Mahashiras, Mahāśiras, Maha-shiras: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Mahashiras 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.
The Sanskrit term Mahāśiras can be transliterated into English as Mahasiras or Mahashiras, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Mahāśiras (महाशिरस्).—An ancient sage. In Mahābhārata. Sabhā Parva, Chapter 4, Verse 10 we find that this sage shone in the assembly of Dharmaputra.
2) Mahāśiras (महाशिरस्).—A Nāga. Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 9 states that this Nāga worships Varuṇa in Varuṇa’s assembly.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraMahāśiras (महाशिरस्) is the father of Puruṣapuṇḍarīka: one of the nine black Vāsudevas, according to chapter 1.6 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly: “[...] There will be nine black Vāsudevas, enjoyers of three parts of the earth, with half so much power as the Cakrins. [...] In Cakrapurī, Puruṣapuṇḍarīka, in the interval between Ara and Malli, son of Lakṣmīvatī and Mahāśiras, nineteen bows tall, living for sixty-five thousand years, will go to the sixth hell”.
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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahāśiras (महाशिरस्).—m. a kind of serpent.
Mahāśiras is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and śiras (शिरस्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāśiras (महाशिरस्).—[adjective] large-headed.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahāśiras (महाशिरस्):—[=mahā-śiras] [from mahā > mah] mfn. large-headed, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] m. a kind of serpent, [Suśruta]
3) [v.s. ...] a species of lizard, [ib.]
4) [v.s. ...] Name of a Dānava, [Mahābhārata]
5) [v.s. ...] of a man, [ib.]
[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, Shiras.
Full-text: Mahashirodhara, Mahashirahsamudbhava, Purushapundarika, Mahashura, Pundarika.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Mahashiras, Mahāśiras, Maha-shiras, Mahā-śiras, Mahasiras, Maha-siras; (plurals include: Mahashirases, Mahāśirases, shirases, śirases, Mahasirases, sirases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 9: The future Vāsudevas < [Chapter VI]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section IX < [Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva]
The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 6 - Glorification of The Race of Danu < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 2 - Satī’s Arrival at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice < [Section 1 - Kedāra-khaṇḍa]
Sushruta Samhita, Volume 5: Kalpasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)