Mahabhairava, Mahābhairava, Mahābhairavā: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Mahabhairava 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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMahābhairava (महाभैरव).—A place sacred to Śiva.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 181. 29.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Mahābhairava (महाभैरव) and Mahāmāyā refers to the pair of God and Goddess appearing in the eighteenth Kalpa (aeon), according to the Kularatnoddyota (chapter 9).—Accordingly: “There will be one named Ruru, king of the demons and very powerful. You will be on the path (of the world) at the end of the Mahākalpa in order to slay him. O mother of the universe, you who are forgiving and (yet) very fierce, Mahāmāyā and extremely powerful, you will destroy him. Accompanied by Mahābhairava and worshipped by the great host of mothers (mātṛ), you will be united to the one who is the god of all as (your) husband in the eighteenth aeon”.
2) Mahābhairava (महाभैरव) refers to the “great Bhairava”, according to the Jayadrathayāmala verse 1.14.23-24.—Accordingly, “Devoted to the teacher, god and fire, expert in mantra and ritual (tantra), endowed with knowledge and wisdom, one who praises (the observance of) vows and Tantric practice (caryā) resides in the sacred seat of the great Bhairava [i.e., mahābhairava-pīṭhastha], his form fashioned from energies (kalā). His mind intent on (the practice of) that Yoga, he impels the sacred seat of mantras”.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdomlib Libary: VajrayoginiMahābhairavā (महाभैरवा) is the goddess presiding over one of the six petals of the northern lotus of the vārāhyabhyudaya-maṇḍala, according to the Vārāhyabhyudayatantra (largerly extracted from the 10th century Abhidhānottaratantra). These six petals are presided over by a kuleśvarī (presiding lady) named Locanā. The central deity of the vārāhyabhyudaya-maṇḍala is the twelve-armed Vajravarāhī.
Mahābhairavā is associated with the sacred site (pīṭha) named Oḍra. All the goddess of the northern lotus petals are to be visualised as dancing naked and being half-male / half-female (ardhanarīśvarī) with their two sides being black and yellow. In their four arms they brandish a bowl and staff, with a ḍamaru and their familial attribute.
Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)1) Mahābhairavā (महाभैरवा) is the name of a Ḍākinī (‘sacred girl’) presiding over Oḍra: one of the four Kṣetras (‘sacred spot’) present within the Vākcakra (‘circle of word’), according to the 9th-centruy Vajraḍākatantra. The Vākcakra is one of three Cakras within the Tricakra system which embodies twenty-four sacred spots or districts resided over by twenty-four Ḍākinīs (viz., Mahābhairavā) whose husbands abide in one’s body in the form of twenty-four ingredients (dhātu) of one’s body.
Mahābhairavā has for her husband the hero (vīra) named Vajrajaṭila. She is the presiding deity of Oḍra and the associated internal location are the ‘breasts’ and the bodily ingredient (dhātu) is the ‘bile’.
2) Mahābhairava (महाभैरव) is the husband of Hayakarṇā: the name of a Ḍākinī (‘sacred girl’) presiding over Kāñcī: one of the four Upacchandoha (‘sacred spot’) also present within the Vākcakra (‘circle of word’), according to the same work.
Hayakarṇā has for her husband the hero (vīra) named Mahābhairava. She is the presiding deity of Kāñcī and the associated internal location is the ‘heart’ and the bodily ingredients (dhātu) are the ‘feces’.
Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka MaṇḍalaMahābhairava (महाभैरव) is the name of a Vīra (hero) who, together with the Ḍākinī named Hayakarṇā forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Vajracakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the vajracakra refers to one of the four divisions of the sahaja-puṭa (‘innate layer’), situated within the padma (lotus) in the middle of the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs and Vīras [viz., Mahābhairava] each have one face and four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum and a knife; they are dark-bluish-black in color.
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiMahābhairavā (महाभैरवा) is the name of a Ḍākinī (female consort) and one of the deities of the Cakrasaṃvara-maṇḍala or Saṃvaramaṇḍala of Abhayākaragupta’s Niṣpannayogāvalī, p. 45 and n. 145; (Cf. Cakrasaṃvaratantra, Gray, David B., 2007).—The Cakrasaṃvara mandala has a total of sixty-two deities. [...] Three concentric circles going outward, the body, speech and mind wheels (kāya-vāka-citta), in the order: mind (blue), speech (red), and body (white), with eight Ḍākinīs each in non-dual union with their Ḍākas, "male consorts".
Associated elements of Mahābhairavā and Vajrajaṭila:
Circle: vākacakra [=vākcakra?] (speech-wheel) (red);
Ḍākinī (female consort): Mahābhairavā;
Ḍāka (male consort): Vajrajaṭila;
Bīja: oṃ;
Body-part: breasts;
Pīṭha: Oḍra;
Bodily constituent: pitta (bile);
Bodhipakṣa (wings of enlightenment): śraddhābala (power of conviction).
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryMahābhairavā (महाभैरवा).—name of a yoginī: Sādhanamālā 427.5.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahābhairava (महाभैरव):—[=mahā-bhairava] [from mahā > mah] m. a form of Śiva or Bhairava, [Prabodha-candrodaya; Catalogue(s)]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a Liṅga, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
3) [v.s. ...] mf(ī)n. related to or connected with Mahā-bhairava, [Prabodha-candrodaya; Catalogue(s)]
[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: Bhairava, Maha.
Starts with: Mahabhairavapitha, Mahabhairavatantra.
Ends with: Mrityujitamritishamahabhairava.
Full-text (+12): Odra, Vajrajatila, Mahabhairavatantra, Atyanta-svami-mahabhairava-bhakta, Shraddhabala, Pramathanathamakha, Hayakarna, Pitta, Arcya, Ashtabhairava, Om, Kaliratri, Mahamaya, Ruru, Shringararasa, Alamkrita, Alingana, Mandita, Malalamkrita, Nivesana.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Mahabhairava, Maha-bhairava, Mahā-bhairava, Mahābhairava, Mahābhairavā; (plurals include: Mahabhairavas, bhairavas, Mahābhairavas, Mahābhairavās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Varahi Tantra (English Study) (by Roberta Pamio)
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 8: Further attacks on Vīra < [Chapter IV - Mahāvīra’s second period of more than six years]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
The Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 96 - Prayer to Śiva < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
The Kudu Kudu Pandi < [July – September, 1982]
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 3.2 - Dakshari (the legend of Daksha’s sacrifice) < [Volume 2 - Nampi Arurar and Mythology]