In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: The Matsya-purāṇa

Mahānadā (महानदा) is the name of a mind-born ‘divine mother’ (mātṛ), created for the purpose of drinking the blood of the Andhaka demons, according to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.8. The Andhaka demons spawned out of every drop of blood spilled from the original Andhakāsura (Andhaka-demon). According to the Matsya-purāṇa 179.35, “Most terrible they (e.g., Mahānadā) all drank the blood of those Andhakas and become exceedingly satiated.”

The Matsyapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 20,000 metrical verses, dating from the 1st-millennium BCE. The narrator is Matsya, one of the ten major avatars of Viṣṇu.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Mahānāda (महानाद).—A Rākṣasa. In Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, we see that he was a Minister and the uncle of Rāvaṇa.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1) Mahānada (महानद).—A river from the Rkṣa hill.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 16. 29.

2a) Mahānāda (महानाद).—An Asura residing in Tatvalam.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 20. 16.

2b) A name of Vighneśvara.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 44. 67.

2c) A tīrtha sacred to the Pitṛs.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 22. 53.

3) Mahānādā (महानादा).—A mother goddess.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 179. 31.

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Mahānāda (महानाद) is the Sanskrit name of a deity presiding over Aṭṭahāsa, one of the sixty-eight places hosting a svāyambhuvaliṅga, which is one of the most sacred of liṅgas according to the Śaivāgamas. The list of sixty-eight svāyambhuvaliṅgas and presiding deities (e.g., Mahānāda) is found in the commentary on the Jirṇoddhāra-daśaka by Nigamajñānadeva. The word liṅga refers to a symbol used in the worship of Śiva and is used thoughout Śaiva literature, such as the sacred Āgamas.

context information

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.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)

Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical study

Mahānāda (महानाद) (lit. “one who is roaming or bellowing loudly”) is a synonym (another name) for either the Lion (Siṃha) or the Elephant (Gaja), according to scientific texts such as the Mṛgapakṣiśāstra (Mriga-pakshi-shastra) or “the ancient Indian science of animals and birds” by Hamsadeva, containing the varieties and descriptions of the animals and birds seen in the Sanskrit Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Mahānādā (महानादा) refers to one of the eight Yoginīs (yoginī-aṣṭaka) associated with Pūrṇagiri or Pūrṇapīṭha (which is located in the northern quarter), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight Yoginīs: Gambhīrā, Bhīṣaṇī, Mahānādā, Jvālāmukhī [...]

2) Mahānāda (महानाद) refers to one of the eight Bhairavas (bhairava-aṣṭaka) associated with Nādapīṭha (identified with Kulūta), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.—[...] The eight Bhairavas (bhairavāṣṭaka): Amogha, Mahānāda, Aṅkura, Śivottama, Ekarudra, Lakulīśa, Sūkṣmīśa, Ekanetra.

context information

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

The name of this chakra means 'Great Sound', and it is in the shape of a plough. It represents the primal sound from which emanates all of creation.

Also see: Sahasrāra.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

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

Mahānāda (महानाद) or Mahābala is the name of a Kṣetrapāla (field-protector) and together with Guhyā Devī they preside over Oḍyāyana: one of the twenty-four sacred districts mentioned in the 9th century Vajraḍākatantra (chapter 18). Their weapon is the vajra and śṛṅkhala and their abode is the aśoka-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.

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: archive.org: Geography in Ancient Indian inscriptions

Mahānada (महानद) is the name of a river found in India.—It is identical with the present Mahana, two miles away from Kailvan in Patna district, Bihar.

context information

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

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mahānada (महानद).—a great river.

Derivable forms: mahānadaḥ (महानदः).

Mahānada is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and nada (नद).

--- OR ---

Mahānāda (महानाद).—

1) a loud sound, uproar.

2) a great drum.

3) a thunder-cloud.

4) a shell.

5) an elephant.

6) a lion.

7) the ear.

8) a camel.

9) an epithet of Śiva.

-dam a musical instrument.

Derivable forms: mahānādaḥ (महानादः).

Mahānāda is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and nāda (नाद).

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

Mahānāda (महानाद).—m.

(-daḥ) 1. A large black rainy cloud. 2. A loud sound. 3. An elephant. 4. A lion. 5. The ear. 6. A camel. 7. A conch-shell. n.

(-daṃ) A musical instrument. E. mahā great and nāda noise or sound.

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

Mahānāda (महानाद).—m. 1. a loud cry. 2. an elephant, 3. a lion. 4. a camel. 5. the ear.

Mahānāda is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and nāda (नाद).

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

Mahānada (महानद).—[masculine] a great river or stream; [feminine] ī the same, [Epithet] of Gaṅgā.

--- OR ---

Mahānāda (महानाद).—1. [masculine] lound sound.

--- OR ---

Mahānāda (महानाद).—2. [adjective] loud-sounding.

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

1) Mahānada (महानद):—[=mahā-nada] [from mahā > mah] m. a gr° river or stream, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of a river, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

3) Mahānāda (महानाद):—[=mahā-nāda] [from mahā > mah] m. a loud sound, l° cry, roaring, bellowing, [Mahābhārata; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]

4) [v.s. ...] mf(ā)n. l°-sounding, roaring or bellowing loudly, making a loud noise, [Mahābhārata]; [Rāmāyaṇa]

5) [v.s. ...] m. a great drum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) [v.s. ...] a muscle, shell, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

7) [v.s. ...] rain-cloud, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) [v.s. ...] an elephant, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

9) [v.s. ...] a lion, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

10) [v.s. ...] a camel, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) [v.s. ...] the ear, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

12) [v.s. ...] = śayānaka (bhayānaka ?), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

13) [v.s. ...] Name of Śiva, [Mahābhārata]

14) [v.s. ...] of a Rākṣasa, [Rāmāyaṇa]

15) [v.s. ...] n. a musical instrument, [Horace H. Wilson]

16) Māhānada (माहानद):—[=māhā-nada] [from māhā] mf(ī)n. ([from], mahā-nada) relating to a great river [gana] utsādi.

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

Mahānāda (महानाद):—[mahā-nāda] (daḥ) 1. m. A loud sound; a large black cloud; a lion; the ear; a camel; elephant; conch shell. n. Musical instrument.

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahanada 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.

Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Mahāṇaḍa (महाणड) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Mahānaṭa.

context information

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 corpus

Mahānada (ಮಹಾನದ):—

1) [noun] a big river.

2) [noun] a river, in India, that flows westward.

context information

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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