Mahamegha, Mahāmegha: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Mahamegha 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: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationMahāmegha (महामेघ) refers to the four “four types of great clouds” [viz., Saṃvartaka, Āvarta, Puṣkara and Droṇa] that arose after Brahmā spilled four drops of semen unto the ground, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.19. Accordingly as Śiva said to Brahmā:—“[...] the semen drops that fell in the middle of the altar-ground from you when you were excited by lust and seen by me will not be retained by any one. Four drops of your semen (caturbindu) fell on the ground. Hence so many terrible clouds (toyada) causing dissolution (pralaya) shall rise up in the sky (vyoman). In the meantime, (when Śiva said so) in front of the Devas and the sages, so many clouds emanated from the semen drops. O dear one, four types of great clouds (mahāmegha) that caused destruction are the Saṃvartaka, the Āvarta, the Puṣkara and the Droṇa. O excellent sage, those clouds rumbling and roaring with hideous sounds dropping showers at the slightest wish of Śiva burst asunder in the sky”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMahāmegha (महामेघ).—A Rākṣasa having his city in the fifth*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 20. 37; Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 36.
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
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismMahāmegha (महामेघ) refers to one of the male Vidyā-beings mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Mahāmegha).
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.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)Mahāmegha (महामेघ) is the name of an Asura appointed as one of the Divine protector deities of Pañcanaṅgara, according to chapter 17 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—In the Candragarbhasūtra, the Bhagavat invites all classes of Gods and Deities to protect the Law [dharma?] and the faithful in their respective kingdoms of Jambudvīpa [e.g., the Asura Mahāmegha in Pañcanaṅgara], resembling the time of the past Buddhas.
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureMahāmegha (महामेघ) or Mahāmeghamaṇḍala refers to the “great cloud (circle)”, according to the 2nd-century Meghasūtra (“Cloud Sutra”) in those passages which contain ritual instructions.—Accordingly, “He who desires a mighty rain must perform this rite ‘the great-cloud-circle’ (mahāmegha-maṇḍala) in an open space, overspread by a blue canopy, shaded by a blue banner, on a clear spot of earth; [being] a prophet of the Law, seated on a blue seat, fasting according to the aṣṭāṅga, with well-washed limbs, clad in pure raiment, anointed with fragrant odour, wearing the three white stripes, he must recite it for a day and night continuously facing the east; [...]”.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarymahāmegha : (m.) a shower.
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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryMahāmegha (महामेघ).—name of a work: Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 258.4, cited thence Śikṣāsamuccaya 133.4; a passage cited directly from Mahām° in Śikṣāsamuccaya 184.5.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāmegha (महामेघ).—[masculine] great or dense cloud.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahāmegha (महामेघ):—[=mahā-megha] [from mahā > mah] m. a gr° or dense cloud, [Aitareya-āraṇyaka; Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of Śiva, [Mahābhārata]
3) [v.s. ...] of a man, [Mahābhārata] ([varia lectio] megha-vega)
[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)
Starts with: Mahameghagiri, Mahameghamandala, Mahameghanibhasvana, Mahameghanivasin, Mahameghashriteja, Mahameghasvana, Mahameghaughanirghosha, Mahameghavana.
Ends with: Vairocanagarbhamahamegha, Vairochanagarbhamahamegha.
Full-text (+30): Mahameghasvana, Mahameghagiri, Mahameghanivasin, Mahameghanibhasvana, Mahameghaughanirghosha, Mahambuka, Meghavega, Kananasthtali, Mahameghashriteja, Mahavihara, Galagalayati, Sattapannaka-pasada, Dighacankamana, Katthahala-parivena, Hatthapannika-pasada, Jalaka, Phallagga-parivena, Marugana-parivena, Kalapasada, Sunhata-parivena.
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Search found 8 books and stories containing Mahamegha, Mahāmegha, Maha-megha, Mahā-megha; (plurals include: Mahameghas, Mahāmeghas, meghas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
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