Matali, Matalī, Mātali, Maṭali, Matāḷi: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Matali means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Hindi, biology, Tamil. 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.
The Sanskrit term Matāḷi can be transliterated into English as Matali or Matalii, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Matli.
In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: ISKCON Press: GlossaryMātali (मातलि).—The charioteer of Indra. He took Arjuna to the heavenly planets. (Vana Parva in Mahābhārata)
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaMātali (मातलि).—Charioteer of Indra. Chapter 69 of Vāmana Purāṇa gives the following story about the birth of Mātali.
A child was born to sage Śamīka. It was the time of Devāsura war. A great army of asuras under the leadership of Andhaka attacked Devaloka and conquered it. In the great battle with Andhaka the Vajrāyudha of Indra broke into two. Indra was thinking of a new weapon for him. Mahāviṣṇu then appeared before him and advised him to praise the glory of Agni. Indra did so and then a divine weapon rose from the fire. Indra flew at the asuras carrying the new weapon. There was no clever charioteer to drive the chariot of Indra. Still, seated in the golden chariot given to him by the Vasus Indra drove very swiftly against the asuras. The earth shivered by the din of the chariotwheels.
When the earth began to quake the sage Śamīka following directions of his wife Tapasvinī placed the child on the ground outside the hermitage. An astrologer had told her that a child would become two if it was placed in an open ground at the time of earth-quake. Tapasvinī wanted one more child. As soon as her child was placed on the ground another child identical in every respect with the first one was born by the side of the other. But the second child, as soon as it was born rose up and ran to Indra for driving his chariot.
When the Gandharvas knew he was coming to help Indra, they showered him with brilliance and the child approaching Indra said "Oh, Lord of the Devas, I shall be your charioteer." Indra asked him, "Child, whose son are you? How will you drive my horse? I doubt your competence." The child replied, "I am the son born to Śamīka on the ground. I have been given power and brilliance by the Gandharvas and so I am capable of driving your chariot." On hearing this, Indra accepted him as his charioteer and named him Mātali.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMātali (मातलि).—The charioteer of Indra;1 attacked by Jambha in the Devāsura war; attacked by Pāka; in chariot, surrounded by all the Devas against Tāraka on the other side; wounded by three darts of Tāraka; his mudgara thrown on the chariot, went to pieces. Mātali did not die;2 acted as the charioteer of Rāma in his war with Rāvaṇa.3
- 1) Matsya-purāṇa 148. 81.
- 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VIII. 11. 16-18, 22; Matsya-purāṇa 153. 161, 181, 193; 174. 10.
- 3) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 10. 21.
Mātali (मातलि) had the talent to run the horses with speed equal to that of the wind, mind etc. Flying like a bird, the chariot was going in the sky. They flew over many towns and forests.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesMātali (मातलि) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. III.164.23, III.167.7, III.170.5) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Mātali) 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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: KathāsaritsāgaraMātali (मातलि) is a messenger of Indra, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 9. When a war arose between the gods and asuras, and Indra sent Mātali as a messenger to King Śatānīka, begging for aid.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Mātali, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Apam Napat: Indian MythologyMatali is the chariotteer of Indra. He is often employed by Indra as a messenger on his behalf.
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismMātalī (मातली): Charioteer of Indra who took Arjuna to the kingdom of gods.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesThe name given to the chariot driver (sahgahaka) of Sakka. The Matali of the present age had a son, Sikhandhi, with whom Bhadda Suriyavaccasa, daughter of Timbaru, was in love; but later she transferred her affections to Pancasikha (D.ii.268). Matali is Sakkas constant companion and accompanies him everywhere, more as a confidant than as a servant. See, e.g., the conversation reported at S.i.221, 224, 234ff.; and Vv.iv. 9.
