Mahadevi, aka: Mahādevī; 7 Definition(s)

Introduction

Mahadevi means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Mahādevī (महादेवी, “the consort of the great Lord”).—One of the names of the Goddess, Devī, who is regarded as the female principle of the divine; the embodiement of the energies of the Gods.

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Mahādevī (महादेवी) is the name of a mind-born ‘divine mother’ (mātṛ), created for the purpose of drinking the blood of the Andhaka demons, according to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.8. The Andhaka demons spawned out of every drop of blood spilled from the original Andhakāsura (Andhaka-demon). According to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.35, “Most terrible they (eg., Mahādevī) all drank the blood of those Andhakas and become exceedingly satiated.”

The Matsyapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 20,000 metrical verses, dating from the 1st-millennium BCE. The narrator is Matsya, one of the ten major avatars of Viṣṇu.

Mahādevī (महादेवी).—A mother Goddess; a name of Lalitā, as originating from Agnikuṇḍa of Indra and gods who propitiated Devī to get rid of Bhaṇḍa.¹ The goddess enshrined at Śālagrāma.²

• 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 6. 3; 12. 74; 13. 29; 14. 26; 15. 3; 18. 15; 36. 4; Matsya-purāṇa 179. 31.
• 2) Ib. 13. 33.

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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Mahādevī (महादेवी, “chief queen”) refers to one of the classes of “women” (strī) who have dealings with the king, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 34. Accordingly, “the chief queen (mahādevī) is one who has been consecrated on her head, is of high birth and character, possessed of accomplishments; advanced in age, indifferent to her rivals, free from anger and malice, and who fully understands the king’s character, shares equally his joys and sorrows, is always engaged in propitiatory rites for the good of the royal husband, and is calm, affectionate, patient, and benevolent to the inmates of the harem”.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

An eminent Theri of Ceylon. Dpv.xviii.24.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

mahādēvī (महादेवी).—f (S) Durga, the wife of Shiva.

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mahādēvī (महादेवी).—f A species of cucurbitaceous plant of the genus Bryonia. Its seed resembles the lingam of Mahadeva. Hence its name.

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