In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Mahākūpa (महाकूप) refers to a “deep well”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.4 (“Search for Kārttikeya and his conversation with Nandin”).—Accordingly, as Nandīśvara said to Kārttikeya and the Kṛttikās: “[...] You are brilliant enough to illuminate the universe. You do not fit in well in this abode just as a majestic elephant fallen in a deep well (mahākūpa) [patanmahākūpe] does not retain splendour. You can shed splendour if your brilliance is not hidden just as the sun illuminates the world only when it is not hidden by the cloud. [...]”.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Mahākūpa (महाकूप) refers to a “deep pit (of darkness)”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Travelling living beings, fettered very tightly by numerous chains such as women, etc., fall into a deep pit of darkness (andha-mahākūpa) called life”.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahākūpa (महाकूप).—m.

(-paḥ) A large or deep well. E. mahā great, and kūpa a well.

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

Mahākūpa (महाकूप):—[=mahā-kūpa] [from mahā > mah] m. a deep well, [Catalogue(s)]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahākūpa (महाकूप):—[mahā-kūpa] (paḥ) 1. m. A deep well.

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahakupa 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Maha, Kupa.

Full-text: Narakandha.

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