Mahattara: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Mahattara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Mahattar.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaMahattara (महत्तर).—One of the five sons of the Agni Pāñcajanya. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 22, Verse 9).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationMahattara (महत्तर) refers to “that which is greater (than the greatest)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.6 (“Prayer to Śiva”).—Accordingly, as the Gods eulogized Śiva: “Obeisance to you, the soul of all, obeisance to Śiva the remover of distress, [...] What they call the great soul in the universe, O lord, are you yourself, O Śiva soul of all, ruler of the three worlds (trilokādhipati). Whatever is seen, heard or eulogised, whatever is being realised, O preceptor of the universe, are you alone. They call you minuter than the atom and greater (mahattara) than the greatest. [...]”.
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: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraMahattarā (महत्तरा) refers to a group of deities accompanying the eight Dikkumārikās, according to chapter 2.2 [ajitanātha-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: “[...] The eight Dikkumārikās living in the lower world, clothed in devadūṣya-cloth, their hair adorned with flowers: Bhogaṅkarā, Bhogavatī, Subhogā, Bhogamālinī, Toyadhārā, Vicitrā, Puṣpamālā, and Aninditā, each one attended by four thousand Sāmānikīs, each one joined by four Mahattarās, each one surrounded by seven great armies and each by seven generals, each one attended by sixteen thousand body-guards and by other powerful Vyantara-gods and goddesses, got into their cars and set off eagerly in the northeast, with charming song and dance”.
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.
India history and geography
Source: What is India: Inscriptions of the ŚilāhārasMahattara refers to “representatives of towns or villages” and was a title used in the administration during the rule of the Śilāhāra dynasty (r. 765-1215 A.D.).—In towns and villages local administration was carried on with the help of Committees on which merchants, artisans and trade-guilds were represented. Members of the Committees were called mahājanas. Their number sixteen is mentioned in one record. In some records they are called mahattaras (representatives of the towns or villages). In the Cānje inscription they are called mhātārās (Sanskrit, mahattaras), and are cited as witnesses.
The head of such a Committee was called mahattama. In Kananḍa inscriptions he is called prabhu (Mayor). Local religious institutions were also represented on such Committees. One record mentions pañca-maṭha-mahāsthāna, which was probably so called because the five maṭhas comprised in it were dedicated to five Hindu deities (viz. Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Sūrya and Dēvī) or to five prominent religious sects such as those of Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Buddha and Jina. These Town and Village Committees could make grants of land with the consent of the local gāvuṇḍas or officers and the administrative heads.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryMahattara.—(IE 8-3; EI 23, 29, 30; CII 4; BL; HD), literally, ‘an elder [of a town or village]’; according to Stein (Rājataraṅgiṇī, VII. 659); a chamberlain, a village headman or head of a family or community and a member of the village council; cf. Hindī Mahato; Gujaratī Mahetā. Cf. Ind. Ant., Vol. VI, p. 114 (rāṣṭra-grāma-mahattara); Daśakumāracarita, III, p. 77 (janapada-mahattara). Cf. mahattara-ady-aṣṭakul-ādhikaraṇa (EI 31), ‘office of the administrative board of the aṣṭakula headed by the Mahattara’; see Mahattara and aṣṭakul-ādhikaraṇa. (IE 3-3), official guide. (Beal, Life of Hiuen Tsiang, p. 190). Note: mahattara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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 dictionaryMahattara (महत्तर).—a. Greater, larger &c.
-raḥ 1 The principal, chief, or oldest person, the most respectable person; रघुकुलमहत्तराणां वधूः (raghukulamahattarāṇāṃ vadhūḥ) Uttararāmacarita 4; गृहपतिश्च ममान्तरङ्गभूतो जनपदमहत्तरः (gṛhapatiśca mamāntaraṅgabhūto janapadamahattaraḥ) Dk.
2) A chamberlain.
3) A courtier.
4) The head or the oldest man of a village.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahattara (महत्तर).—mfn.
(-raḥ-rā-raṃ) Greater, more. m.
