Mahamudra, Maha-mudra, Mahāmudrā: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Mahamudra 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
Yoga (school of philosophy)
From the Haṭha Yogha Pradīpikā (chapter III): “Pressing the Yoni (perineum) with the heel of the left foot, and stretching forth the right foot, its toe should be grasped by the thumb and first finger.” (śl. 10) and “By stopping the throat (by Jālandhara Bandha) the air is drawn in from the outside and carried down. Just as a snake struck with a stick becomes straight like a stick, in the same way, śakti (suṣumnā) becomes straight at once. Then the Kuṇḍalinī, becoming as it were dead, and, leaving both the Idā and the Pingalā, enters the suṣumnā (the middle passage).” (śl. 11) and “It should be expelled then, slowly only and not violently. For this very reason, the best of the wise men call it the Mahā Mudrā. This Mahā Mudrā has been propounded by great masters.” (śl. 12)
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा) refers to one of the methods of manipulating the constituents of the yogic body, according to the Amṛtasiddhi, a 12th-century text belonging to the Haṭhayoga textual tradition.—The text of the Amṛtasiddhi consists of 303 verses divided into 35 short vivekas. The first ten vivekas teach the constituents of the yogic body. Vivekas 11–13 teach three methods of manipulating those constituents (e.g., mahāmudrā) and viveka 14 teaches the practice, i.e. how the three methods are to be used together. Vivekas 15–18 teach the four grades of aspirant, 19–33 the four states of yoga, and 34–35 the final transformation of the body leading up to nirvāṇa.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा) is the name of a gesture (mudrā) mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 1.20, while explaining the mode of worshipping an earthen phallic image (pārthiva-liṅga) according to the Vedic rites:—“[...] the Mahāmudrā shall be shown with the mantra ‘Namaḥ Senā-’ etc. He shall then show the Dhenumudrā with the mantra ‘Namo Gobhyaḥ’ etc.”.
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा).—Served by a number of Rudras: the presiding deity of the cakra.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 42. 2.
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)
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा) refers to the “great gesture”, according to the Kularatnoddyota, one of the earliest Kubjikā Tantras.—Accordingly, [while describing the gross form of Navātman called Śabdarāśinavātman]: “(Navātman) has a big body and burns intensely, illumining the sky with (his) radiant energy. [...] He wears divine earrings and the Great Gesture (mahāmudrā) is (his) ornament. He has made the Great Ghost (who lies) on the lotus of the head of the Great Corpse, (his) seat. [...]”.
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)
1) Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा) refers to one of the Mudrās mentioned in the eighteenth chapter of the Agastyasaṃhitā (agastya-suīkṣṇa-saṃvāda edition), an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama text dealing with the worship of Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Hanumān.—[Cf. the chapter pūjāsādhanalakṣaṇa].—[...] One should offer pūjā with devotion [bhakti] and orderliness [saṃkalpa]. Further, the devotee should accompany his worship with the practice of mudrās for this delights the gods. The following mudrās are described: [e.g., mahāmudrā]. One can “melt the heart” [drāvayet] of God if he uses all of the mudrās in daily worship.
2) Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा) refers to one of the 81 Mudrās (hand-gestures) described in chapter 2 of the Ṛṣirātra section of the Sanatkumārasaṃhitā: an encyclopedic Sanskrit text written in over 3500 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as yoga, temple-building, consecration ceremonies, initiation and dhanurveda (martial arts).—[Cf. the chapter mudrā-lakṣaṇa].
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा) (in Tibetan: phyag rgya chen po) — Originally part of a system of three or four tantric seals, the “great seal” is synonymous with inter alia,buddhahood, buddha nature, and the emptiness that “seals” all dharmas Among the Kagyüpa (and Gelukpa) in Tibet, it also refers to a system of meditation, with both sutra and tantra versions, in which one meditates on the true nature of the mind
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा) refers to the “great seal”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly: “[...] One thousand bindus are in the prongs, [which run] upward from the navel area. He should meditate on the bindus in the ten prongs in sequence. By smoke and others, he should make move the 100 [bindus] in the seats of Bindus. From that, however subtle the thing might be, it is not a [discriminated] object of sense for the Awakened Ones. He [becomes] completely awakened, [which is] the mahāmudrā or Great Seal, through the meditation on the adamantine vital airs [...]”.
