Mahagriva, Maha-griva, Mahāgrīvā, Mahāgrīva: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Mahagriva means something in 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 Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Mahāgrīvā (महाग्रीवा) 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 (e.g., Mahāgrīvā) 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.
Mahāgrīvā (महाग्रीवा).—A mind-born mother.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 179. 24.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Mahāgrīvā (महाग्रीवा) is the name of a Mātṛkā-Śakti created by Mahārudra in order to control the plague of demons created by Andhakāsura.—Accordingly, Andhaka-Asura tried to kidnap Umā (Devī Pārvatī), and was fiercely attacked by Mahārudra who shot arrows at him from his mahāpināka. when the arrows pierced the body of Andhakāsura, drops of blood fell to earth and from those drops, thousands of Andhakas arose. To control this plague of demons, Mahārudra created Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Mahāgrīvā] and ordered them to drink the blood of the demons and drain them dry.
Mahāgrīvā (महाग्रीवा) refers to one of the various Mātṛkā-Śaktis created by Rudra in order to destroy the clones that spawned from Andhaka’s body.—Accordingly, [...] Andhakāsura attempted to abduct Girājanandinī (Pārvatī) and thus ensued a fierce battle between Andhakāsura and the great Rudra, the Lord of Umā. Like raktabīja, every drop of blood that fell from the body of Andhaka created another Asura like him and in no time, the entire world was filled with Andhakas. To destroy the growing number of Andhakas, Rudra created innumerable Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Mahāgrīvā]. These Śaktis of immense power at once began to drink every drop of blood that flowed from the body of Andhaka, but they could still not effectively contain the emergence of more and more demons.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Mahāgrīva (महाग्रीव) refers to a country belonging to “Āgneyī (south-eastern division)” classified under the constellations of Āśleṣā, Maghā and Pūrvaphālguni, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Āśleṣā, Maghā and Pūrvaphālguni represent the south-eastern division consisting of [i.e., Mahāgrīva] [...]”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Mahāgrīva (महाग्रीव).—
1) a camel.
2) an epithet of Śiva.
Derivable forms: mahāgrīvaḥ (महाग्रीवः).
Mahāgrīva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and grīva (ग्रीव).
Mahāgrīva (महाग्रीव).—m.
(-vaḥ) A camel. E. mahā great, and grīvā a neck.
Mahāgrīva (महाग्रीव).—[adjective] long-necked (Śiva).
1) Mahāgrīva (महाग्रीव):—[=mahā-grīva] [from mahā > mah] mfn. long-necked (said of Śiva), [Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a camel, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of one of Śiva’s attendants, [Harivaṃśa]
4) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a people, [Varāha-mihira; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
Mahāgrīva (महाग्रीव):—[mahā-grīva] (vaḥ) 1. m. A camel.
Mahāgrīva (महाग्रीव):—[(ma + grīvā)]
1) adj. langhälsig: Śiva [Mahābhārata 13, 1200.] —
2) m. a) Kameel [Rājanirghaṇṭa im Śabdakalpadruma] — b) Nomen proprium eines Wesens im Gefolge Śiva’s [Harivaṃśa 14851.] — c) pl. Nomen proprium eines Volkes [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 14, 9.] [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 58, 17.]
Mahāgrīva (महाग्रीव):——
1) Adj. langhalsig (Śiva). —
2) m. — a) *Kamel. — b) Nomen proprium — α) eines Wesens im Gefolge Śiva's. — β) Pl. eines Volkes.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Mahāgrīva (ಮಹಾಗ್ರೀವ):—[noun] a camel, the long-necked animal.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text: Makakirivam, Dashagriva, Maha.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Mahagriva, Maha-griva, Mahā-grīva, Mahāgrīvā, Mahāgrīva; (plurals include: Mahagrivas, grivas, grīvas, Mahāgrīvās, Mahāgrīvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 85 - Granting of Boons to Durvāsas < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Linga Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 65 - Thousand names of Śiva (Rudra-sahasranāma) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]
Markandeya Purana (by Frederick Eden Pargiter)