Mahabrahma, Maha-brahma, Mahābrahmā, Mahābrahma: 11 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Pali
See also

Introduction:

Mahabrahma 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 Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

See Brahmaloka.

context information

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).

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Mahābrahma (महाब्रह्म) is one of the three great leaders among the gods according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XV). Accordingly, “Mahābrahma is the leader of the Brahmaloka”.

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Mahābrahma (महाब्रह्म) refers to the “Great Brahmā”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly,“Then the Bhagavān praised the great Garuḍa Lord, Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara, ‘Well done, well done, O Great Brahmā (mahābrahma), well spoken is this speech. A great spell is uttered. [...]’”.

context information

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: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

1) Mahābrahmā (महाब्रह्मा) is the name of a deity summoned by the Yamāntaka-mantra and 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 Mahābrahmā).

2) Mahābrahmā (महाब्रह्मा) also refers to a group of deities mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.

context information

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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mahābrahma (महाब्रह्म).—n. the Supreme Spirit.

Derivable forms: mahābrahmam (महाब्रह्मम्).

Mahābrahma is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and brahma (ब्रह्म). See also (synonyms): mahābrahman.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Mahābrahma (महाब्रह्म).—(n) , (= Pali id., in both senses, see Childers) (1) m. sg., great Brahmā (the god), guards the Bodhisattva upon his conception and praises him: Mahāvastu i.208.14 = ii.11.2; i.209.11 = ii.13.4; (2) m. pl., one (usually the 4th) of the classes of rūpāvacara gods of the first dhyānabhūmi, usually with deva, q.v.: Lalitavistara 150.5 (a-stem); Mahāvastu ii.360.14 (id.); Divyāvadāna 367.11 (id.); the rest n-stem forms, Mahāvyutpatti 3088; Divyāvadāna 68.14; 568.26; Dharmasaṃgraha 128; Avadāna-śataka i.5.2 (text °maṇaḥ, acc. pl.; ms. °māṇaḥ; prose), etc.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Mahābrahma (महाब्रह्म):—[=mahā-brahma] [from mahā > mah] m. the great Brahman, the Supreme Spirit, [Buddhist literature]

2) [v.s. ...] [plural] (with Buddhists) one of the 18 classes of gods of the world of form, [Dharmasaṃgraha 128] (cf. [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 210 etc.])

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahabrahma in German

context information

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.

Pali-English dictionary

Source: Sutta: Pali Word Grammar from Pali Myanmar Dictionary

mahābrahma (မဟာဗြဟ္မ) [(pu) (ပု)]—
[mahanta+brahma]
[မဟန္တ+ဗြဟ္မ]

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 31 books and stories containing Mahabrahma, Maha brahmas, Maha-brahma, Mahā-brahma, Mahābrahmā, Mahābrahma, Mahabrahmas, Mahanta-brahma; (plurals include: Mahabrahmas, Maha brahmases, brahmas, Mahābrahmās, Mahābrahmas, Mahabrahmases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Act 1.6: Definition of trisāhasramahāsāhasralokadhātu < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]

Act 7.2: Description of the Śuddhavāsika and Brahmaloka gods < [Chapter XIV - Emission of rays]

IV. The traces of passion are destroyed in the Buddha < [VIII. Destroying the traces of the conflicting emotions]

+ 5 more chapters / show preview

Four Planes of Life < [Chapter V - Process Freed Section]

Fourfold Rebirth < [Chapter V - Process Freed Section]

Fourfold Kamma < [Chapter V - Process Freed Section]

show preview

Part 1 - Atta In Brahmanism < [Chapter 7 - The Five Factors Of A Meditator]

show preview

Verse 70 - The Story of Monk Jambuka < [Chapter 5 - Bāla Vagga (Fools)]

Verse 101 - The Story of Bāhiyadārucīriya < [Chapter 8 - Sahassa Vagga (Thousands)]