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा) is the forty-third of sixty digits (decimal place) in an special enumeration system mentioned by Vasubandhu in his Abhidharmakośa (“treasury of knowledge”). The explanations of the measure of years, eons, and so forth must be comprehended through calculation based on a numerical system. Enumeration begins from one and increases by a factor of ten for each shift in decimal place. The sixtieth number in this series is called “countless”.
Among these decimal positions (e.g., mahāmudrā), the first nine positions from one to one hundred million are called ‘single set enumeration’. From a billion up to, but not including countless is “the enumeration of the great companion” and is called the ‘recurring enumeration’.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा).—a particular position of hands or feet (in practice of yoga).
Mahāmudrā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and mudrā (मुद्रा).
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा).—(1) according to Lalou, Iconographie, 19 n. 6, in (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa regularly = pañcaśikhā (q.v. for citations) mudrā; also (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 56.7 et alibi; (2) a high number: Mahāvyutpatti 8031 (compare mudrā 3).
1) Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा):—[=mahā-mudrā] [from mahā > mah] f. a [particular] posture or position of the hands or feet (in the practice of Yoga q.v.), [Catalogue(s)]
2) [v.s. ...] a [particular] high number, [Buddhist literature]
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा):—[(ma + mu)] f.
1) eine best. Stellung der Hände oder Füsse (beim Yoga) [Oxforder Handschriften 235,a,21. 236,b,20.] —
2) eine best. hohe Zahl [Vyutpatti oder Mahāvyutpatti 185.] [Mélanges asiatiques 4, 632.]
Mahāmudrā (महामुद्रा):—f. —
1) eine best. Stellung der Hände oder Füsse (im Yoga). —
2) *eine best. hohe Zahl (buddh.).
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: Mudra, The, The, Maha, Te, Mahamudra.
Starts with: Mahamudra-adhikrita, Mahamudra-amatya, Mahamudradhikari, Mahamudravibhushana.
Full-text (+206): Mudra, Four yogas, Da shou yin, Mahamudradhikari, Jamgön Kongtrül, Mahamudravibhushana, Maitripa, Mahakassapa Thera, Dombipa, Mudrabala, Mohamukha, Mahamudra-adhikrita, Naropa, Tilopa, Nagarjuna, Great seal, Mahamudra-amatya, Varasena, Makamuttirai, phyag chen gyi khrid yig.
Relevant text
Search found 55 books and stories containing Mahamudra, Maha-mudra, Mahā-mudrā, Mahāmudrā, The mahamudra; (plurals include: Mahamudras, mudras, mudrās, Mahāmudrās, The mahamudras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Isanasivagurudeva Paddhati (study) (by J. P. Prajith)
24. Pratishtha and Nityotsava-vidhi of Gauri < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]
8. Initial ceremonial steps for Shiva Puja (worship) < [Chapter 4 - Worship of Gods and Goddesses]
History and Myth < [Volume 10, Issue 3 (2019)]
Tattva, vrata, caryā < [Volume 15, Issue 3 (2024)]
What Stands in the Way Becomes the Way < [Volume 13, Issue 9 (2022)]
Advayavajra-samgraha (Sanskrit text and English introduction) (by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri)
Chapter 5 - Sekanirnaya < [Sanskrit texts of the Advayavajra-samgraha]
Chapter 6 - Caturmudra < [Sanskrit texts of the Advayavajra-samgraha]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 8 - Later Lineages (vii): Sangs rgyas ras pa < [Book 12 - Peace-Making Lineages]
Chapter 17a - Gotshangpa together with his great sons < [Book 8 - The famous Dakpo Kagyü (traditions)]
Chapter 5 - Severing the Samsara Stream (Great Seal system) < [Book 14 - Great Compassion Cycle]
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