Mahashakti, Maha-shakti, Mahāśakti: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Mahashakti 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.
The Sanskrit term Mahāśakti can be transliterated into English as Mahasakti or Mahashakti, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationMahāśakti (महाशक्ति) refers to a “spear” (given by Agni), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.5 (“Kārttikeya is crowned”).—Accordingly, after the Kṛttikās spoke to Kārttikeya: “[...] Then Śiva, the lord of the universe, following the worldly convention delightedly placed Kārttikeya on a beautiful gemset throne. [...] Agni lovingly gave him a spear (mahāśakti); Nirṛti his own weapon and the wind his own weapon. Kubera gave him a mace; Śiva a spear; the gods different kinds of weapons and implements. The delighted lord of Kāma gave him the weapon of love, a club and his own lore with great pleasure. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMahāśakti (महाशक्ति).—A son of Mādrī.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 61. 15.
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)
Source: Pure Bhakti: Brahma-samhitaMahāśakti (महाशक्ति) refers to—Great potency.
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
Source: Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts, volume 3, part 1: SaduktikarnamritaMahāśakti (महाशक्ति) is the name of a Poet mentioned in the 13th century Saduktikarṇāmrita by Śrīdhara Dāsa (son of Vaṭu Dāsa) who was a chief over several districts (called a mahāmaṇḍalika).—The Sadukti-Karnamrita is a collection of miscellaneous verses by different authors and on various subjects, five verses being devoted to each subject. There are 446 poets identified (for example, Mahāśakti) some of which in the feminine gender (intended for females) while others are of Buddhist monks etc.
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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahāśakti (महाशक्ति).—
1) an epithet of Śiva.
2) of Kārtikeya.
Derivable forms: mahāśaktiḥ (महाशक्तिः).
Mahāśakti is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and śakti (शक्ति).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryMahāśakti (महाशक्ति).—name of a yakṣa (or gandharva?): Mahā-Māyūrī 237.4.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāśakti (महाशक्ति).—m.
(-ktiḥ) 1. Kartikeya, the martial deity of the Hindus. 2. Siva. E. mahā great, śakti power.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumMahāśakti (महाशक्ति) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—poet. [Sūktikarṇāmṛta by Śrīdharadāsa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahāśakti (महाशक्ति):—[=mahā-śakti] [from mahā > mah] mfn. very powerful or mighty (said of Śiva), [Śivagītā, ascribed to the padma-purāṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] m. Name of Kārttikeya, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] of a son of Kṛṣṇa, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
4) [v.s. ...] of a poet, [Catalogue(s)]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāśakti (महाशक्ति):—[mahā-śakti] (ktiḥ) 2. f. Kārtikeya, the martial deity of the Hindus.
[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.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryMahāśakti (महाशक्ति):—n. a superpower; adj. very powerful; mighty;
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: Shakti, Maha.
Starts with: Mahashaktinyasa.
Full-text: Mahashaktinyasa, Makacatti.
Relevant text
Search found 28 books and stories containing Mahashakti, Maha shaktis, Mahā-śakti, Maha-sakti, Maha-shakti, Mahāśakti, Mahasakti; (plurals include: Mahashaktis, Maha shaktises, śaktis, saktis, shaktis, Mahāśaktis, Mahasaktis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Ceator or Creation < [April – June, 1986]
Sententiae < [March-April 1931]
Subramania Bharati and Sri Aurobindo < [April – June, 1982]
Glimpses of History of Sanskrit Literature (by Satya Vrat Shastri)
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 71 [Turīya-pāda] < [Chapter 2 - Second Vimarśa]
Verse 72 [Turīya-Pāda, state beyond and above existence] < [Chapter 2 - Second Vimarśa]
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 1076: Bhairavi is Maha Sakti < [Tantra Four (nankam tantiram) (verses 884-1418)]
Verse 1184: Bhoga Maha Sakti Confers Grace From Within < [Tantra Four (nankam tantiram) (verses 884-1418)]
Verse 1056: Tiripurai is Power That Sustains < [Tantra Four (nankam tantiram) (verses 884-1418)]