Mahameru, Mahāmeru: 11 definitions

Introduction:

Mahameru 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)

[«previous next»] — Mahameru in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Mahāmeru (महामेरु).—The golden coloured peak of Himavān. The seat of Lord Śiva, according to the Purāṇas. General features. Mahāmeru surpasses even the sun in its dazzling golden brilliance. Devas and Gandharvas attend on it on all sides. It is inaccessible to sinners. There are celestial herbs and serpents at its base. It is Mahāmeru that keeps Heaven in its place by supporting it. The atmosphere there, is always alive with the sweet songs of various kinds of birds. Precious stones are scattered all over its surface. All the 33 crores of gods dwell on the sides of this Mountain. (Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, Chapter 17). (See full article at Story of Mahāmeru from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Mahāmeru (महामेरु) refers to the name of a Mountain mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.36.20). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Mahāmeru) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Purana book cover
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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.

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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II) (shaivism)

Mahāmeru (महामेरु) is the name of a Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) and together with Lokamātṛ they preside over Kṣīrika: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the Kubjikāmatatantra. Their weapon is the khaḍga. A similar system appears in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18).

Shaivism book cover
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Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Mahāmeru (महामेरु) refers to the “Path of Meru”, according to the Kularatnoddyota, one of the earliest Kubjikā Tantras.—Accordingly, “[...] I am that Path of Meru [i.e., mahāmeru] and the omnipresent supreme space. O great goddess, that beginningless Transmission (krama) originated from its presence. That is called the Primordial Seat, the beginningless Kramamaṇḍala. These two are Kailāśa and Malaya. There, they are said to be sacred seats. My merger takes place there (and so) is called ‘Malaya’. Again, O goddess, (the meaning of) Kailāśa is explained as (it should be) understood. O goddess, dear one, it is (so called as it relates) to the blood that I have placed in that (sacrificial) vessel. Kailāśa originates where that has been offered as a libation”.

Shaktism book cover
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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.

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)

Mahāmeru (महामेरु) is the name of a Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) and together with Lokamātṛ Devī they preside over Kṣīrika: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18). Their weapon is the khaḍga and their abode is the sāla-tree. A similar system appears in the tradition of Hindu Tantrims, i.e., in the Kubjikāmatatantra (chapter 22), which belongs to the Śākta sect or Śaivism.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Mahāmeru (महामेरु).—name of a Buddha in the east: Sukhāvatīvyūha 97.2.

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

Mahāmeru (महामेरु).—[masculine] the great mountain Meru.

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

1) Mahāmeru (महामेरु):—[=mahā-meru] [from mahā > mah] m. (mahā-) the gr° mountain Meru, [Taittirīya-āraṇyaka; Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of a Varṣa, [Mahābhārata]

3) [v.s. ...] Name of a Tathāgata, [Sukhāvatī-vyūha ii]

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahameru 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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Mahamēru (ಮಹಮೇರು):—[noun] (myth.) the great Mēru mountain, the abode of gods.

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Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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