Maharashtra, Mahārāṣṭra, Maha-rashtra: 22 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Kavya
3. Pancaratra
4. Ganapatya
5. Shaktism
6. General definition
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
In Jainism
1. General definition
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Maharashtra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. 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.

The Sanskrit term Mahārāṣṭra can be transliterated into English as Maharastra or Maharashtra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र).—(c)—a southern kingdom.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 16. 57; Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 125.

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.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: archive.org: Aspects of Bengal society: Ship-building and commerce

Maharastra is the name of an ancient city mentioned by the author of the Kavikankan’s Chandikāvya pp. 195-202.—Accordingly, after the performance of the usual ceremonies before sailing, the merchant Dhanapati passed the following places: [...]—all by the side of the Ganges. Then he reached the very celebrated inland port of Bengal known as Saptagram near the Tribeni. The poet here incidentally praised this port and gave it a superiour place among the following ports and places: [e.g., Maharastra, etc...]. According to the poet the merchants of the above places visit Saptagram but the merchants of Saptagram do never visit those ports and places.

Source: Shodhganga: The Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र) is the name a locality mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—In ancient times it was called by Daṇdakāranya. It is the Mārāthā country or the country watered by the upper Godāvarī or the land lying between this river and the Kṛṣṇā.

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: eScholarship: Chapters 1-14 of the Hayasirsa Pancaratra

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र) is the name of an ancient region, coming from there represents an undesirable characteristic of an Ācārya, according to the 9th-century Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra Ādikāṇḍa chapter 3.—The Lord said:—“I will tell you about the Sthāpakas endowed with perverse qualities. He should not construct a temple with those who are avoided in this Tantra. [...] Nor originating in Kāmarūpa or Kaliṅga, or Kāñcī, Kāśmīra or Kośala, nor one having bad behavior, bad company or come from Mahārāṣṭra. [...] A god enshrined by any of these named above (viz., mahārāṣṭra), is in no manner a giver of fruit. If a building for Viṣṇu is made anywhere by these excluded types (viz., mahārāṣṭra) then that temple will not give rise to enjoyment and liberation and will yield no reward, of this there is no doubt”.

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

Ganapatya (worship of Ganesha)

Source: om.ru: Ashtavinayak (8 temples of Ganesha)

Maharashtra refers to a state in central India.—In Maharashtra there are eight revered temples dedicated to Vinayaka (eight images of Ganapati). Among the many holy abodes of God Ganesha, these eight places are considered especially important and beneficial for fulfilling the desires of his devotees. Temples “Ashta Vinayaka” are located around Pune. Just as the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva and fifty-two Shakti Pithis Devi are considered sacred, so the eight self-manifested abodes of Ganesha are considered sacred.

context information

Ganapatya (गाणपत्य, gāṇapatya) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Ganesha is revered and worshipped as the prime deity (ishta-devata). Being a minor though influential movement, Ganapatya evovled, llike Shaktism and Shaivism, as a separate movement leaving behind a large body of literature.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र) is mentioned as the birth-place of Mudrāsphoṭa—one of the Sixteen Siddhas according to the Kubjikānityāhnikatilaka: a derative text drawing from Tantras and other sources such as the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā.—These sixteen spiritual teachers represent the disciples of the Nine Nāthas who propagated the Western Transmission noted in the Kubjikā Tantras.—Mudrāsphoṭa is the Caryā name of this Nātha (i.e., the public name the Siddha uses when living as a wandering renouncer). He is associated withe with the birth-place known as Mahārāṣṭra (alternatively, Koṭara).

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: archive.org: Indian Historical Quarterly Vol. 7

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र) is the name of a country classified as both Hādi and Kādi (two types of Tantrik division), according to the 13th century Sammoha-tantra (fol. 7).—There are ample evidences to prove that the zone of heterodox Tantras went far beyond the natural limits of India. [...] The zones in the Sammoha-tantra [viz., Mahārāṣṭra] are here fixed according to two different Tantrik modes, known as Kādi and Hādi.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र) (in Chinese: Mo-ho-lo-tch'a) refers to one of the fifty-five kingdoms enumerated in chapter 17 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—In the Candragarbhasūtra, the Bhagavat invites all classes of Gods and Deities to protect the Law [dharma?] and the faithful in their respective districts.—In Mahārāṣṭra, the following deities are appointed (among others): The Devaputra Mayūrakeśa [?]; the Kinnara Kṣīrarasa [?] the Asura Nandiratna [?]; the Yakṣas Ajapada and Kunāla; the Kumbhāṇḍa Padmaka; the Goddess Varuṇī.

