according to the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā, belonging to the Pāñcarātra tradition which deals with theology, rituals, iconography, narrative mythology and others.—Accordingly, “A ruler who is a Universal Sovereign is entitled to the first, a Provincial Governor to the second and a District Governor to the third [level of] Creative Energy. [To the same are entitled] a chief minister (mahāmātra) or a twice-born, provided he is in charge of the protection of many people. No single man is entitled to [deploy] Her for [just] another man”.

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Mahāmātra.—(IE 8-3), cf. Prakrit Mahāmāta (EI 3); a high executive officer employed in various capacities; cf. Nagara- vyavahārika-mahāmātra, Stryadhyakṣa-mahāmātra, Dharma-mahāmātra, etc.; adopted in Greek as Mamātrai. See CII, Vol. I, p. 92, etc.; Arthaśāstra, I. 12, V. 1; etc.; Kāmasūtra, V. 5. 17. 33 and 35. The word Mahāmātra in Manu, IX. 259, is explained by Medhātithi as ‘the Mantrin, Purohita and others’ and by Kullūka as meaning ‘the professional tamers of elephants’. (SITI) explained as ‘a senior minister.’ See Mātra in a similar sense. Cf. Antaḥpura-mahāmātra in the Masulipatnam plates of Amma II (Ep. Ind., Vol. XXIV, p. 276). (EI 28; CII 4), ‘an elephant-driver’. Note: mahāmātra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mahāmātra (महामात्र).—a.

1) great in measure, very great or large.

2) most excellent, best; वृष्ण्यन्धकमहामात्रैः सह (vṛṣṇyandhakamahāmātraiḥ saha) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 1.221.27; 5.22.37. (-traḥ) 1 a great officer of state, high stateofficial, a chief minister; (mantre karmaṇi bhūṣāyāṃ vitte māne paricchade | mātrā ca mahatī yeṣāṃ mahāmātrāstu te smṛtāḥ); Ms. 9.259; गूढपुरुषप्रणिधिः कृतमहामात्रापसर्पः (gūḍhapuruṣapraṇidhiḥ kṛtamahāmātrāpasarpaḥ) (v. l. mahāmātyāpasarpaḥ) पौरजानपदानपसर्पयेत् (paurajānapadānapasarpayet) Kau. A.1.13.9; Rām.2.37.1.

2) an elephant-driver or keeper; मदोन्मत्तस्य भूपस्य कुञ्जरस्य च गच्छतः । उन्मार्गं वाच्यतां यान्ति महामात्राः समीपगाः (madonmattasya bhūpasya kuñjarasya ca gacchataḥ | unmārgaṃ vācyatāṃ yānti mahāmātrāḥ samīpagāḥ) || Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.161.

3) a superintendent of elephants. (-trī) 1 the wife of a chief minister.

2) the wife of a spiritual teacher.

Mahāmātra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and mātra (मात्र).

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

Mahāmātra (महामात्र).—m.

(-traḥ) 1. A king’s minister or associate, any high officer in a kingdom: as a counsellor, a general, &c. 2. An elephant-driver, a Mahut. 3. Superintendent of the elephants. 4. A man of wealth and consequence. f. (-trī) 1. The wife of a spiritual preceptor. 2. The wife of an officer of state, &c. E. mahā great, mātra wealth or retinue, &c.

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

Mahāmātra (महामात्र).—I. m. 1. a king’s minister. 2. an elephant driver, or breaker, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 259. 3. superintendent of the elephants. 4. a man of wealth and consequence. Ii. f. trī. 1. the wife of an officer of state. 2. the wife of a spiritual teacher.

Mahāmātra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and mātra (मात्र).

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

Mahāmātra (महामात्र).—[adjective] great (in measure), best, first of (—°) —[masculine] great man, high official, minister; elephant-driver or keeper.

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

1) Mahāmātra (महामात्र):—[=mahā-mātra] [from mahā > mah] mfn. great in measure, gr°, the greatest, best, most excellent of ([compound]), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] m. a man of high rank, high official, prime minister, [ib.] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] an elephant-driver or keeper, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa] etc.

4) [v.s. ...] a superintendent of elephants, [Horace H. Wilson]

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

Mahāmātra (महामात्र):—[mahā+mātra] (traḥ) 1. m. A king’s minister or associate; a rich man; elephant driver. f. (trī) A teacher’s wife; a state of ficer’s wife.

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahamatra 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Mahāmātra (ಮಹಾಮಾತ್ರ):—

1) [adjective] large (in size).

2) [adjective] having grat merit; superior.

--- OR ---

Mahāmātra (ಮಹಾಮಾತ್ರ):—

1) [noun] = ಮಹಾಪ್ರಧಾನ [mahapradhana].

2) [noun] the superintendent of an elephant-stable.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 16 books and stories containing Mahamatra, Maha-matra, Mahā-mātra, Mahāmātra; (plurals include: Mahamatras, matras, mātras, Mahāmātras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 5.7.19 < [Chapter 7 - The Killing of Kuvalayāpīḍa]

Verse 5.1.14 < [Chapter 1 - Advice to Kaṃsa]

Verse 5.7.31 < [Chapter 7 - The Killing of Kuvalayāpīḍa]

+ 1 more chapters / show preview

Historical Background of Kaushambi < [Chapter 2]

Political History of Vatsa < [Chapter 2]

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Verse 9.259 < [Section XXXVI - Who are ‘Thorns’ (kaṇṭaka)?]

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Chapter 28 - Arrangements for the Match < [Book 2 - Vishnu Parva]

Chapter 29 - A Description of the Arena < [Book 2 - Vishnu Parva]

Chapter 43 - Krishna Meets His Enemy < [Book 2 - Vishnu Parva]