Mahidhara, Mahīdhara, Mahīdharā, Mahi-dhara: 30 definitions
Introduction:
Mahidhara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMahīdhara (महीधर).—An epithet of Viṣṇu.*
- * Viṣṇu-purāṇa V. 5. 21.
Mahīdhara (महीधर) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.27.9) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Mahīdhara) 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: Kathāsaritsāgara1) Mahīdhara (महीधर) is the son of Devadatta and his wife, who was the daughter of King Suśarman, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 7. Devadatta was one of the sons of Govindadatta, a learned Brāhman from Bahusuvarṇaka.
2) Mahīdhara (महीधर) is the name of a merchant (vaṇij) from Lampā, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 67. Accordingly as Candrasāra said to Naravāhanadatta: “... a merchant, named Mahīdhara, a resident in that town [Lampā], who knew my family, went and interceded with the king on my behalf, and said: ‘King, this is the son of a great merchant, who lives in the city of Lampā, and, as he is innocent, it is not creditable to your Majesty to keep him in prison’”.
3) Mahīdhara (महीधर) is the name of a Brāhman from Nāgasthala, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 112. Accordingly, as a heavenly voice said to king Malayasiṃha: “... long ago, there lived in a village called Nāgasthala a virtuous Brāhman, of the name of Baladhara, the son of Mahīdhara. When his father had gone to heaven, he was robbed of his wealth by his relations, and being disgusted with the world he went, with his wife, to the bank of the Ganges”.
4) Mahīdhara (महीधर) is the chaplain (purodhas) of Mahendrāditya, a world-conquering king (jagajjayin) from Avanti, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 120. Accordingly, as sage Kaṇva narrated to Naravāhanadatta: “... When some more days had passed, there was born to that king’s minister named Sumati a son, of the name of Mahāmati, and the warder Vajrāyudha had a son born to him, named Bhadrāyudha, and the chaplain Mahīdhara had a son of the name of Śrīdhara. And that prince Vikramāditya grew up with those three ministers’ sons as with spirit, courage and might.”.
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Mahīdhara, 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.
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)Mahīdhara (महीधर) refers to the “mountains”, according to Kālidāsa’s Raghuvaṃśa verse 5.27.—Accordingly: “Due to the power arisen from the sprinkling performed with mantras by Vasiṣṭha the course of his chariot was not blocked on the ocean, in the sky and in the mountains (mahīdhara), like that of a cloud helped by the wind”.
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’.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚaivismMahīdhara (महीधर) is one of the twelve princes born to Kuṃkumā, consort to Mīnanātha, who is the incarnation of Siddhanātha in the fourth yuga, belonging to the Pūrvāmnāya (‘eastern doctrine’) tradition of Kula Śaivism, according to the Ciñcinīmatasārasamuccaya. Siddhanātha incarnates as a Kaula master in each of the four yugas. Mahīdhara was one of the six princes not having the authority to teach.
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)Mahīdhara (महीधर) refers to one of the twelve disciples of Matsyendranātha, according to Abhinava in his Tantrāloka verse 29.25-43.—Matsyendranātha and his consort had twelve disciples. Out of these twelve ‘princes’ (rājaputra), six were ‘celibate’, that is, they did not have spiritual offspring. The other six founded the six lineages (ovalli also called kulas) mentioned above. They are worshipped along with Matsyendranātha and his consort in the Wheel of the Siddhas at the beginning of the Kaula ritual described by Abhinava in his Tantrāloka. These six—[e.g., Mahīdhara]—are celibate and so do not possess authority, as authority is the expansion of vitality along the path of Kula.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚāktismMahīdhara (महीधर) refers to one of the 53 gods to be worshipped and given pāyasa (rice boiled in milk) according to the Vāstuyāga rite in Śaktism (cf. Śāradātilaka-tantra III-V). The worship of these 53 gods happens after assigning them to one of the 64 compartment while constructing a Balimaṇḍapa. Vāstu is the name of a prodigious demon, who was killed by 53 gods (e.g., Mahīdhara).
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.
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarMahīdhara (महीधर).—A grammarian of the sixteenth century who, besides many small treatises on other subjects, wrote a commentary on the Sarasvata-Prakriya Vyakarana.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraMahīdhara (महीधर) is the name of a minister of King Candraprabha according to appendix 6 at Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter IV.—King Candraprabha of Bhadraśilā (according to other sources, King Mahāprahāsa of Vāraṇasī) is renowned for his generosity. The brahmin Raudrākṣa comes to ask him for his head. The ministers Mahācandra and Mahīdhara offer him a head made of precious substances; the brahmin does not accept; the king attaches his hair to a tree and cuts his head off himself to give it to the brahmin.