(-raḥ) 1. A man of the fourth or servile tribe, a Sudra. 2. The headman of a village. 3. A courtier. E. mahat great, and tarap aff. of comparison, perhaps in derision, or in comparison with the mixed tribes.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahattara (महत्तर).—(compar.) greater, mightier, stronger than ([ablative]); very great etc. [masculine] chief, principal, courtier, chamberlain (also ka [masculine]).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahattara (महत्तर):—[=mahat-tara] [from mahat > mah] mfn. greater or very great or mighty or strong, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa; Kathāsaritsāgara]
2) [v.s. ...] m. the oldest, most respectable, chief, principal, [Rāmāyaṇa] (f(ā). , [Mṛcchakaṭikā])
3) [v.s. ...] m. the head or oldest man of a village, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] a Śūdra (?), [Horace H. Wilson]
5) [v.s. ...] a courtier, chamberlain, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
6) [v.s. ...] Name of a son of Kaśyapa (or of Kāśyapa), [Mahābhārata]
7) Mahattarā (महत्तरा):—[=mahat-tarā] [from mahat-tara > mahat > mah] f. (in [dramatic language]) a woman superintending the gynaeum, [Bharata-nāṭya-śāstra]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahattara (महत्तर):—(raḥ) 1. m. A Sudra. a. More.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryMahattara (महत्तर) [Also spelled mahattar]:—(a) greater, bigger; better.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMahattara (ಮಹತ್ತರ):—[adjective] greater or very mighty or strong.
--- OR ---
Mahattara (ಮಹತ್ತರ):—
1) [noun] that which is great or greater in importance, esteem, etc.
2) [noun] a respectable man.
3) [noun] the chief officer of a department.
--- OR ---
Māhattara (ಮಾಹತ್ತರ):—
1) [noun] a respectable man.
2) [noun] the chief officer of a department.
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)
Starts with: Mahattaraka, Mahattaramudga.
Ends with: Agraharina-mahattara, Amahattara, Anumahattara, Bhatta-mahattara, Grama-mahattara, Grihamahattara, Grihavanamahattara, Janapadamahattara, Mahamahattara, Rashtra-grama-mahattara, Rashtra-mahattara, Vithi-mahattara.
Full-text (+27): Mahattaraka, Mahattarika, Mahamahattara, Mahattama, Mahattari, Rashtra-grama-mahattara, Pratishukram, Grama-mahattara, Bhatta-mahattara, Mhatara, Vithi-mahattara, Mahattar, Agraharina-mahattara, Janapadamahattara, Rashtra-mahattara, Mahata, Bhatta-ranaka, Gramakuta, Gramamahattara-adhikarin, Deshillaka.
Relevant text
Search found 13 books and stories containing Mahattara, Mahat-tara, Mahattarā, Mahat-tarā, Māhattara; (plurals include: Mahattaras, taras, Mahattarās, tarās, Māhattaras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Impact of Vedic Culture on Society (by Kaushik Acharya)
District and Village Administration < [Chapter 5]
Provincial and District Administration < [Chapter 5]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 7: Birth-rites performed by Dikkumārīs < [Chapter II - Birth of Ajita and Sagara]
Appendix 2.3: new and rare words < [Appendices]
Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata (by Shini M.V.)
The concept of Ātman < [Chapter 3 - The Philosophical Tenets in the Śānti-parva]
Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study) (by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah)
Part 6: Administration and Administrative Officials < [Chapter 5 - Political Aspects]
3. Environmental Awareness in 7th century India < [Chapter 7 - Environmental awareness and Hygiene Conciousness]
Yogadrstisamuccaya of Haribhadra Suri (Study) (by Riddhi J. Shah)
Chapter 2.2 - Life story of Haribhadrasūri < [Chapter 2 - Life, Date and Works of Ācārya Haribhadrasūri]
Chapter 2.4 - Works of Haribhadrasūri < [Chapter 2 - Life, Date and Works of Ācārya Haribhadrasūri]
Concept of Mind in the Major Upanishads (by Gisha K. Narayanan)
4. The Concept of Mind in the Kaṭhopaniṣad < [Chapter 4 - The concept of Mind in the Major Upaniṣads]