Mahanaraka, Mahānaraka, Maha-naraka: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Mahanaraka 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)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationMahānaraka (महानरक) refers to the “great hells”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.2 (“The Prayer of the gods).—Accordingly, as the Gods eulogized Śiva: “[...] Obeisance to Thee, O lord, Hṛṣīkeśa, Acyuta, Mṛḍa, Śaṅkara, Adhokṣaja, enemy of the Asuras, Gaja and Kāma. Obeisance to you, O partaker of poison. Obeisance to Thee, O lord Nārāyaṇa, devoted to Nārāyaṇa, of the form of Nārāyaṇa, oh! one born of Nārāyaṇa’s body. Obeisance to Thee of all forms, the destroyer of great hells (mahānaraka-hārin), destroyer of sins. Obeisance to you, O bull-vehicled god. [...]”.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: MDPI Books: The Ocean of HeroesMahānaraka (महानरक) refers to the “great hells”, 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: [while explaining the body circle (kāyacakra)]: “[...] Great hell-guardians (mahānaraka-pāla) are always in the eight charnel grounds: (1) Śālmalī, (2) Aśokavṛkṣā, and (3) Pārijātā, (4) Umbarī (for Udumbarī), (5) Ḍombarī, (6) Gambhārī (for Gambhīrī), (7) Bhadirakī (For Badarakī), and (8) Piśācakī. There are also troops of various vetālas, assemblages of yoginīs and heroes, a sky-going female, an earth-going female, and also other females who have superhuman powers. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarymahānaraka : (m.) the great hell.
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahānaraka (महानरक).—Name of one of the 21 hells.
Derivable forms: mahānarakaḥ (महानरकः).
Mahānaraka is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and naraka (नरक).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahānaraka (महानरक).—n.
(-kaṃ) One of the twenty-one hells or divisions of Tartarus. E. mahā and naraka hell.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahānaraka (महानरक).—m. the name of a hell, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4. 83.
Mahānaraka is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and naraka (नरक).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahānaraka (महानरक).—[masculine] a cert. hell.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahānaraka (महानरक):—[=mahā-naraka] [from mahā > mah] m. Name of a hell, [Manu-smṛti; Yājñavalkya]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahānaraka (महानरक):—[mahā-naraka] (kaṃ) 1. n. A hell.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMahānaraka (ಮಹಾನರಕ):—[noun] (myth.) a group of eight hells.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Maha, Naraka.
Starts with: Mahanarakaharin, Mahanarakapala.
Full-text: Makanarakam, Naraka, Utsada.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Mahanaraka, Mahānaraka, Maha-naraka, Mahā-naraka; (plurals include: Mahanarakas, Mahānarakas, narakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 4.88-90 < [Section X - Gifts not to be Accepted]
Lakulisha-Pashupata (Philosophy and Practice) (by Geetika Kaw Kher)
Ganakarika by Acharya Bhasarvajna < [Chapter 4 - The Philosophical Context]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.3.96-97 < [Chapter 3 - Bhajana (loving service)]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 31 - Vikuṇḍala’s Dialogue with the Devadūta < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]
Chapter 48 - Importance of Bull (and Cow) < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
Chapter 129 - The Deliverance of the Five Gandharva Maidens < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]