Mahasiddhi, Mahāsiddhi, Maha-siddhi: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Mahasiddhi means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramMahāsiddhi (महासिद्धि) refers to the “great accomplishment” representing “liberation”.—Abhinava’s warning against attachment to the practice of magic recalls to mind the large amount of space dedicated to such matters in the Tantras in general and most particularly in ones such as these. The passages are eloquent testimony of the primitive animistic and magical substratum of the religious culture out of which they developed as more elevated refinements—literally ‘sanskritizations’. One of these refinements is the incorporation of the ideal of liberation as a part of this geography of magical power places where the adept acquires powers, including the Great Accomplishment (mahāsiddhi), liberation.
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Mahāsiddhi (महासिद्धि) refers to “great accomplishments”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] I take refuge with the goddesses of becoming minute and other great accomplishments (mahāsiddhis) for the sake of success. They hold wish-fulfilling jewels in both hands. They are moon-crested, three-eyed, and red in complexion. I revere Brahmāṇī and the other mother-goddesses. They carry a skull-bowl and red lily in their hands, their bodies are dark-colored like the leaves of bamboo, and they are clad in lovely [red] clothes resembling bandhūka flowers. [...]”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchMahāsiddhi (महासिद्धि) refers to the “great siddhi” (i.e., liberation), according to the Dattātreyayogaśāstra verse 101.4 and Yogatattvopaniṣat 1.76-78.—Accordingly, while discussing the concerns about the use of Siddhis: “These [Siddhis] are obstacles to the great Siddhi (i.e., liberation) [i.e., mahāsiddhi]. The wise [Yogin] does not delight in them. He should never reveal his own power to anyone, except sometimes he may do so to a devotee out of kindness. The Yogin should behave among people as though dumb, simple or deaf, in order to keep his powers hidden. If not, then there will surely be many students [who will] undoubtedly ask the master of Yoga [to intervene] in their own affairs. [Because of this,] he will become preoccupied with carrying out their actions and forgetful of his own [Yoga] practice”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesMahāsiddhi (महासिद्धि) refers to the “great accomplishment”, 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: “[...] Adorned with mantras and seals, a great yoga practitioner should make bali offering. The great accomplishment (mahāsiddhi) is [attained] through the recitation [of mantras] ten million times, also a hundred thousand times and below. If he makes offering of various pledge [articles] according to rule, afterwards, yogic accomplishment can be attained, [and] he can wander for pleasure anywhere. [...]”.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarymahāsiddhi (महासिद्धि).—f S See siddhi Sig. I.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahāsiddhi (महासिद्धि).—f. a kind of magical power.
Derivable forms: mahāsiddhiḥ (महासिद्धिः).
Mahāsiddhi is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and siddhi (सिद्धि).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāsiddhi (महासिद्धि).—f. magical power, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 3, 17.
Mahāsiddhi is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and siddhi (सिद्धि).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāsiddhi (महासिद्धि):—[=mahā-siddhi] [from mahā > mah] f. ‘great perfection’, a [particular] form of magical power, [Prabodha-candrodaya; Śāntiśataka etc.]
[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)
Partial matches: Siddhi, Maha.
Full-text: Valaghanem, Valaganem, Vimohana, Trilocana, Candrottamsa, Prakrita, Liberation, Aruna, Vasita, Somasiddhanta.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Mahasiddhi, Mahāsiddhi, Maha-siddhi, Mahā-siddhi; (plurals include: Mahasiddhis, Mahāsiddhis, siddhis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Yoga-sutras (with Bhoja’s Rajamartanda) (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Sūtra 3.45 < [Third Chapter (Vibhuti Pada)]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.4.170 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Jnaneshwari (Bhavartha Dipika) (by Ramchandra Keshav Bhagwat)
Verse 16.3 < [Chapter 16 - Daivasura-sampad-vibhaga-yoga]
Verse 16.2 < [Chapter 16 - Daivasura-sampad-vibhaga-yoga]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 59 - Siddheśvara (siddha-īśvara-liṅga) [2] < [Section 2 - Caturaśīti-liṅga-māhātmya]
Contribution of Vachaspati-Mishra to Samkhya System (by Sasikumar. B)