In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Mahāsatva (महासत्व).—A god of the Prasūta group.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 71.

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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Mahāsatva (महासत्व) refers to a “great being” and is used to describe Bodhisattva Gaganagañja, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “At that time, there were five hundred men who were in danger of being killed [by robbers]. When they were led to their death, a voice resonated in open space: ‘You should do homage to the Bodhisattva Gaganagañja, who provides fearlessness to the frightened. Then you will be saved from death’. Then all those, terrified with the fear of death, said together in one voice: ‘Homage to the Bodhisattva, the great being (mahāsatva) Gaganagañja!’ [...]”.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Mahāsatva (महासत्व).—mfn.

(-tvaḥ-tvā-tvaṃ) Good, virtuous, just. E. mahā and satva purity.

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

Mahāsatva (महासत्व):—[mahā-satva] (tvaḥ) 1. m. Kuvera.

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, Satva.

Full-text: Mahasanna, Garudamantra.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Mahasatva, Maha-satva, Mahā-satva, Mahāsatva; (plurals include: Mahasatvas, satvas, Mahāsatvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Hanuman Nataka (critical study) (by Nurima Yeasmin)

9.1. The character of Rāma < [Chapter 4]

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