Mahanada, Maha-nada, Mahānādā, Mahānada, Mahānāda: 22 definitions
Introduction:
Mahanada means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, 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)
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.
Mahānāda (महानाद).—A Rākṣasa. In Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, we see that he was a Minister and the uncle of Rāvaṇa.
Mahānāda (महानाद) refers to the “bellowing” (of a bull), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.39 (“The annihilation of the army of Śaṅkhacūḍa”).—Accordingly: “[After Śiva struck Śaṅkhacūḍa in battle]: The Dānava quickly regained consciousness and got into his excellent chariot. With divine weapons and arrows he encompassed the whole sky and shone. On seeing him coming on, Śiva sounded his Ḍamaru enthusiastically and twanged the bowstring, the noise whereof was unbearable. The lord filled all the quarters with the sound of his horn. Śiva himself roared then, frightening the Asuras. The lordly bull then bellowed (mahānāda) putting the haughty trumpeting elephants to shame. The deep roar filled the sky, the earth and the eight quarters. [...]”.
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.

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
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.

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)
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.

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
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.

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)
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)
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.

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
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.

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
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).
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Mahānada (महानद):—
1) m. (ma + nada) gaṇa utsādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 86.] a) ein grosser Fluss, Strom [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 57, 21.] — b) Nomen proprium eines best. Flusses [Lassen’s Indische Alterthumskunde I, 182. fgg.] [Viṣṇupurāṇa 185, Nalopākhyāna 80.] —
2) f. ī (ma + nadī) a) Strom [LĀṬY. 1, 11, 12.] [MAITRYUP. 4, 2.] [Mahābhārata 6, 322 u.s.w.] [Spr. 2147.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 79, 4.] [Rājataraṅgiṇī 5, 98.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 5, 8, 1] [?(von BURNOUF als Nalopākhyāna pr. gefasst). 19, 18. 20, 4.] rāmāyaṇa [Rāmāyaṇa] Einl. Nach [PRĀYAŚCITTEND. 12,a,4] ein Fluss, welcher einen Lauf von mehr als 24 Yojana hat und ein sich in’s Meer ergiessender. — b) Nomen proprium verschiedener Ströme [Mahābhārata.6,433.] [Harivaṃśa] [LANGL.] [?I,508. Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 16,10. Bhāgavatapurāṇa.5,19,18. Oxforder Handschriften 77,b,9.] sāgarasaṃgama [148,b,31.] Bez. der Gaṅgā [Mahābhārata 5, 7119. 7233.] [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 56, 17.] [UDBHAṬA im Śabdakalpadruma] = citrotpalā (vgl. citropalā) [PURUṢOTTAMATATTVA] ebend. — Vgl. māhānada .
--- OR ---
Mahānāda (महानाद):—1. (ma + nāda) m. lauter Ton, lautes Geschrei, - Gebrüll u.s.w. [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha 4, 143.] [Medinīkoṣa d. 51.] nādaṃ nadanti [Mahābhārata 5, 3548. 6, 4746.] [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 89, 19.] su [Mahābhārata 7, 5650.]
--- OR ---
Mahānāda (महानाद):—2. (wie eben)
1) adj. f. ā einen lauten Ton von sich gebend, laut tönend, brausend, brüllend u. s. w.: aśani [Mahābhārata 3, 1791.] lauhitya (l'ampio fiume [Gorresio], was mahānada wäre) [Rāmāyaṇa 4, 40, 26.] nadanadīpati [38.] mahāhrada [44, 62.] —
2) m. a) eine grosse Trommel (kāhala) [Hārāvalī 143.] — b) Muschel [Rājanirghaṇṭa im Śabdakalpadruma] — c) Regenwolke [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — d) Elephant [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 3, 3, 210.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — e) Löwe [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1284.] = śayānaka [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha], wofür vielleicht bhayānaka Tiger zu lesen ist. — f) Kameel [Rājanirghaṇṭa] — g) Ohr [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 573.] — h) Beiname Śiva’s [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 44.] [Mahābhārata 13, 1162.] — i) Nomen proprium eines Rākṣasa [Rāmāyaṇa 6, 32, 15. 19.]
--- OR ---
Māhānada (माहानद):—adj. (f. ī) von mahānada gaṇa utsādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 86.]
Mahānada (महानद):—1. —
1) m. — a) ein grosse Fluss , Strom. — b) Nomen proprium eines Flusses. —
2) f. ī — a) Strom. — b) Beiname der Gaṅgā. — c) Nomen proprium verschiedener Ströme.
--- OR ---
Mahānada (महानद):—2. Adj. in einem grossen Fluss befindlich (Wasser) [Āpastamba’s Dharmasūtra] Vielleicht ist mahānada ( in einem Strom ) udakam zu lesen.
--- OR ---
Mahānāda (महानाद):—1. m. lauter Ton , lautes Geschrei , — Gebrüll u.s.w.
--- OR ---
Mahānāda (महानाद):—2. —
1) Adj. (f. ā) einen lauten Ton von sich gebend , laut tönend , — brausend , — brüllend u.s.w. —
2) m. — a) *eine grosse Trommel. — b) *Muschel. — c) *Regenwolke. — d) *Elephant. — e) *Löwe. — f) *Kamel. — g) *Ohr. — h) * = śayānaka ( bhayānaka?). — i) Beiname Śiva's. — k) Nomen proprium eines Rākṣasa.
--- OR ---
Māhānada (माहानद):—Adj. (f. ī) von mahānada.
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
Mahāṇaḍa (महाणड) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Mahānaṭa.
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
Mahānada (ಮಹಾನದ):—
1) [noun] a big river.
2) [noun] a river, in India, that flows westward.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Pali-English dictionary
1) mahānada (မဟာနဒ) [(pu) (ပု)]—
[mahanta+nada]
[မဟန္တ+နဒ]
2) mahānāda (မဟာနာဒ) [(pu) (ပု)]—
[mahanta+nāda]
[မဟန္တ+နာဒ]
[Pali to Burmese]
1) mahānada—
(Burmese text): ကြီးစွာသောအသံ။
(Auto-Translation): Loud sound.
2) mahānāda—
(Burmese text): ကြီးမား-ပြင်းထန်ကျယ်လောင်-သောအသံ။
(Auto-Translation): A loud and powerful sound.