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र) (in Chinese: Mo-ho-lo-tch'a) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Mṛgaśiras or Mṛgaśirasnakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18.

context information

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र) is the name of an ancient country, according to chapter 2.4 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly:—“'Then the King set out following the path of the cakra-jewel to the west, obscuring the sun by the dust of the army. [...]; making the Mahārāṣṭras abandon their realms, like beggars in rags; [...] the King gradually arrived at the shore of the western ocean. After he had established camp, concentrating on Prabhāsa, observing a three days’ fast, he began pauṣadha in the pauṣadha-house. [...]”.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: India History

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र) is the name of a country included within Dakṣiṇapatha which was situated to the south of the Vindhyas according to the Yādavaprakāśa. Dakṣiṇāpatha is a place-name ending is patha mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Mahārāṣṭra as included within Dakṣiṇapatha is also mentioned by Rājaśekhara (fl. 10th century) in his Kāvyamīmāṃsā (chapter 17) who places Dakṣiṇapatha ahead of Māhiṣmatī.

Source: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-katha (history)

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र) is the name of a country included in an international list of students participating in universities of ancient India, as depicted in the Kathās (narrative poems) such as Uddyotanasūri in his 8th-century Kuvalayamālā (a Prakrit Campū, similar to Kāvya poetry).—Page 150.17 f. & 151.1-5: There is described an educational institution which included students from [e.g., Mahārāṣṭra] [...]. The courses of study comprised Vyākaraṇa, Buddhism, Sāṃkhya, Nyāya, Anekānta or Jaina and Lokāyata or Cārvāka philosophies. At another place (151.6-11) the prince came across persons who cultivated the seventy-two arts and sixty-four sciences, [...].

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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र).—n m (S The great country.) The country of the Maraṭhas; bounded on the north by the Narmada river, on the south and east by the Carnatic and Telinga, and on the west by the ocean. 2 Used as a Relating to it--people, language, customs.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र).—'the great kingdom', Name of a country in the west of India, the country of the Marāṭhās.

2) the people of Mahārāṣṭra; the Marāṭhās (pl.).

-ṣṭrī Name of the principal Prākṛta; dialect, the language of the people of the Mahārāṣṭra; cf. Daṇḍin:-महाराष्ट्राश्रयां भाषां प्रकृष्टं प्राकृतं विदुः (mahārāṣṭrāśrayāṃ bhāṣāṃ prakṛṣṭaṃ prākṛtaṃ viduḥ) Kāv.1.34.

Derivable forms: mahārāṣṭraḥ (महाराष्ट्रः).

Mahārāṣṭra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and rāṣṭra (राष्ट्र).

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

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र).—n.

(-ṣṭraṃ) A country in the west of India, that of the original Mahrattas. f. (-ṣṭrī) A dialect, Mahratta. E. mahā and rāṣṭra kingdom.

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

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र).—[masculine] [plural] the Mahrattas; [feminine] ī the language of the [Middle]

--- OR ---

Māhārāṣṭra (माहाराष्ट्र).—[feminine] ī belonging to the Mahrattas; [feminine] ī the [Middle] language.

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

1) Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र):—[=mahā-rāṣṭra] [from mahā > mah] m. [plural] the Marāṭha people, commonly called Mahrattas, [Varāha-mihira; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa] etc.

2) [=mahā-rāṣṭra] [from mahā > mah] n. a gr° kingdom, gr° country, ([especially]) the land of the Marāṭhas in the west of India, [Horace H. Wilson]

3) [v.s. ...] a kind of metre, [Colebrooke]

4) Māhārāṣṭra (माहाराष्ट्र):—[=māhā-rāṣṭra] [from māhā] mf(ī)n. ([from] mahā-r) belonging to the Marāṭhas

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

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र):—[mahā-rāṣṭra] (ṣṭraṃ) 1. n. The Mahratta country. f. (ṣṭrī) Its dialect.

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

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Marahaṭṭha.

[Sanskrit to German]

Maharashtra 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Mahārāṣṭra (महाराष्ट्र):—(nm) the south-western Indian state comprising the marathi:-speaking areas of the country; ~[rāṣṭrīya] belonging, pertaining or relating to Maharashtra.

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Mahārāṣṭra (ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರ):—

1) [noun] a vast nation or country.

2) [noun] name of a state in Western India, having Mumbai as its capital.

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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Appendix 9 - Chart of Ethnic Data provided by Various Puranas