Mahadana, Mahādāna, Maha-dana: 8 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
See also
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Introduction:

Mahadana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Mahādāna (महादान).—There are sixteen Mahādānas or "Great gifts". They are: (1) Tulāpuruṣadāna, (2) Hiraṇyagarbha dāna, (3) Brahmāṇḍa dāna, (4) Kalpakavṛkṣadāna, (5) Gosahasradāna, (6) Hiraṇyakāmadhenudāna, (7) Hiraṇyāśva dāna, (8) Hiraṇyāśvaratha dāna, (9) Hemahastiratha dāna, (10) Pañcalāṅgalakadāna (11) Dhārādāna, (12) Viśvacakradāna (13) Kalpalatā dāna, (14) Saptasāgaraka dāna, (15) Ratnadhenu dāna, (16) Mahāpūtaghaṭa dāna. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 210).

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Mahādāna (महादान) refers to “gifts (of auspicious nature)” (given as part of a marriage ceremony), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.50 (“Description of fun and frolic”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] When the sacrificial rites in marriage ceremony were thus concluded duly, lord Śiva gave the Pūrṇapātra to me, the creator of the worlds. Śiva then made the gift of cows to the presiding priest. Other gifts (mahādāna) of auspicious nature were also made. He gave the brahmins a hundred gold pieces each. A crore of gems and other articles were distributed among the people as gifts. [...]”.

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Mahādāna.—(EI 7, 16; CII 4); a great gift, 16 of which are enumerated in the Purāṇas (see Hist. Dharm., Vol. II, pp. 869-70; Suc. Sāt. L. Dec., pp. 50f.). Note: mahādāna is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

mahādāna (महादान).—n (S) A great gift,--one of sixteen particularly enumerated. See under ṣōḍaśadāna.

context information

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 dictionary

Mahādāna (महादान).—the gift of gold equal to one's own weight; अथातः संप्रवक्ष्यामि महादानस्य लक्षणम् (athātaḥ saṃpravakṣyāmi mahādānasya lakṣaṇam).

Derivable forms: mahādānam (महादानम्).

Mahādāna is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and dāna (दान).

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

1) Mahādāna (महादान):—[=mahā-dāna] [from mahā > mah] n. ‘great gift’, Name of certain valuable gifts (16 are enumerated), [Pañcarātra; Catalogue(s)]

2) [v.s. ...] mfn. accompanied by val° gifts (said of a sacrifice), [Harivaṃśa]

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahadana 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.

Relevant text

Search found 16 books and stories containing Mahadana, Mahādāna, Maha-dana, Mahā-dāna; (plurals include: Mahadanas, Mahādānas, danas, dānas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 5.1 - The sixteen Mahādānas < [Chapter 4 - Religious aspects of the Matsyapurāṇa]

Part 5 - Dāna (donation—the practice of cultivating kindness) < [Chapter 4 - Religious aspects of the Matsyapurāṇa]

Part 4 - Contents of the Matsyapurāṇa (summary) < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

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Chapter 35 - Ruins of Dharmāraṇya Repaired < [Section 2 - Dharmāraṇya-khaṇḍa]

Chapter 208 - Brāhmaṇas Eligible for Dāna < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]

Chapter 6 - Expiatory Rites < [Section 3b - Arunācala-khaṇḍa (Uttarārdha)]

+ 11 more chapters / show preview

Verse 1.12.115 < [Chapter 12 - The Lord’s Wandering Throughout Navadvīpa]

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Religion and Rituals: Brahmā < [Chapter 5 - Cultural history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]

Ethics and moral duties of the King < [Chapter 5 - Cultural history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]