Mahashankha, Mahāśaṅkha, Maha-shankha, Mahashamkha: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Mahashankha means something in 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.
The Sanskrit term Mahāśaṅkha can be transliterated into English as Mahasankha or Mahashankha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Mahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख).—A crocodile celebrated in the Purāṇas. He had a wife named Śaṅkhinī. The seven children born to Śaṅkhinī became the Maruts in the Svārociṣa Manvantara. There is a story in Chapter 72, Vāmana Purāṇa about these children who became Maruts.
Ṛtadhvaja, son of Svārociṣa Manu had seven heroic sons. They went to Mahāmeru and began to worship Brahmā for gaining Indra’s place. Indra was alarmed. He sent the Apsarā woman Pūtanā to the sons of Ṛtadhvaja to obstruct their tapas. There was a river flowing by the side of their āśrama. Ṛtadhvaja’s sons came to the river to take their bath. Just at that time, Pūtanā also came there and began to take bath. At her sight, the young men had an involuntary emission of semen. Śaṅkhinī, wife of the crocodile Mahāśaṅkha swallowed it. The princes whose tapas was interrupted returned to the palace. Pūtanā returned to Indra and reported the matter.
After some years, Śaṅkhinī happened to be caught in a fisherman’s net. The fisherman caught her and informed Ṛtadhvaja’s sons about his catch. They took her to the palace and put her in a tank there. In due course Śaṅkhinī gave birth to seven children. Immediately after that she attained mokṣa. The children began to cry for mother’s milk, moving about in the water. Then Brahmā appeared to them and told them not to cry and assured them that they would become the Devas of "Vāyu Skandha". He took them up to the sky and put them in Vāyuskandha. These children were the Maruts of the Svārociṣa Manvantara.
2) Mahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख).—A Nāga. Bhāgavata, 10th Skandha says that this Nāga revolves along with the sun in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख).—A chief Nāga of Pātāla; a thousand hooded snake; presiding over the month, saha.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 24. 31; XII. 11. 41; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 40.
Mahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.36.20) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Mahāśaṅkha) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstraMahāśankha (महाशन्ख) is the name of an Ayurvedic recipe defined in the fourth volume of the Rasajalanidhi (chapter 4, ajīrṇa: indigestion). 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., mahāśankha-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)
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramMahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख) refers to a “great conch”, according to the Kularatnoddyota, one of the earliest Kubjikā Tantras.—Accordingly, “That, O goddess, is said to be the subtle (form), now listen to the gross one. [...] The great conch (she holds) makes her proud [i.e., mahāśaṅkha-kṛt-āṭopā] and the beauty (rūpa) of her crown enhances her beauty. (She is) adorned with a garland of severed heads that extends from the soles of the feet up to (her) neck. She drips with the blood that flows (from the heads) and is fatigued by the weight of her (dangling) rocking hair. Very fierce, she destroys (the universe) by licking (it up). She has big teeth and a thin stomach. She has long (dangling) breasts and a large chest. Her furious form is (lean) without flesh. She has six faces and twelve arms and her back is slightly bent”.
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.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Source: archive.org: Hindu MathematicsMahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख) refers to “ten quintillion” (10,000,000,000,000,000,000) in various lists of numeral denominations, according to gaṇita (“science of calculation”) and Gaṇita-śāstra, ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy.—We can definitely say that from the very earliest known times, ten has formed the basis of numeration in India. While the Greeks had no terminology for denominations above the myriad (104), and the Romans above the milk (103), the ancient Hindus dealt freely with no less than eighteen denominations [e.g., mahāśaṅkha]. Cf. Yajurveda-saṃhitā (Vājasanyī) XVII.2; Taittirīya-saṃhitā IV.40.11, VII.2.20.1; Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā II.8.14; Kāṭhaka-saṃhitā XVII.10, XXXIX.6; Anuyogadvāra-sūtra 142; Āryabhaṭīya II.2; Triśatikā R.2-3; Gaṇitasārasaṃgraha I.63-68.
Ganitashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, gaṇitaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख).—
1) a great conch-shell; पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं (pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahāśaṅkhaṃ) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 1.15; महाशङ्खमयी माला ताराविद्याजपे प्रिया (mahāśaṅkhamayī mālā tārāvidyājape priyā) Tantra.
2) the temporal bone, forehead.
3) a human bone.
4) a particular high number.
5) one of Kubera's treasures.
Derivable forms: mahāśaṅkhaḥ (महाशङ्खः).
Mahāśaṅkha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and śaṅkha (शङ्ख).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख).—m.
(-ṅkhaḥ) 1. A human bone. 2. The forehead. 3. A thousand millions. 4. One of Kuvera'S Nidhis or treasures. 5. A great conch-shell. E. mahā great, śaṅkha a shell, a number, &c.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख).—m. 1. the forehead. 2. a thousand millions. 3. one of Kuvera's treasures.
Mahāśaṅkha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and śaṅkha (शङ्ख).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख).—[masculine] a great conch-shell.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख):—[=mahā-śaṅkha] [from mahā > mah] m. a great conch-shell, [Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] the temporal bone, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] a human bone, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] a [particular] high number (= 10 Nikharvas), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] one of Kubera’s treasures, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] Name of a serpent-demon, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
7) [v.s. ...] mn. the frontal bone, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāśaṅkha (महाशङ्ख):—[mahā-śaṅkha] (ṅkhaḥ) 1. m. A human bone; the forehead; 1,000 millions; a treasure of Kuvera or Plutus.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMahāśaṃkha (ಮಹಾಶಂಖ):—
1) [noun] the forehead.
2) [noun] any of the human bones.
3) [noun] (myth.) one of of the nine treasures of Kubēra, the Regent of Wealth.
4) [noun] a cardinal number (1 followed by nineteen zeros).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Maha, Shankha.
Starts with: Mahashankhamalasamskara, Mahashankhamaya, Mahashankhanatha, Mahashankhanathalokeshvara, Mahashankhayana.
Full-text: Mahashankhamaya, Mahashankhamalasamskara, Shankhini, Mahashanku, Mahashaikh, Bhimakarman, Vrikodara, Makacankam, Paundra, Atopa.
Relevant text
Search found 10 books and stories containing Mahashankha, Mahā-śaṅkha, Maha-sankha, Maha-shankha, Mahāśaṃkha, Mahasamkha, Mahāśaṅkha, Mahasankha, Mahāśankha, Mahashamkha; (plurals include: Mahashankhas, śaṅkhas, sankhas, shankhas, Mahāśaṃkhas, Mahasamkhas, Mahāśaṅkhas, Mahasankhas, Mahāśankhas, Mahashamkhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 4: Iatrochemistry (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 21 - Treatment for indigestion (19): Mahashankha rasa < [Chapter IV - Irregularity of the digesting heat]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)
Lineages of Kaśyapa < [Chapter 6 - Human history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Manasara (English translation) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 6 - Birth of Devas, Daityas, Birds and Serpents etc. < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]