Thus, he was by Sakkas side in the war against the Asuras and drove his chariot when he fled with his bride Sujata. The chariot is called Vejayanta ratha and is drawn by one thousand Sindh horses (DhA.i.279f.; J.i.202f). Matali often accompanied Sakka on his journeys to the world of men, changing his form e.g., to that of a fish in the Culladhanuggaha Jataka, a brahmin in the Bilarakosiya Jataka and in the Suddhabhojana Jataka, and a big black dog in the Mahakanha Jataka. On several occasions he was sent by Sakka to fetch human beings to Tavatimsa e.g., Guttila, Nimi, Makhadeva and Sadhina and he proved an excellent guide, pointing out to the visitors the places of interest passed on the way.
When the Buddha descended from Tavatimsa, after preaching there the Abhidhamma, he was accompanied, on the left, by Matali, offering celestial scents, garlands and flowers (DhA.iii.226). Both in the Bilarakosiya and the Sudhabhojana Jatakas (q.v.) Matali is spoken of as the son of Suriya. Ananda is said to have been Matali during several lives (J.i.206; iv.180; v. 412; vi.129); so also Maha Kassapa (J.iv.69). In the Mahasamaya Sutta (D.ii.258), Matali is described as a Gandhabba chief, while in the Atanatiya Sutta (D.iii.204) he is mentioned among the chief Yakkhas to be invoked by followers of the Buddha in time of need.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
India history and geography
Source: Institut Français de Pondichéry: The Shaivite legends of KanchipuramMātali (மாதலி) (in Tamil) refers to Mātali in Sanskrit, and represents one of the proper nouns mentioned in the Kanchipuranam, which narrates the Shaivite Legends of Kanchipuram—an ancient and sacred district in Tamil Nadu (India). The Kanchipuranam (mentioning Mātali) reminds us that Kanchipuram represents an important seat of Hinduism where Vaishnavism and Shaivism have co-existed since ancient times.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Matali in India is the name of a plant defined with Acorus calamus in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Acorus americanus Raf. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Taxon (1980)
· Leaves of Grass (1860)
· Occasional Papers, Kagoshima University Research Center for the South Pacific (1989)
· Acta Facultatis Rerum Naturalium Universitatis Comenianae, Botanica (1976)
· Journal of Faculty of Pharmacy of Ankara University (1979)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Matali, for example side effects, extract dosage, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, health benefits, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarymātalī : (m.) name of Indra's charioteer.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMātali (मातलि).—Name of the charioteer of Indra.
Derivable forms: mātaliḥ (मातलिः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryMātali (मातलि).—name of a yakṣa: Mahā-Māyūrī 93; 237.4 In Pali Mātali, Indra's charioteer (as in Sanskrit), is assumed in Malalasekara (Dictionary of Pali Proper Names) to be identical with a yakkha who is to be called on in time of need. This yakkha, in any case, is presumably the same as our Mātali.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMātali (मातलि).—m.
(-liḥ) The charioteer of Indra. E. mātala, and iñ patronymic aff.
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Mātalī (मातली).—f. (-lī) One of Durga'S female companions. E. mātā from mātṛ Durga, and ālī a friend.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMātali (मातलि).—m. The charioteer of Indra, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] 94, 14.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMātali (मातलि).—[masculine] [Name] of Indra's charioteer.
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Mātalī (मातली).—[masculine] [Name] of a divine being closely connected with Yama.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mātali (मातलि):—m. Name of Indra’s charioteer, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature etc.]
2) Mātalī (मातली):—m. (only [nominative case] sg. li [according to] to [Sāyaṇa] from lin) Name of a divine being associated with Yama and the Pitṛs, [Ṛg-veda] (cf. mātāli, [column]3).
3) Mātālī (माताली):—[=mātā-lī] [from mātā > mātṛ] (tālī) f. ‘the m°’s friend’, Name of a being attending on Durgā, [Horace H. Wilson] (2nd [edition] māltatī).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mātali (मातलि):—(liḥ) 2. m. Indra's charioteer.
2) Mātalī (मातली):—(lī) 3. f. A maid of Durgā.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryMatalī (मतली) [Also spelled matli]:—(nf) nausea, a feeling like vomiting.
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Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMātāḷi (ಮಾತಾಳಿ):—
1) [noun] a man having the tendency to talk too much; a loquacious man.