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Na-da, Maha, Nada, Mahanta, Nata.
Full-text (+9): Mahanadi, Nishtana, Mahanadisagarasamgama, Mahanata, Citrotpala, Makanatam, Bhishani, Tatvala, Jvalamukhi, Ekanetra, Ekarudra, Shivottama, Guhya, Sukshmisha, Lakulisha, Karanarupa, Mo he, Gambhira, Amogha, Rasatala.
Relevant text
Search found 38 books and stories containing Mahanada, Maha-nada, Mahā-nada, Mahā-nāda, Māhā-nada, Mahānādā, Mahānada, Mahānāda, Mahānadā, Māhānada, Mahāṇaḍa, Mahanta-nada, Mahanta-nada, Mahanta-nāda; (plurals include: Mahanadas, nadas, nādas, Mahānādās, Mahānadas, Mahānādas, Mahānadās, Māhānadas, Mahāṇaḍas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shat-cakra-nirupana (the six bodily centres) (by Arthur Avalon)
Cosmogony in Indian Philosophy (study) (by Rashmi Rekha Goswami)
Part 14 - Cosmogony in Śaktism < [Chapter 5 - Cosmogony in Śaivism and Śaktism]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 64 < [Bengali-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 97 < [Volume 17 (1914)]
Shishupala-vadha (Study) (by Shila Chakraborty)
Citrakāvya (3): Absence of some specific letter < [Introduction]
The Matsya Purana and the Ramayana < [Purana, Volume 8, Part 1 (1966)]
The Shorter Kurma-Vibhaga Text of the Puranas < [Purana, Volume 9, Part 1 (1967)]
Some Geographical and Ethnic Data of Matsya Purana < [Purana, Volume 6, Part 2 (1964)]