Mahasattva, Mahāsattva, Maha-sattva: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Mahasattva 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)
Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व) refers to “big animals”, and is used to describe the mountain Kailāsa (the auspicious excellent mountainous abode of Śiva), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.40.—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] accompanied by the gods, sages, Brahmā and others Viṣṇu went to Kailāsa, the auspicious excellent mountainous abode of Śiva. [...] Kailāsa was infested with big animals (i.e., mahāsattva), tigers and others who were free from cruelty. It was of divine nature endowed with shining brilliance. It inspired great surprise and wonder”.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व) refers to “one who has immense energy” and is used to describe Garuḍa, according to the second chapter of the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā (Toxicology).—Accordingly, text text dictates that a Garuḍa-upāsaka, the aspirant, must meditate on Garuḍa of the following form—[...] Garuḍa, seated on a lotus, adorned with these ornaments [i.e., the eight divine serpents], has huge wings and immense energy (mahāsattva). Garuḍa of smiling countenance, blazes with eight shoulders adorned by the weapons - conch, discus, nectar-pot, serpent, mace, and sword and two hands reaching out to the feet of the Lord.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Mahāsattvā (महासत्त्वा) refers to “(those female practitioners) possessing great spirit”, according to the Brahmayāmala (or Picumata): a 7th century goddess-oriented (Śākta) Tantra writtin in 12,000 metrical verses.—Accordingly, “Obtained by the command of the Guru, lovely, possessing the marks of auspiciousness, who has mastered the sitting postures, possessing great spirit (mahāsattvā), purified by the true essence of the Tantras, devoted to the guru , the deity, and her husband, unfatigued by hunger and thirst, ever steeped in non-duality, free of discriminative thoughts and lust, well-versed in trance, Yoga, and scriptural wisdom, steadfast in the observances: after obtaining [a woman like] her, a man of great wisdom should practice what is taught in his ritual manual”.
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व).—According to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter IX), what is a Mahāsattva?
1) Mahā means great, and sattva means being or bravery. The person who is able to accomplish a great work without regressing or turning back in his bravery is called Mahāsattva.
2) Moreover, he is called Mahāsattva because he is the chief of many beings.
3) Furthermore, he is called Mahāsattva because he feels great loving kindness (mahāmaitrī) amd great compassion (mahākaruṇā) for many beings; he establishes them in the Greater Vehicle, he travels the great Path (mahāmārga) and attains a very high place.
4) Furthermore, he is called Mahāsattva because he is endowed with the marks of the Great Man (mahāpuruṣa-lakṣaṇa).
5. Furthermore, he is called Mahāsattva because he must preach the Dharma and destroy the great wrong views (mithyādṛṣṭi) and the afflictions (kleśa), such as great craving (mahātṛṣṇā), pride (abhimāna), great attachment to the self (ātmasneha), etc., in all others as well as in himself.
6. Finally, like the great ocean (mahāsamudra), beings (sattva) are without beginning and without end. A skillful teacher of arithmetic (gaṇanācārya) who would keep track for numberless years would not reach the end of them. The Bodhisattva wishes to save them all, free them all from suffering and establish them all in the happiness of unconditioned safety. He is called Mahasattva because he has made this great resolution to save these numerous beings.
The Bodhisattvas are called Mahāsattva because they make the great vow (mahāpraṇidhāna), because they want to do the great work and because they want to arrive at the great place.
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)
Mahasattva:—A great being.
Mahāsattva, (lit: "great being"), is a great Bodhisattva practicing the Buddhism for a long time and reaching a very high level on the path to awakening (bodhi), generally refers to the Bodhisattvas who have reached at least the seventh ground of the ten Bodhisattvas' grounds (bodhisattvānām daśabhūmīḥ).
The eight most famous Mahāsattvas are
- Mañjuśrī,
- Samantabhadra,
- Avalokiteśvara,
- Mahāsthāmaprāpta,
- Âkāśagarbha (Akasagarbha),
- Kṣitigarbha,
- Maitreya
- and Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin (Sarvanivarana-Vishkambhin).
etymology: The translation of the word Mahāsattva in Chinese is móhé sāduò (摩诃萨埵) (simplified: móhésà 摩诃萨) and dàshì (大士), in Japanese, makasatsu or daishi.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व).—a.
1) noble.
2) very strong or powerful.
3) just, righteous. (-ttvaḥ) 1 a large animal.
2) Name of Sākyamuni.
3) an epithet of Kubera.
Mahāsattva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and sattva (सत्त्व).
Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व).—m. (1) ‘great Being’, standard epithet of Bodhisattvas: Mahāvyutpatti 626 et passim (very often follows bodhisattva); (2) name of a prince, hero of Vyāghrīparivarta (chapter 18) of Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra: Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 206.13 ff. Several times in the verse version, 225.11, 234.13, 238.14, Mahāsattva-varo (°varaḥ) is printed as if a [compound], tho the name otherwise appears as Mahāsattva also in verses, e.g. 226.6 etc.; perhaps better division would be Mahāsattva (m.c. for °vo, °vaḥ) plus (adj.) varaḥ.
Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व).—adj. good, virtuous, [Hitopadeśa] 100, 12.
Mahāsattva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and sattva (सत्त्व).
Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व).—1. [masculine] great creature or being.
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Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व).—2. [adjective] great-minded, noble, virtuous, courageous; [abstract] tā [feminine]
1) Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व):—[=mahā-sat-tva] [from mahā > mah] m. a gr° creature, large animal, [Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] n. = -sat-tā above, [Upaniṣad]
3) [v.s. ...] mfn. steady, constant (See -tā below)
4) [v.s. ...] n. having a gr° or noble essence, noble, good (of persons; with Buddhists, Name of a Bodhi-sattva), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
5) [v.s. ...] extremely courageous, [Mahābhārata; Kathāsaritsāgara]
6) [v.s. ...] containing large animals (See -tā below)
7) [v.s. ...] m. a Buddha, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) [v.s. ...] Name of Kubera, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] of Gautama Buddha as heir to the throne, [Buddhist literature]
Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व):—1. (ma + sa) m. ein grosses Geschöpf, lebendes Wesen [Mahābhārata 1, 2629.] vadha [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 40, 25 (41, 27 Gorresio).]
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Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व):—2. (wie eben)
1) adj. ein grosses d. i. edles Wesen habend, edel (von Personen): ko hi nāma mahāsattvaḥ pūrvamādharṣitaḥ paraiḥ . dīnaṃ vacanamādadyāt [Rāmāyaṇa.5,85,16.] [Mahābhārata.3,14339.] [Kathāsaritsāgara 37,75. 45,408. 56,165 320. 342. 61,312. 65,10. 13. 45. 72,224.] [SOM. NALA 83.] [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 60,15] [Oxforder Handschriften 52,b,21.] [Pañcatantra ed. orn. 56,9] (ati) . [64, 1.] [Hitopadeśa 100. 12.] [Sāhityadarpana 66.] mahāsattvo harṣaśokādyanabhibhūtasvabhāvaḥ [32, 21.] Bei den Buddhisten stehendes Beiwort von bodhisattva [Burnouf 465. 477.] Nach [BURNOUF] grand être oder grande créature. = buddha [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 80.] —
2) m. a) Beiname Kuvera's [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 38]; vgl. mahāsanna . — b) N. Śākyamuni’s als Thronerben [Burnouf 535.] [Hiouen-Thsang 1, 164.]
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Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व):—2.
1) Beiw. von Elephanten [Mahābhārata 3, 12380.]
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Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व):—3. n. nom. abstr. von mahā sant oder fehlerhaft für mahāsattvatva n. nom. abstr. von 2. mahāsattva [Weber’s Indische Studien 9, 154.]
Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व):—1. m. ein grosses Geschöpf , — lebendes Wesen.
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Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व):—2. —
1) Adj. — a) charakterfest. — b) ein grosses , d.i. edles Wesen habend , edel (Person). Bei den Buddhisten stehendes Beiw. von bodhisatva. — c) überaus muthig [110,29.] [Mahābhārata 3,178,18.] — d) grosse Thiere in sich bergend. —
2) m. — a) *ein Buddha. — b) *Beiname Kubera's. — c) Name Śākyamuni’s als Thronerben.
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Mahāsattva (महासत्त्व):—3. n. = mahāsatā.
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: Tva, Von, Maha, De, Sattva, Te, Mahasattva.
Starts with: Mahasattvakumararaja, Mahasattvata, Mahasattvavadha.
Full-text (+213): Mahasattvata, Pu sa da shi, Mo he sa duo, Pu sa mo he sa, Mahasattvavadha, Mo he sa, Mo he sha tou, Mahasattvakumararaja, Mo he sa duo wang zi, Ma ha sa du ya, Dashi, Asattvasthayin, Da dao xin, Sumahasattva, Ummangajataka, Mahasanna, Da pu sa, Dhirodatta, Dharmadeshana, Anantacaritra.
Relevant text
Search found 51 books and stories containing Mahasattva, De mahasattva, Mahā-sattva, Maha-sattva, Mahā-sattvā, Mahāsat-tva, Mahasat-tva, Mahāsattva, Mahāsattvā, Mahasattva's, Mahasattvan, Mahasattvas, Von mahasattva; (plurals include: Mahasattvas, De mahasattvas, sattvas, sattvās, tvas, Mahāsattvas, Mahāsattvās, Mahasattva'ses, Mahasattvans, Mahasattvases, Von mahasattvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
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