Maharana, Mahārāṇā: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Maharana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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.
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Mahāraṇa (महारण) refers to “great warfare”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.8 (“The battle between the gods and Asuras”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] In the same manner, O dear, the guardians of the quarters, though powerful, were defeated in battle by the Asuras, great experts in warfare (mahāraṇa-viśārada). The other gods too were fought and defeated by the Asuras. Unable to bear their ferocity they took to flight. The victorious Asuras, their effort having been successful, roared like lions and raised shouts of jubilation. [...]”
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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Mahārāṇā (महाराणा) refers to the “carpenter class of Daitās”.—Navakalevara is the name of a festival (symbolizing the cycle of birth, death and re-birth) which is celebrated at Puri: a sacred site home to the eternal abode of Śrī Jagannātha (a form of Śrī Kṛṣṇa).—Jagannātha is made of dāru (wood) because a dāru image cuts up the miseries of the world and imparts eternal bliss. [...] On the 10th day of Caitra, initial rituals mark the beginning of the yātrā for the search for the dārus, [...] Through the repetition of mantras, Śrī Viṣṇu is asked to assure the party, through a dream with either good or ill omens, as to whether the dāru is acceptable to Him or not. Axes of gold, silver, and iron are smeared with sandal paste, vermillion, ghee, honey, flowers, and worshipped with the astra-mantra. Amidst the chanting of Vedas by local Brahmins, the carpenter class of Daitās, called Mahārāṇās cut the trees, and carefully fashion logs of the prescribed length. The log is stripped of its bark, wrapped in silk, and sent to Puri with a group of 5-7 Daitās.
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
India history and geography
Mahārāṇā.—(EI 21, 24; BL), derived from Mahārāṇaka; feudatory title; later, also a royal title. See Rāṇā and Rāṇaka. Note: mahārāṇā is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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
Mahāraṇa (महारण).—great battle,
Mahāraṇa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and raṇa (रण).
Mahāraṇa (महारण).—[masculine] great battle.
1) Mahāraṇa (महारण):—[=mahā-raṇa] [from mahā > mah] m. a gr° battle, [Āpastamba-śrauta-sūtra [Scholiast or Commentator]; Mahābhārata; Pratāparudrīya]
2) [v.s. ...] [varia lectio] for mahīraṇa, (q.v.), [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
Mahāraṇa (महारण):—[(ma + raṇa)] m. eine grosse Schlacht [Mahābhārata.5,7084.] [PRATĀPAR. 24,b,4.]
Mahāraṇa (महारण):—m. —
1) eine grosse Schlacht Comm. zu [Āpastamba’s Śrautasūtra 10,4,1.] —
2) Nomen proprium v.l. für mahīraṇa [Wilson's Uebersetzung des Viṣṇupurāṇa 2,192.]
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 (+0): Maha, Rana.
Starts with (+0): Maharanaka, Maharanavisharada.
Full-text (+0): Agamya, Mahameru-shri-kirtistambha, Nirmanamandapa, Nirmana, Kumbhalgarh.
Relevant text
Search found 37 books and stories containing Maharana, Maha-rana, Mahā-raṇa, Mahārāṇā, Mahāraṇa; (plurals include: Maharanas, ranas, raṇas, Mahārāṇās, Mahāraṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Indian Antiquary (a journal of oriental research) (by Jas Burgess)
A copper-plate grant from Udaypur < [Volume 4 (1875)]
Are the Marathas Kshatriyas or Shudras? < [Volume 3 (1874)]
Mount Abu (or Arbuda)—“the mount of wisdom” < [Volume 2 (1873)]
Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies
In-Between Biography: Ramacharana’s Shankaradeva and Amar Singh’s Surdas < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 5.1 (2022)]
Canons of Orissan Architecture (by R. Chatterjee)
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
An Account of Nepal from the Vir Vinod of Shyamaldas < [Volume 3, Number 3 (1975)]
Scapula Cosmography and Divination in Tibet < [Volume 18, Number 3-4 (1996)]
Studies in Orissan History, Archaeology and Archives (by Padmasri Paramananda Acharya)
Part 17 - Kasiari inscription Raja Kalyan Mal < [Section B - Papers on the Historical Records]
Part 46 - A short note on Sridhara Swami and Baladeva Vidyabhushana < [Section D - Literary History]
Sanskrit Words In Southeast Asian Languages (by Satya Vrat Shastri)
Page 564 < [Sanskrit words in the Southeast Asian Languages]