Alternative spellings of this word include Mahachandra.

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Mahācandra (महाचन्द्र) refers to a “great Moon”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “The subtle form of the goddess is Kuṇḍalinī. Her names in the three transmissions—Khañjinī, Vakrā and Kubjikā—all imply her identity as Kuṇḍalinī. [...] Resting on the Kula, she has three natures and six limbs and faces. Profoundly tranquil and very terrible, she sits on the Great Ghost who is her seat. She has great snakes as her ornaments and is adorned with large earrings. Her topknot is adorned with a great Moon and the Sun is above it [i.e., mahācandra—mahācandrārdhaśikharā sūryeṇopari bhūṣitā]. She is called Anackā (Unstruck Sound) and has a copious and good menses. (As Kuṇḍalinī) she transports (the individual soul) along the path of Suṣumṇā. Endless, she is at the extreme end of the Endless. Stainless, she is free of defects”.

context information

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

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Mahācandra (महाचन्द्र) 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.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Mahācandra (महाचन्द्र).—name of a minister (previous birth of Śāriputra): Divyāvadāna 318.18 ff.

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

Mahācandra (महाचन्द्र):—[=mahā-candra] [from mahā > mah] m. Name of a man, [Divyāvadāna]

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Maha, Candra.

Starts with: Mahacandrabimba, Mahacandrabimbalokeshvara.

Full-text: Mahidhara, Mahaprahasa, Raudraksha, Candraprabha.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Mahacandra, Mahācandra, Maha-candra, Mahā-candra; (plurals include: Mahacandras, Mahācandras, candras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)

Appendix 6 - Miracles of generosity accomplished by the Buddha in his past existences < [Chapter IV - Explanation of the Word Bhagavat]

show preview