Mahahrada, Maha-hrada, Mahāhrada: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Mahahrada 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Mahāhrada (महाह्रद).—A holy place. One who takes a bath here will never be in misfortune. Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 25, Verse 48 says that one who takes bath here and spends a month fasting with a pure heart will attain salvation.
Mahāhrada (महाह्रद) refers to the name of a Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.82.125). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Mahāhrada) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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)
Mahāhrada (महाह्रद) is the name of a lake within the Mahocchuṣma forest, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—According to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā: “[The Goddess] went all the way to Ucchuṣmā, the big river, which is situated in the forest called Mahocchuṣma, and which bears along its stream the host of gods and mortals. In the forest Mahocchuṣma where one finds the [pools] Nīla and Mahāhrada, there Devī rested in between the left and right eye”.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Mahāhrada (महाह्रद) is the name of a deity associated with the second court (āvaraṇa) of the temple, as discussed in the ninth chapter of the Īśvarasaṃhitā (printed edition), a Pāñcarātra work in 8200 verses and 24 chapters dealing with topics such as routines of temple worship, major and minor festivals, temple-building and initiation.—Description of the chapter [dvārāvaraṇa-devatālakṣaṇa-ādi-vidhi]: This chapter concerns the daily ritual obligations owed to the deities whose abodes are fixed in the temple doorways—[...] In the second court [āvaraṇa] will be found Garuḍa’s shrine (52-58), as well as Upendra, Tejodhara, Duratikrama, Mahākarmā, Mahāhrada, Agrāhya, Vasuretas and Vardhamāna in the various directions, with Sākṣī in the sky and Ādhāranilaya beneath. At the gopuras leading into this second courtyard will be found Śaṅkha and Padma in front and Bhadra and Subhadra in back (51b-83). Further descriptions and eulogies of selected names from the lists above are given (84-88).
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Mahāhrada (महाह्रद) refers to a “great lake” (resembling those unaffected by unhappiness), according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Aṣṭavakra says to Janaka]: “[...] Happy he stands, happy he sits, happy sleeps and happy he comes and goes. Happy he speaks, and happy he eats. Such is the life of a man at peace. He who of his very nature feels no unhappiness in his daily life like worldly people, remains undisturbed like a great lake (mahāhrada), all sorrow gone. [mahāhrada ivākṣobhyo gatakleśaḥ sa śobhate] [...]”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Mahāhrada (महाह्रद) refers to a “great lake”, according to the Guru Mandala Worship (maṇḍalārcana) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.—Accordingly, “[...] On the Bharata continent, in northern Pāñcāla, at the feet of the Himalayas, In the land of Vāsuki, the seat of Upachandoha, in the holy land Āryāvarta, In the home of Karkoṭaka king of serpents, In the great lake (mahāhrada) Nāgavāsa, Site of Śrī Svayambhū Caitya, inhabited by Śrī Guyeśvarī Prajñāpāramita, In the land of the Nepal mandala, in the form of the Śrī Saṃvara mandala, In the same land of Sudurjayā, [...]”.,
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Mahāhrada (महाह्रद).—[masculine] large tank or pool.
1) Mahāhrada (महाह्रद):—[=mahā-hrada] [from mahā > mah] m. a gr° tank or pool, [Manu-smṛti; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a Tīrtha, [Mahābhārata]
3) [v.s. ...] of a mythical pool, [Siddhāntaśiromaṇi; Golādhyāya]
4) [v.s. ...] of Śiva, [Śivagītā, ascribed to the padma-purāṇa] (cf. tīrtha-m).
Mahāhrada (महाह्रद):—[(ma + hrada)] m.
1) ein grosser Teich [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 11, 263.] [Rāmāyaṇa 4, 44, 62.] [AṢṬĀV. 18, 60.] [TARKASAM̃GR. 37. 39.] —
2) Nomen proprium eines heiligen Badeplatzes [Mahābhārata 13, 1705. 1734. 4888.] eines mythischen Teiches [Siddhāntaśiromaṇi 3, 35.] —
3) Beiname Śiva’s [Śivanāmasahasra] — Vgl. tīrtha .
Mahāhrada (महाह्रद):—m. —
1) ein grosser Teich. —
2) Beiname Śiva's. —
3) Nomen proprium — a) eines Tīrtha [Indische studien von Weber 13,377.] — b) eines mythischen Teiches [Golādhyāya 35.]
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)
Full-text (+3): Tirthamahahrada, Upasnata, Parishush, Kshubh, Akshobhya, Shush, Nagavasa, Nilahrada, Vardhamana, Duratikrama, Agrahya, Vasuretas, Tejodhara, Mahakarma, Adharanilaya, Upendra, Prap, Nila, Tan, Sakshin.
Relevant text
Search found 10 books and stories containing Mahahrada, Maha-hrada, Mahā-hrada, Mahāhrada; (plurals include: Mahahradas, hradas, Mahāhradas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 11.263 < [Section XXXII - Expiation of Secret Sins]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section XXV < [Anusasanika Parva]
Section CII < [Anusasanika Parva]
Section LXXXIV < [Tirtha-yatra Parva]
Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala (study) (by Shri N. M. Kansara)