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist IconographyMahīdharā (महीधरा) is the (Mortal) Buddhaśakti associated with Kaśyapa: one of the seven mortal Buddhas (mānuṣī) whose names appear last in the list of thirty-two Buddhas in Mahāyāna Buddhism.—The last seven Tathāgatas are well-known, and are designated by the Mahāyānist as Mānuṣī or “Mortal Buddhas”. When represented, the last seven Mortal Buddhas appear all alike; they are of one colour and one form, usually sitting cross-legged,with the right hand disposed in the Bhūmisparśa-mudrā (earth-touching attitute), which is the mudrā peculiar to Akṣobhya. [...] In paintings, the Mortal Buddhas [viz., Kaśyapa and Mahīdharā] have usually a yellow or golden complexion. [...] Sometimes they are represented as standing, in which case the appear under a distinguishing Bodhi Tree and with a distinguishing mudrā.
Mahīdharā and Kaśyapa together bring into existence the (Mortal) Bodhisattva named Dharmadhara.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Een Kritische Studie Van Svayambhūdeva’s PaümacariuMahidhara (महिधर) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Mahidhara] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra1) Mahīdhara (महीधर) (the son of king Īśānacandra) was a friend of Jīvānanda (a previous incarnation of Ṛṣabha), according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “After he had enjoyed pleasures unceasingly, the soul of Vajrajaṅgha fell from the exhaustion of his life-span, just as a snow-ball melts in the sun. In Jambūdvīpa, in the Videhas, in the city Kṣitipratiṣṭhita, he was born as the son, named Jīvānanda, of the physician Suvidhi. [...] At the same time in this city four other boys were born, like pieces of dharma joined to bodies. Among them, one was the son, named Mahīdhara, of King Īśānacandra by his wife Kanakavatī”.
2) Mahīdhara (महीधर) refers to one of the two sons of the maternal uncle of Jayacandrā (is the daughter of Śrīkāntā and Vidyādhara-king Indradhanus from Sūrodaya), according to chapter 6.8 [śrī-mahāpadma-cakrin-caritra].—Accordingly:—“[...] Two sons of Jayacandrā’s maternal uncle, Gaṅgādhara and Mahīdhara, possessing great vidyās, insolent from pride in their vidyās and from pride in their arms, heard of her marriage and at once became very angry. [...]”.
3) Mahīdhara (महीधर) is the name of an ancient king from Vijayapura, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.5 [The kidnapping of Sītā].—Accordingly: “Jānakī, Rāma, and Lakṣmaṇa, traveling day by day, having left the forest, reached Vijayapura at twilight. In a garden outside to the northwest they stopped under a very large banyan tree near the palace. The king in this city was named Mahīdhara, his wife was named Indrāṇī, and their daughter Vanamālā. [...]”.
Source: HereNow4u: Lord VṛṣabhanāthaMahīdhara (महीधर) is the name of a prince and one of the four friends of Jīvānanda: Vṛṣabhanātha’s ninth incarnation (bhava).—Getting out of the bhava of Dhannā, the caravan merchant and crossing over various stages of human existence, Vṛṣabhanātha was born as son of physician Suvidhi. This was Vṛṣabhanātha’s 9th bhava. He was named Jīvānanda. Jīvānanda had four close friends - first was the prince Mahīdhara, second was the son of a trader, third was the son of a minister and fourth the son of a merchant.
Source: HereNow4u: Jain Dharma ka Maulika Itihasa (2)Mahīdhara (महीधर) is the name of an ancient king from Kṣitipratiṣṭhita.—[...] The ‘Śrī Pāsanāha Cariyaṃ’ gives the following description of Lord Pārśvanātha’s Gaṇadharas (principal disciples).—“[...] Soma was the son of king of Kṣitipratiṣṭhita, Mahīdhara and queen Revatī. His wife's name was Campakamālā. He also had a son who died at the age of four. His wife was sick, too and died. After these two deaths he became detached. Inspired by the Lord's discourse he accepted the path of restraint and became the fifth Gaṇadhara”.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryMahīdhara.—(IE 7-1-2), ‘seven’. Note: mahīdhara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarymahīdhara : (m.) a mountain.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryMahīdhara refers to: mountain Miln. 343; Mhvs 14, 3; 28, 22 (v. l. mahin°).
Note: mahīdhara is a Pali compound consisting of the words mahī and dhara.
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.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarymahīdhara (महीधर).—m S A mountain. 2 A title of the śēṣa or serpent upholding the earth.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishmahīdhara (महीधर).—m A mountain.
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 dictionaryMahīdhara (महीधर).—
1) a mountain; महीधरं मार्गवशादुपेतम् (mahīdharaṃ mārgavaśādupetam) R.6.52; Kumārasambhava 6.89.
2) an epithet of Viṣṇu.
Derivable forms: mahīdharaḥ (महीधरः).
Mahīdhara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahī and dhara (धर).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryMahīdhara (महीधर).—name of a minister: Divyāvadāna 318.18 ff.; previous birth of Maudgalyāyana, 328.15—16.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahīdhara (महीधर).—m.
(-raḥ) A mountain. E. mahī and dhara what holds.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahīdhara (महीधर).—[mahī-dhara], and mahidra, i. e. mahi-dhṛ + a, m. A mountain, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 10 (dhra).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahīdhara (महीधर).—[adjective] earth-bearing; [masculine] mountain or Viṣṇu.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum1) Mahīdhara (महीधर) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—son of Rāmadāsa, father of Kalyāṇa (Bālatantra 1587). L. 818.
