Mahashiva, Mahāśiva, Maha-shiva, Mahāsīva: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Mahashiva means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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 Mahāśiva can be transliterated into English as Mahasiva or Mahashiva, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramMahāśiva (महाशिव) refers to the “great Śiva”, according to the Kulakaulinīmata verse 20.505cd-508ab.—Accordingly, “Akula is said to be Kaula. It is Maheśvara, the womb in the womb of the most excellent body. O mistress of the gods, he is present everywhere. The abode of Kula is in Kaula, that is, in one's own divine Kula, one’s own nature and form devoid of the body. One should enter into the Self by the Self. The Great Goddess engaged in intercourse within the great Śiva (mahāśiva) is Pārvatī. By means of the bliss (of this union one) attains the supreme principle and by (that) principle, the supreme (state)”.
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
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesMahasiva Mahasiva
1. Mahasiva. King of Ceylon; he was the son of Mutasiva and the younger brother of Uttiya, whom he succeeded. He reigned for ten years (197 87 B.C.) and built the Nagarangana vihara for Bhaddasala Thera. He was succeeded by Suratissa. Mhv.xxi.1ff.
2. Mahasiva Thera. Resident of Vamantapabbhara. He was among the last of the arahants, and had taken part in various assemblies led by the Bodhisatta (J.iv.490; vi. 30). It is probably this Thera who is referred to as Gamantapabbharavasi Mahasiva in the Anguttara Commentary (AA.i.24, 29). He lived in Tissamaharama at Mahagama, and was the teacher of eighteen groups of monks. One of his pupils became an arahant, and, being aware that his teacher was yet a puthujjana, went to him and asked his leave to be taught a stanza. But Mahasiva said his pupils were so numerous that he had no time to give him a stanza. The pupil waited for a whole day and night, and then getting no chance of learning, said, If you are so busy now how will you find time to die? Mahasiva heard and understood, and exerted himself strenuously for thirty long years, at the end of which time he became an arahant.
3. Mahasiva. A famous Commentator, sometimes called Dighabhanaka Mahasiva. His interpretations are quoted, with respect, in the Commentaries. E.g., DA.ii.430, 511, 543, 554, 805, 881, 883; SA.iii.171, 198; Sp.iii.711; DhSA. 405; PSA. 80; AA.ii.490.
4. Mahasiva Thera. An incumbent of Bhativanka, during the reign of Dutthagamani. One day he went to worship at the Maha Thupa, and there he saw two devatas offering flowers. In their previous lives they were two women who had worked for hire on the Maha Thupa. Mhv.xxx.46ff.
5. Mahasiva Thera. Incumbent of Nigrodhapitthi and expert in the Tipitaka. Once, while preaching the Sihanada Sutta in King Vasabhas palace, he described the splendours of the Relic Chamber in the Maha Thupa and the king expressed some difficulty in believing the report, but the Elder was able to convince the king that nothing was impossible where there was a combination of rajiddhi, deviddhi and ariyiddhi. The king was pleased, conveyed the Elder under the white umbrella to the Maha Vihara and made great offerings, lasting for seven days, to the Maha Thupa. MT. 555.
6. Mahasiva Thera. Mentioned as an eminent teacher of the Vinaya (Vin.v.3; Sp.i.63). He is probably identical with one of the foregoing.
7. Mahasiva Thera. It was for him that Aggabodhi I. built a parivena and also the Kurunda vihara with a tank and a grove of coco palms. Cv.xlii.11, 16.
8. Mahasiva - A monk of Piyangudipa. See Mahasena (5).
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).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismMahāśiva (महाशिव) is the father of Puruṣapuṇḍarīka: the sixth Vāsudeva (“violent heroes”) according to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara sources. Since they enjoy half the power of a Cakravartin (universal monarch) they are also known as Ardhacakrins. Jain legends describe nine such Vāsudevas usually appearing together with their “gentler” twins known as the Baladevas. The legends of these twin-heroes usually involve their antagonistic counterpart known as the Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes).
The stories of king Mahāśiva, queen Lakṣmīvatī and their son, Puruṣapuṇḍarīka are related in texts such as the Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita (“the lives of the sixty-three illustrious persons”), a twelfth-century Śvetāmbara work by Hemacandra.
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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāśiva (महाशिव).—[masculine] great Śiva.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāśiva (महाशिव):—[=mahā-śiva] [from mahā > mah] m. the gr° Śiva, [Pañcarātra; Brahma-purāṇa]
[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: Shiva, Maha, Civa.
Starts with: Mahashivaratra, Mahashivaratri, Mahashivaratrinirnaya, Mahashivaratrivrata, Mahashivaratrivratanirnaya, Mahashivaratryudyapana.
Full-text (+3): Dighabhanaka Maha Siva, Gamantapabbharavasi Maha Siva, Gamanta, Vamantapabbhara, Mahashivaratryudyapana, Mahashivaratrinirnaya, Mahashivaratrivrata, Mahashivaratrivratanirnaya, Nigrodhapitthi, Mahashivaratri, Mahabhushana, Ambilapassava, Suratissa, Sena, Asela, Lakshmivati, Mutasiva, Vasudeva, Bhaddasala, Purushapundarika.
Relevant text
Search found 10 books and stories containing Mahashiva, Mahāśiva, Maha-shiva, Mahāsīva, Mahasiva, Mahā-śiva, Maha-siva; (plurals include: Mahashivas, Mahāśivas, shivas, Mahāsīvas, Mahasivas, śivas, sivas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
The Story of Bhikkhu-elder Mahāsīva < [Chapter 39 - How the Āṭānāṭiya Paritta came to be Taught]
Part 19 - The Buddha gives Hints about His Passing Away < [Chapter 40 - The Buddha Declared the Seven Factors of Non-Decline for Rulers]
Sakka’s Question (6-8): On the Practice of Meditation < [Chapter 39 - How the Āṭānāṭiya Paritta came to be Taught]
Impact of Vedic Culture on Society (by Kaushik Acharya)
Sanskrit Inscriptions (E): The Pāṇḍuvaṃśīs < [Chapter 3]
Mingling of Cultures (G): The Pāṇḍuvaṃśīs < [Chapter 4]
4. Religious Aspect of Dāna < [Chapter 2]
Mahavamsa (by Wilhelm Geiger)
Dipavamsa (study) (by Sibani Barman)
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Part 3 - On patriarchs < [Chapter 5]
A Discourse on Paticcasamuppada (by Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw)