Mahasammata, Mahāsammata, Mahāsaṃmata: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Mahasammata 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
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesMahasammata Mahasammata
A king who lived in the beginning of this present age.
The Pali Chronicles (Mhv.ii.1ff.; Dpv.iii.1ff.; MT. 122ff.; also J.ii.311; iii.454, etc.) mention him as the original ancestor of the Sakiyan family, to which the Buddha belonged, and gives a list of the dynasties from his day to the time of the Buddha, to prove that the line was unbroken.
Mahasammata belonged to the Solar Race and is identified with the Bodhisatta, who was born among men after sojourn in the Brahma worlds (MT. 121 f). He was called Mahasammata, because, on the arising of wickedness in the world, he was chosen by the people (sannipatitva samaggajatehi mahajanchi sammannitva kato Mahasammato; MT.122; cp. D.iii.92f.; Mtu.i.248; DhSA. 390, 392) to show indignation against and disapproval of those worthy of blame. In return for his services, he was given a portion of their harvest.
It is said (J.iv.192) that in the dynasty of Mahasammata the idea of meting out punishments, such as torture, fining, expulsion, was unknown. These were invented later with the advance of civilisation!
The Vimanavatthu Commentary (p.15) explains that Mahasammata is the name given in the sacred books (sasane) for Manu. Some, at least, of the Ceylon kings traced their descent from Mahasammata. See, e.g., Cv.xlvii.2.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraMahāsaṃmata (महासंमत) is the name of an ancient king, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 36. The Buddha is of the lineage of Mo-ho-san-mo-t’o (Mahāsaṃmata), the noble Cakravartin king who ruled at the beginning of the kalpa.
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: BDK America: A Forest of Pearls from the Dharma GardenMahāsammata (महासम्मत) is the name of an ancient God, according to the third chapter of the 7th century Fayuan zhulin (“A Forest of Pearls from the Dharma Garden”): a large anthology of excerpts from Buddhist canonical sources and historical records attributed to Daoshi.—Accordingly, as Jyotirasa Bodhisattva replied to the dragons, “In the past, at the beginning of the present age of the wise, there was a god called Mahāsammata. He was unusually handsome and intelligent. He governed with correct conduct and always took pleasure in quiet meditation. Staying away from love and attachment, he always kept himself pure. The king had a queen, who was greedy with sexual desire. Because the king no longer cared for her, she had no way to satisfy her need. [..]”.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryMahāsaṃmata (महासंमत).—(= Pali id.), name of an ancient mythical king, the first king of men in the present world- age: Mahāvyutpatti 3552; (mahatā janakāyena saṃmato iti) Mahā- saṃ° (mss. °samanto, em. Senart) Mahāvastu i.348.4; in 8 one ms. correctly Mahāsaṃmatasya, Senart with v.l. Saṃ- matasya (om. mahā); in ii.146.19 mss. °samanto, em. Senart; Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya i.3.6.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahāsammata (महासम्मत):—[=mahā-sammata] [from mahā > mah] m. ‘highly honoured’, (with Buddhists) Name of the first king of the present age of the world
2) [v.s. ...] of a Turkish chief, [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)
Partial matches: Maha, Sammata.
Full-text (+136): Kalyana, Mahamucala, Navaratha, Mucala, Patapa, Maharuci, Mahaneru, Roca, Mahakusa, Mahapatapa, Accima, Sagaradeva, Bharata, Hatthipura, Cittadassi, Sagara, Sihavahana, Ajitajana, Angiras, Mahapanada.
Relevant text
Search found 15 books and stories containing Mahasammata, Mahāsammata, Mahāsaṃmata, Maha-sammata, Mahā-sammata; (plurals include: Mahasammatas, Mahāsammatas, Mahāsaṃmatas, sammatas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Blue Annals (deb-ther sngon-po) (by George N. Roerich)
Chapter 2 - The genealogy of Mahāsammata < [Book 1 - The beginning of the story of the Doctrine]
Mahavamsa (by Wilhelm Geiger)
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Part 7 - A Brief History of the Royal Lineage of the Bodhisatta < [Chapter 1 - The Story of Sataketu Deva, The Future Buddha]
(5) Fifth Pāramī: The Perfection of Energy (vīriya-pāramī) < [Chapter 6 - On Pāramitā]
(6) Sixth Pāramī: The Perfection of Forbearance (khantī-pāramī) < [Chapter 6 - On Pāramitā]
Tibet (Myth, Religion and History) (by Tsewang Gyalpo Arya)
5. Early Bon and Later Buddhist -Amalgamation < [Chapter 3 - Nyatri Tsanpo; The First King of Tibet]
4. Nyatri Tsanpo as descendant of Indian Shakya kings < [Chapter 3 - Nyatri Tsanpo; The First King of Tibet]
The Tattvasangraha [with commentary] (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 748-749 < [Chapter 13 - Examination of Sāmānya (the ‘universal’)]
Verse 1496-1497 < [Chapter 19a - Other forms and means of Knowledge (A): Verbal cognition]
Verse 1787-1790 < [Chapter 21 - Examination of the doctrine of ‘Traikālya’]
A Historical Study of Kaushambi (by Nirja Sharma)
Kaushambi in Ancient Literature < [Chapter 2]