2) [noun] that which uses, contains too many words; a verbose thing.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil LexiconMaṭali (மடலி) noun < மடல். [madal.] cf. வடலி. [vadali.] Young palmyra tree; இளம்பனை. [ilambanai.] (J.)
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Maṭali (மடலி) [maṭalittal] 11 intransitive verb perhaps from மண்டலி-. [mandali-.] To bend, double; மடங்கித்திரும்புதல். (யாழ்ப்பாணத்து மானிப்பாயகராதி) [madangithirumbuthal. (yazhppanathu manippayagarathi)]
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Matāḷi (மதாளி) [matāḷittal] 11 intransitive verb cf. மதர்- [mathar-]
1. To thrive, flourish; to be luxuriant, rich and abundant; செழித்தல். [sezhithal.] (W.)
2. To be too luxuriant to be productive, as plants, soil, etc.; பயிர் முதலியன பயன்படாதபடி கொழுத்துக்கெடுதல். பயிர் மதாளித்துப் போனால் நுனிகளை அறுத்துப் போடுகை [payir muthaliyana payanpadathapadi kozhuthukkeduthal. payir mathalithup ponal nunigalai aruthup podugai] (ஈடு-முப்பத்தாறுயிரப்படி [idu-muppatharuyirappadi], 9, 5, 7, ஜீ. அரும். [ji. arum.]).
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Mātali (மாதலி) noun < mātali. Charioteer of Indra; இந்திரன்சாரதி. மாதலிதேர் முன்பு கோல் கொள்ள [inthiransarathi. mathalither munpu kol kolla] (நாலாயிர திவ்யப்பிரபந்தம் நாய்ச். [nalayira thivyappirapandam nays.] 5, 3).
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Mataliccaram, Matalikai, Matalinkam, Matalinkavempu, Matalisai, Matalisarathi, Matalitana, Mataliya.
Ends with: Brahmatali, Samatali, Uttamatali.
Full-text (+29): Mataliya, Matuli, Makali, Shakrasarathi, Hayamkasha, Gunakeshi, Matalisarathi, Namucisudanasarathi, Gomukha, Matalyupakhyana, Sudharma, Matli, Mahakanha, Aye, Mattali, Sikhaddi, Ashtayogini, Paka, Indrasarathi, Sakkanamassa Sutta.
Relevant text
Search found 27 books and stories containing Matali, Matalī, Mātali, Mātalī, Mātālī, Mata-li, Mātā-lī, Mātāḷi, Mathali, Maathali, Madhali, Maṭali, Matāḷi, Madali, Mathaali; (plurals include: Matalis, Matalīs, Mātalis, Mātalīs, Mātālīs, lis, līs, Mātāḷis, Mathalis, Maathalis, Madhalis, Maṭalis, Matāḷis, Madalis, Mathaalis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Atithi or Guest Reception (study) (by Sarika. P.)
Part 7 - References to Hospitality in Abhijñānaśākuntala < [Chapter 4 - Atithi-saparyā in Classical Sanskrit Literature]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 10.14.3 < [Sukta 14]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section CIV < [Bhagavat-Yana Parva]
Section XCVII < [Bhagavat-Yana Parva]
Section CLXIV < [Tirtha-yatra Parva]
Vernacular architecture of Assam (by Nabajit Deka)
Pajaghar Typology (a): Thatching of Roof < [Chapter 5]
Ramayana of Valmiki (by Hari Prasad Shastri)
Chapter 103 - Rama and Ravana renew their Combat < [Book 6 - Yuddha-kanda]
Chapter 108 - Sinister Portents appear < [Book 6 - Yuddha-kanda]
Chapter 115 - Bibishana is installed as King of Lanka < [Book 6 - Yuddha-kanda]
The Jataka tales [English], Volume 1-6 (by Robert Chalmers)
Jataka 541: Nimi-jātaka < [Volume 6]
Jataka 494: Sādhīna-jātaka < [Volume 4]
Jataka 535: Sudhābhojana-jātaka < [Volume 5]