Mahalaya, Maha-alaya, Maha-laya, Mahālaya, Mahālayā: 16 definitions
Introduction:
Mahalaya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit. 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 EncyclopediaMahālaya (महालय).—A holy place. Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 84, Verse 54 mentions that one who observes a fast at this holy place for one month, will be absolved of all sins.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Mahālaya (महालय).—Sacred to Mahābhāgā.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 13. 44.
1b) A son of Guhāvāsa of the 17th dvāpara.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 23. 177.
1c) A place sacred to Śiva.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 181. 29.
1d) A name for the siddhakṣetram, the residence of Maheśvara; a visit to the place relieves one of his debts to ten generations above and below as well as his own self.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 23. 175, 179.
2) Mahālayā (महालया).—A R: a tīrtha.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 13. 82, 88.
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)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramMahālaya (महालय) refers to the “great abode”, according to sources such as the Kulakaulinīmata and Kumārikākhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra.—Accordingly, [regarding the Nine Nāthas]: Various Siddhas have arisen in our great abode (mahālaya), the Western House, namely, the lords Ga (Gagana), Pa (Padma), Ka (Kamala) and the rest. Who are they related to? The Transmission of the Child, that is, the family of Mitranātha of the Lineage of the Child. (This will now be) explained.
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.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryMahālayā.—(EI33), name of a tithi; pūrṇimānta Āśvina-badi 15. Note: mahālayā is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
Source: Shodhganga: Social folk customs of the Sonowal Kacharis and Thengal Kacharis of AssamMahalaya refers to “The day which heralds the advent of Goddess Durga to the earth”.—It is included in the glossary section of the study on the Sonowal and Thengal Kacharis tribes of Assam (India) who possess a rich cultural heritage, folk customs, local traditions and oral histories
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 Dictionarymahālaya (महालय).—m (S) A place of refuge, a sanctuary, an asylu 2 A temple. 3 The Supreme Being. 4 A term for the Shraddha performed in the latter fortnight of bhādrapada, to the manes of all one's male ancestors.
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mahālayā (महालया).—A term of courtesy affixed to the names of Barbers. Ex. dāmamahālā, trimbakamahālyā.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishmahālaya (महालय).—m A palce of refuge, or asylum. Temple. See mahāḷa.
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 dictionaryMahālaya (महालय).—
1) a temple in general.
2) a sanctuary, an asylum.
3) a great dwelling.
4) a place of pilgrimage.
5) the world of Brahman.
6) the Supreme Spirit.
7) a tree &c. sacred to a deity.
8) Name of a particular dark fortnight.
9) पितृश्राद्ध (pitṛśrāddha) in the month of Bhādrapada.
-yā Name of a particular deity.
Derivable forms: mahālayaḥ (महालयः).
Mahālaya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and ālaya (आलय).
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Mahālaya (महालय).—
1) a great world destruction.
2) the Supreme Being (mahadādīnāṃ layo yasmin).
Derivable forms: mahālayaḥ (महालयः).
Mahālaya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and laya (लय).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahālaya (महालय).—m.
(-yaḥ) 1. God, the supreme being. 2. A place of pilgrimage. 3. A tree, &c. sacred to a deity. 4. The Loka or world of Brahma. 5. A place of refuge, a sanctuary, an asylum. 6. A temple. E. mahā great, ālaya asylum.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahālaya (महालय):—[from mahā > mah] m. (hāl) a great dwelling, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
2) [=mahā-laya] [from mahālaya > mahā > mah] a gr° temple, gr° monastery, [ib.]
3) [v.s. ...] a temple, [Horace H. Wilson]
4) [v.s. ...] a monastery, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] a place of refuge, sanctuary, asylum, [Horace H. Wilson]
6) [v.s. ...] the Loka or world of Brahmā, [Horace H. Wilson]
7) [v.s. ...] a tree etc. sacred to a deity, [Horace H. Wilson]
8) [v.s. ...] a place of pilgrimage, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] the gr° Universal Spirit, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) [v.s. ...] a [particular] half month, [Tithyāditya]
11) [v.s. ...] Name of a place, [Catalogue(s)]
12) [v.s. ...] of a man, [Catalogue(s)]
13) Mahālayā (महालया):—[=mahā-layā] [from mahālaya > mahā > mah] f. Name of a [particular] festival, the day of the moon’s change in the month Bhādra and the last day of the Hindū lunar year, [Colebrooke]
14) [v.s. ...] of a [particular] deity, [Apte’s The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
15) Mahālaya (महालय):—[=mahā-laya] [from mahālaya > mahā > mah] n. ([probably]) Name of a Liṅga, [Catalogue(s)]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahālaya (महालय):—[mahā+laya] (yaḥ) 1. m. God; a place of pilgrimage; a sacred tree; a refuge, an asylum; temple.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Mahālaya (महालय) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Mahālaya.
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryMahālaya (महालय) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Mahālaya.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMahālaya (ಮಹಾಲಯ):—
1) [noun] a building dedicated to the service or worship of a deity or deities; a temple.
2) [noun] a place of shelter.
3) [noun] a big residential building.
4) [noun] the world of Brahma.
5) [noun] the Supreme Being.
6) [noun] the Great Deluge, occuring at the end of the universe.
7) [noun] the last day (full moonday) of Bhādrapada the sixth month of the Hindu lunar calendar.
8) [noun] ಮಹಾಲಯ ಅಮಾವಾಸ್ಯೆ [mahalaya amavasye] mahālaya amāvāsye = ಮಹಾಲಯ - [mahalaya -] 7.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryMahālaya (महालय):—n. 1. the new moon day immediately preceding the autumnal worship of goddess Durga; 2. a Buddhist monastery; 3. Mythol. Vishnu; 4. a temple of god;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Laya, Alaya, Maha.
Starts with: Mahalayapaksha, Mahalayaprayoga, Mahalayashraddhapaddhati, Mahalayashraddhasamgraha.
Full-text: Mahalayaprayoga, Mahabhaga, Mahalayashraddhapaddhati, Manonpu, Makalayan, Pretapaksha, Makalayapatcam, Makalayam, Mahalay, Navaratri-amavasya, Vijayatacami, Vicayatacami, Malayam, Karunyapitirkkal, Mahala, Pitripaksha, Alaya, Gaya.
Relevant text
Search found 30 books and stories containing Mahalaya, Maha-alaya, Mahā-ālaya, Maha-laya, Mahā-laya, Mahā-layā, Mahālaya, Mahālayā; (plurals include: Mahalayas, alayas, ālayas, layas, layās, Mahālayas, Mahālayās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Devala-smriti (critical study) (by Mukund Lalji Wadekar)
8.3. The rules regarding Shraddha rites < [Chapter 9 - The distinctive features of the Devalasmriti]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 3.276 < [Section XXII - Time for Śrāddha]
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 36 - The Glory of Dhanuṣkoṭi: Durācāra Liberated < [Section 1 - Setu-māhātmya]
Chapter 24 - Mahālayeśvara (mahālaya-īśvara-liṅga) < [Section 2 - Caturaśīti-liṅga-māhātmya]
Chapter 140 - The Greatness of Nandāhrada Tīrtha < [Section 3 - Revā-khaṇḍa]
Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 146 - Rudramahālaya-tīrtha < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]
Chapter 37 - Other Holy Places of Vārāṇasī < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]
One hundred and eight (108) names of Sāvitrī < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
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