2) Mahīdhara (महीधर):—poet. [Sūktikarṇāmṛta by Śrīdharadāsa]
3) Mahīdhara (महीधर):—Bṛhajjātakavivaraṇa.
4) Mahīdhara (महीधर):—son of Rāmabhakta, grandson of Ratnākara, pupil of Ratneśvara, a son of Keśava, lived at Benares: Adbhutaviveka. Īśāvāsyopaniṣadbhāṣya. Ekākṣarakośa. Kātyāyanagṛhyasūtrabhāṣya. Kātyāyanaśulbasūtrabhāṣya. Nṛsiṃhapaṭala. Puruṣasūktaṭīkā. Mantramahodadhi and its
—[commentary] Nauka, written in 1589. Mātṛkākṣaranighaṇṭu or Mātṛkānighaṇṭu. Yogavāsiṣṭhasāravivṛti. Rāmagītāṭīkā. Rudrajapabhāṣya. Viṣṇubhaktikalpalatāprakāśa, written in 1597. Vedadīpa on Vājasaneyisaṃhitā. Ṣaḍaṅgarudrabhāṣya. Sārasvataprakriyāṭīkā. Sautrāmaṇīviniyogasūtrārtha.
5) Mahīdhara (महीधर):—Mātṛkānighaṇṭu.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahīdhara (महीधर):—[=mahī-dhara] [from mahī > mah] mfn. ‘e° bearing’, supporting the earth, [Harivaṃśa]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a mountain, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] Name of Viṣṇu, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] of a Deva-putra, [Lalita-vistara]
5) [v.s. ...] of various men and authors ([especially] of a [Scholiast or Commentator] on [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā])
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahīdhara (महीधर):—[mahī-dhara] (raḥ) 1. m. A mountain.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMahidhara (ಮಹಿಧರ):—[noun] = ಮಹಿಧರ [mahidhara].
--- OR ---
Mahīdhara (ಮಹೀಧರ):—
1) [noun] a mountain, believed to be bearing the earth on it.
2) [noun] Viṣṇu, who bore the earth on his back, in the incarnation as a Great-Tortoise.
3) [noun] (math.) a symbol for the number five.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Mahidhara mishra, Mahidharadatta, Mahidharaiya.
Ends with: Samahidhara.
Full-text (+403): Vedadipa, Bhuvanti, Pilippila, Rudrahuti, Manivala, Mahidharadatta, Nishangadhi, Luptopamana, Pushkarasadin, Panktra, Pummriga, Bilmin, Pharv, Kakavairin, Nipur, Tega, Syu, Mahidhra, Matasna, Halikshna.
Relevant text
Search found 34 books and stories containing Mahidhara, Mahīdhara, Mahīdharā, Mahi-dhara, Mahī-dhara, Mahidhar, Mahīdhar; (plurals include: Mahidharas, Mahīdharas, Mahīdharās, dharas, Mahidhars, Mahīdhars). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.1.67 < [Chapter 1 - Summary of Lord Gaura’s Pastimes]
Verse 3.4.301 < [Chapter 4 - Descriptions of Śrī Acyutānanda’s Pastimes and the Worship of Śrī Mādhavendra]
Verse 3.5.486 < [Chapter 5 - The Pastimes of Nityānanda]
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
2. Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (b): Rudra’s weapons < [Chapter 2 - Rudra-Śiva in the Saṃhitā Literature]
2. Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (a): Physical appearance of Rudra < [Chapter 2 - Rudra-Śiva in the Saṃhitā Literature]
2. Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā (g): Malicious aspects of Rudra < [Chapter 2 - Rudra-Śiva in the Saṃhitā Literature]
Rivers in Ancient India (study) (by Archana Sarma)
2(c). Sarasvatī and Sārasvata < [Chapter 2 - The Rivers in the Saṃhitā Literature]
2(a). The river Sarasvatī in the Vājasaneyī-saṃhitā (Introduction) < [Chapter 2 - The Rivers in the Saṃhitā Literature]
2(b). Different epithets of Sarasvatī < [Chapter 2 - The Rivers in the Saṃhitā Literature]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 6: Story of Vanamālā < [Chapter V - The kidnapping of Sītā]
Part 6: Mahāpadma’s adventures in voluntary exile < [Chapter VIII - Śrī Mahāpadmacakricaritra]
Part 17: Ninth incarnation as a physician Jīvānanda < [Chapter I]
The Agnistoma Somayaga in the Shukla Yajurveda (by Madan Haloi)
Part 2.1: Types of Sacrifices in General (Introduction) < [Chapter 2 - An Introduction to the Ritualistic Religion of the Vedas]
Part 4.8: Preparation of the Dhiṣṇyas < [Chapter 4 - The Agniṣṭoma Ritual]
Part 2: Vājasaneyī Saṃhitā (Introduction) < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Related products
