Maharudra, Mahārudra, Maha-rudra: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Maharudra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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)
1) Mahārudra (महारुद्र) is another name for Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.23 (“Outraging the modesty of Vṛndā”).—Accordingly, after Śiva spoke to the Daityas: “Śiva split the arrows swiftly, the powerful Daitya hit the bull with an iron club. Due to that blow the bull turned away from the battle-field. Even when dragged by Śiva it did not stand there. Then the great Śiva (mahārudra) put forth an unbearable splendour visible to all in the battle field. O great sage, this is true. [...]”.
2) Mahārudra (महारुद्र) refers to a group of “eleven Mahārudras” (fighting in the army of Śiva), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.36 (“Mutual fight”).—Accordingly: “[As the war between Śiva and Śaṅkhacūḍa started]: The mutual fight between the gods and the Dānavas ensued. Both the hosts of the gods and the Dānavas fought righteously. [...] The eleven Mahārudras [i.e., ekādaśamahārudra] fought with the eleven terrible Asuras of great power and valour. Mahāmaṇi fought with Ugracaṇḍa and others. The god Moon fought with Rāhu and Jīva fought with Śukra. Nandīśvara and the rest fought with leading Dānavas in the great battle. This is not being explained separately. [...]”.
Mahārudra (महारुद्र).—A mantra sacred to the Piṭrs: an epithet of Śiva.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 22. 34; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 33. 84; 34. 1, 50-1.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)
Mahārudra (महारुद्र) or Mahārudrarasa is the name of a Ayurvedic recipe defined in the fifth volume of the Rasajalanidhi (chapter 24, Apasmara: epilepsy). These remedies are classified as Iatrochemistry and form part of the ancient Indian science known as Rasaśāstra (medical alchemy). However, since it is an ayurveda treatment it should be taken with caution and in accordance with rules laid down in the texts.
Accordingly, when using such recipes (e.g., mahārudra-rasa): “the minerals (uparasa), poisons (viṣa), and other drugs (except herbs), referred to as ingredients of medicines, are to be duly purified and incinerated, as the case may be, in accordance with the processes laid out in the texts.” (see introduction to Iatro chemical medicines)
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Mahārudra (महारुद्र) or Mahārudrataila refers to one of the topics discussed in the Yogāmṛta, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 4 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (first series)” by Rajendralal Mitra (1822–1891), who was one of the first English-writing historians dealing with Indian culture and heritage.—The Yogāmṛta is a large Ayurvedic compilation dealing with the practice of medicine and therapeutics authored by Gopāla Sena, Kavirāja, of Dvārandhā. It is dated to the 18th century and contains 11,700 ślokas.—The catalogue includes the term—Mahārudra-taila in its subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads: mahārudratailaṃ .
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Mahārudra (महारुद्र).— The mahārudra are a group of celestial beings living in the lower regions of adholoka (lower world) according to Jaina cosmology. Adholoka is made up of seven regions and offers residence to the infernal beings existing within these lands.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Mahārudra (महारुद्र).—a form of Śiva.
Derivable forms: mahārudraḥ (महारुद्रः).
Mahārudra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and rudra (रुद्र).
Mahārudra (महारुद्र) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—(?): Kālajñāna med. B. 4, 220.
1) Mahārudra (महारुद्र):—[=mahā-rudra] [from mahā > mah] m. ‘gr° Rudra’, a form of Śiva, [Catalogue(s)]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of an author (?), [Catalogue(s)]
3) Mahārudrā (महारुद्रा):—[=mahā-rudrā] [from mahā-rudra > mahā > mah] f. a form of Durgā, [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]
Mahārudra (महारुद्र):—
1) m. (ma + rudra) der grosse Rudra, eine Form Śiva’s [Weber’s Verzeichniss No. 1282. fg.] [Oxforder Handschriften 89,b,34.] —
2) f. ī eine Form der Durgā [WILSON, Sel. Works 2, 38]; wohl fehlerhaft für mahāraudrī .
Mahārudra (महारुद्र):——
1) m. eine Form Śiva's. —
2) f. ā eine Form der Durgā [Hemādri’s Caturvargacintāmaṇi 1,63,13.] —
3) f. ī desgl. Richtig wohl radrī.
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.
Nepali dictionary
Mahārudra (महारुद्र):—n. Mythol. an epithet of Shiva;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Maha, Rudra.
Starts with (+0): Maharudrajapahomapujapaddhati, Maharudrajapavidhi, Maharudrakarmakalapapaddhati, Maharudramrityunja, Maharudramrityunja, Maharudranyasa, Maharudranyasapaddhati, Maharudrapaddhati, Maharudrapithadevata, Maharudraprayoga, Maharudraprayogapaddhati, Maharudrapuja, Maharudrasimha, Maharudrataila, Maharudravidhana, Maharudravidhi, Maharudrayajnapaddhati.
Full-text (+193): Maharudraprayoga, Maharudravidhi, Maharudrasimha, Maharudrapaddhati, Ekadashamaharudra, Maharaudra, Maharudrajapavidhi, Maharudranyasapaddhati, Maharudraprayogapaddhati, Maharudrakarmakalapapaddhati, Maharudrapithadevata, Maharudramrityunja, Maharudrataila, Maharudri, Makaruttirar, Aditi, Bhima, Danu, Kesini, Mahakali.
Relevant text
Search found 36 books and stories containing Maharudra, Maha-rudra, Mahā-rudra, Mahā-rudrā, Mahārudra, Mahārudrā; (plurals include: Maharudras, rudras, rudrās, Mahārudras, Mahārudrās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 72 < [Volume 15 (1913)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 36 - Mutual fight < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 39 - The annihilation of the army of Śaṅkhacūḍa < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 70 < [Bengali-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Lalitopakhyana (Lalita Mahatmya) (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 34 - The Region of Śiva and of the guardians of quarters
Bhagavad-gita (with Vaishnava commentaries) (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 7.26 < [Chapter 7 - Vijñāna-Yoga (Yoga through Realization of Transcendental Knowledge)]