Mahanaman, Mahānāman: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Mahanaman 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 Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra1) Mahānāman (महानामन्) is one of the two sons of Amṛtadana, son of Siṃhahanu: an ancient king of the solar clan (āditagotra or sūryavaṃśa) according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter VI). Accordingly, “King Amṛtadana had two sons: 1) Mo ho nan (Mahānāman), 2) A ni lou t’eou (Aniruddha)”.
2) Mahānāman (महानामन्) was an ancient king of the Śākyas according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXX). Accordingly, “thus, Mo ho nan (Mahānāman), king of the Śākyas, went to find the Buddha one day and said to him: ‘The population of Kapilavastu is great. Sometimes it happens, when I meet a runaway chariot, an excited horse, a mad elephant, or people who are quarreling, that I no longer think about the Buddha’. Then I say to myself: ‘If I were to die at this moment, where would I be reborn?’.”
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahānāman (महानामन्):—[=mahā-nāman] [from mahā > mah] m. Name of a relation of Gautama Buddha, [Buddhist literature]
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Mahanamana.
Full-text: Mahanamnivrata, Mahanamni, Amritodana, Amritadana, Five Bhikkhus, Aniruddha, Bhadravargiya, Mahanama, Bhadrika.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Mahanaman, Mahānāman, Maha-naman, Mahā-nāman; (plurals include: Mahanamans, Mahānāmans, namans, nāmans). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
The Mahānāma-Sutta < [Part 3 - The Prajñā and the teaching of the Dharma]
Part 8 - Origin of the name Ānanda < [Chapter VI - The Great Bhikṣu Saṃgha]
Appendix 1 - The seven minds of awakening (saṃbodhyaṅga) < [Chapter VIII - The Bodhisattvas]
Tibetan tales (derived from Indian sources) (by W. R. S. Ralston)
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 3 - Acts of the Buddha < [Book 1 - The beginning of the story of the Doctrine]
Chapter 5 - The division into eighteen schools (of the Doctrine of the Buddha) < [Book 1 - The beginning of the story of the Doctrine]
Chapter 2 - The genealogy of Mahāsammata < [Book 1 - The beginning of the story of the Doctrine]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)