Mahatman, Mahātmā, Mahātman, Mahatma, Maha-atman: 15 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Vaishnavism
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Mahatman means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. 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)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

1) Mahātman (महात्मन्) is an epithet of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.15. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] On arrival there, after paying respects to the lord [Śiva] with great excitement we lauded Him with various hymns with palms joined in reverence. The Devas said: [...] Obeisance to Thee, O lord, from whom the mobile and the immobile beings have originated. Obeisance to the great Puruṣa, Maheśa, the supreme Īśa and the great Ātman [viz., Mahātman]”.

2) Mahātman (महात्मन्) refers to “one of noble soul” and is used to describe Kāma, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.17 (“The dialogue between Indra and Kāmadeva”).—Accordingly, as Śiva described Pārvatī: “Is this your face or the moon? Are these your eyes or lotus petals? These two eyebrows are the bows of Kāma of noble soul [i.e., Mahātman]. Is this your lower lip or Bimba fruit? Is this your nose or the beak of a parrot? Do I hear your voice or the cooing of the cuckoo? Is this your slender waist or the sacrificial altar? How can her gait be described? How can her comely appearance be described? How can the flowers be described? How can the clothes be described? [...]”.

3) Mahātman (महात्मन्) refers to “noble-souled” and is used to described Himavat (Himālaya), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.21 (“Nārada instructs Pārvatī”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā said to Nārada: “[...] O celestial sage, O intelligent one, employed by Indra, the slayer of Bala, you came to Himalaya mountain roaming here and there as you pleased. You were then worshipped by the noble-souled mountain [i.e., mahātman—bhūdhareṇa mahātmanā]. You enquired of his health and happiness and you were seated in a noble seat. Then the lord of the mountains told you the story of his daughter from her service to Śiva to the burning of Kāma by Him. [...]”.

context information

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: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)

Mahātmā (महात्मा) refers to “magnanimous person, or great soul. It is a title of respect offered to those elevated in spiritual consciousness”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).

context information

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: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Mahātman.—(CII 1), a person of high rank; a rich man; explained in some cases as ‘a magistrate’ (cf. Select Inscriptions, p. 248, note 6). Note: mahātman is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

Mahātmā (महात्मा).—a (S Of a great spirit.) Magnanimous, nobleminded, large-hearted, generous, bold.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

Mahātmā (महात्मा).—a Magnanimous, generous.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mahātman (महात्मन्).—a.

1) high-souled, high-minded, magnanimous, noble; अयं दुरात्मा अथवा महात्मा कौटिल्यः (ayaṃ durātmā athavā mahātmā kauṭilyaḥ) Mu.7; द्विषन्ति मन्दाश्चरितं महात्मनाम् (dviṣanti mandāścaritaṃ mahātmanām) Ku.5.75; U.1.49; प्रकृतिसिद्धमिदं हि महात्मनाम् (prakṛtisiddhamidaṃ hi mahātmanām) Bh.1.63.

2) illustrious, distinguished, exalted, eminent; किमाचाराः किमाहाराः क्व च वासो महात्मनाम् (kimācārāḥ kimāhārāḥ kva ca vāso mahātmanām) Mb.3. 1.4.

3) mighty (mahābala); अथायमस्यां कृतवान् महात्मा लङ्केश्वरः कष्टमनार्यकर्म (athāyamasyāṃ kṛtavān mahātmā laṅkeśvaraḥ kaṣṭamanāryakarma) Rām.5.9.74. (-m.)

1) the Supreme Spirit; युगपत्तु प्रलीयन्ते यदा तस्मिन् महात्मनि (yugapattu pralīyante yadā tasmin mahātmani) Ms.1.54.

2) the great principle, i. e. intellect of the Sāṅkhyas. (mahātmavat means the same as mahātman).

Mahātman is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and ātman (आत्मन्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahātman (महात्मन्).—mfn. (-tmā-tmā-tma) Liberal, lofty-minded, magnanimous. E. mahā great, ātman self, soul.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahātman (महात्मन्).—adj. magnanimous, [Pañcatantra] ii. [distich] 153.

Mahātman is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and ātman (आत्मन्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahātman (महात्मन्).—1. [masculine] the supreme spirit, the intellect (ph.).

--- OR ---

Mahātman (महात्मन्).—2. [adjective] large-minded, magnanimous, generous, noble, eminent.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Mahātman (महात्मन्):—[from mahā > mah] mfn. (hāt) ‘high-souled’, magnanimous, having a gr° or noble nature, high-minded, noble, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

2) [=mahā-tman] [from mahātman > mahā > mah] highly gifted, exceedingly wise, [Pañcatantra]

3) [v.s. ...] eminent, mighty, powerful, distinguished, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Pañcatantra; Suśruta]

4) [v.s. ...] m. the Supreme Spirit, gr° soul of the universe, [Maitrī-upaniṣad; Manu-smṛti]

5) [v.s. ...] the gr° principle id est. Intellect, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

6) [v.s. ...] ([scilicet] gaṇa), Name of a class of deceased ancestors, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]

7) [v.s. ...] of a son of Dhī-mat, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahātman (महात्मन्):—[mahā-tman] (tmā-tma) a. Liberal; heroic.

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahatman in German

context information

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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Mahātmā (महात्मा):—(a and nm) a saint, sage, saintly (person), noble / enlightened soul; hence ~[pana] (nm).

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Mahātma (ಮಹಾತ್ಮ):—

1) [noun] a man of greatness, having no petty qualities as narrow-mindedness, selfishness, partisan view,etc.; a great-soul (used as an adjectival appelation).

2) [noun] the Supreme Soul.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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