Mahacarya, Mahācārya, Maha-acarya: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Mahacarya 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Mahacharya.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraMahācārya (महाचार्य) refers to a “great teacher”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 3).—Accordingly, “The Buddha said to Ānanda: ‘[...] Henceforth the Pratimokṣasūtra will be your great teacher (mahācārya). You should carry out bodily activities (kāyakarman) and vocal actions (vākkarman) according to the instructions of the Pratimokṣasūtra.—After my nirvāṇa, your guide (chaṇḍaka), O Bhikṣu, will be the punishment according to the rule of Brahmā (brahmadaṇḍa).—If someone is in a state of mind of panic (abhihata-citta), he should be taught the Saṃthakātyāyanasūtra; then he will be able to obtain the Path. [...]’.”.
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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahācārya (महाचार्य).—
1) a great teacher.
2) an epithet of Śiva.
Derivable forms: mahācāryaḥ (महाचार्यः).
Mahācārya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and ācārya (आचार्य).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumMahācārya (महाचार्य) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—(?): Advaitavidyāvijaya. Caṇḍamāruta. See Śatadūṣaṇīṭīkā.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahācaryā (महाचर्या):—[=mahā-caryā] [from mahā > mah] f. ‘great course of life’, the course of life of a Bodhi-sattva, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
2) Mahācārya (महाचार्य):—[from mahā > mah] m. (hāc) ‘the gr° teacher’, Name of Śiva, [Śivagītā, ascribed to the padma-purāṇa]
3) [=mahā-cārya] [from mahācārya > mahā > mah] (?) Name of an author, [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: Carya, Maha, Acarya.
Full-text: Advaitavidyavijaya, Abhihata, Abhihatacitta, Brahmadanda, Chandaka, Vakkarman, Kayakarman, Vedantasutra, Vyasasutra, Brahmasutra.
Relevant text
Search found 8 books and stories containing Mahacarya, Mahācārya, Maha-acarya, Mahā-ācārya, Mahācaryā, Maha-carya, Mahā-caryā, Mahā-cārya; (plurals include: Mahacaryas, Mahācāryas, acaryas, ācāryas, Mahācaryās, caryas, caryās, cāryas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 3 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 18 - Rāmānujadāsa alias Mahācārya < [Chapter XX - Philosophy of the Rāmānuja School of Thought]
Part 5 - The Influence of the Āḻvārs on the followers of Rāmānuja < [Chapter XVIII - An Historical and Literary Survey of the Viśiṣṭādvaita School of Thought]
Part 4 - Rāmānuja Literature < [Chapter XVIII - An Historical and Literary Survey of the Viśiṣṭādvaita School of Thought]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
II. Why the buddha thinks highly of his ten powers < [Part 3 - Appendices to the ten powers]
I. Acquiring precedence over the Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas < [Part 3 - Acquiring precedence, etc.]
Part 1 - The Buddha is omniscient, independent, without a teacher < [Chapter III - General Explanation of Evam Maya Śruta]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Sankalpa Suryodaya of Venkatanatha (Critical Study) (by R. Laxmi)
Manuals of Shri-vaishnava Religion and Esotericism < [Chapter 1 - Date, life and works of Venkatanatha]
Original philosophical treatises < [Chapter 1 - Date, life and works of Venkatanatha]
Devotional and Didactic Poetry < [Chapter 1 - Date, life and works of Venkatanatha]
Siddhanta Sangraha of Sri Sailacharya (by E. Sowmya Narayanan)