Mahavriksha, Mahāvṛkṣa: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Mahavriksha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology. 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 Mahāvṛkṣa can be transliterated into English as Mahavrksa or Mahavriksha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationMahāvṛkṣa (महावृक्ष) refers to “huge trees”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.22. Accordingly as Sitā said to Śiva:—“[...] the most unbearable season of the advent of clouds (ghanāgama or jaladāgama) has arrived with clusters of clouds of diverse hues, and their music reverberating in the sky and the various quarters. [...] Huge trees (mahāvṛkṣa) struck down by the wind appear to dance in the sky, terrifying the cowards and delighting the lover, O Śiva”.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramMahāvṛkṣa (महावृक्ष) refers to the “great tree”, according to the Ṭīkā (commentary) on the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] The consort of the Great Tree (mahāvṛkṣa), that is, the incarnation Ṣaṣṭhanātha is (the goddess) Maṅgalā. She is crooked and (resides) in the place of the six-faced Siddha namely, in Suṣumṇā, the middle channel. How is she? She is a beautiful, young virgin. What is meant by this is that she is skillful in doing all things. It is for this reason that it is said that (she is) Kuṇḍalinī as the Middle Lineage between that of the Eldest and the Youngest and is associated with both. [...]”.
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
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismMahāvṛkṣa (महावृक्ष) refers to a group of deities summoned by the Yamāntaka-mantra and mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Mahāvṛkṣa).
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsMahavriksha in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw. from the Cactaceae (Cactus) family having the following synonyms: Cactus chinensis, Cactus indicus, Opuntia dillenii. For the possible medicinal usage of mahavriksha, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Mahavriksha in India is the name of a plant defined with Acacia ferruginea in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Senegalia ferruginea (DC.) Pedley (among others).
2) Mahavriksha is also identified with Bombax ceiba It has the synonym see Heinrich Wilhelm Schott (1794–1865) and Stephan Friedrich Ladislaus Endlicher, Meletemata botanica. 35. Wien 1832.) (Salmalia Schott & Endl., from salmali, a Sanskrit name for Salmalia malabarica. (etc.).
3) Mahavriksha is also identified with Opuntia stricta It has the synonym Cactus strictus Haw. (etc.).
4) Mahavriksha is also identified with Salvadora persica It has the synonym Salvadora crassinervia Hochst. ex T. Anderson (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1980)
· Nomenclator Botanicus (1840)
· Hortus Malabaricus
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Cell and Chromosome Research (1984)
· Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis (DC.) (1824)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Mahavriksha, for example side effects, pregnancy safety, extract dosage, health benefits, chemical composition, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāvṛkṣa (महावृक्ष).—m.
(-kṣaḥ) Euphorbia, of several species: see snuhī E. mahā great, vṛkṣa a tree.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāvṛkṣa (महावृक्ष).—[masculine] large tree.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahāvṛkṣa (महावृक्ष):—[=mahā-vṛkṣa] [from mahā > mah] m. a gr° tree, [Atharva-veda; Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇa [case]]
2) [v.s. ...] a species of Euphorbia, [Suśruta; Caraka]
3) [v.s. ...] = -pīlu (q.v.), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
[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 corpusMahāvṛkṣa (ಮಹಾವೃಕ್ಷ):—
1) [noun] a large-sized tree.
2) [noun] the spurge plant Euphorbia tirucalli of Euphorbiaceae family; round tree spurge.
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: Vriksha, Maha.
Starts with: Mahavrikshadi, Mahavrikshagalaskandha, Mahavrikshakshira.
Full-text: Mahavrikshakshira, Mahavrikshagalaskandha, Mavirukkam, Makavirutcam, Mahaprishthagalaskandha, Keturat, Gandika, Mahiruha, Kancana, Sevitavya, Bala, Pancabala, Mandara.
Relevant text
Search found 17 books and stories containing Mahavriksha, Maha-vriksha, Mahā-vṛkṣa, Maha-vrksa, Mahāvṛkṣa, Mahavrksa; (plurals include: Mahavrikshas, vrikshas, vṛkṣas, vrksas, Mahāvṛkṣas, Mahavrksas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Sushruta Samhita, volume 4: Cikitsasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms (by Fa-Hien)
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.5.362 < [Chapter 5 - The Pastimes of Nityānanda]
Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita (by Laxmi Maji)
Therapeutics and Rejuvenation Therapy < [Chapter 4 - Diseases and Remedial measures (described in Caraka-saṃhitā)]
Medicinal herbs and plants in the Atharva-veda < [Chapter 3 - Diseases and Remedial measures (described in Atharvaveda)]
Lord Hayagriva in Sanskrit Literature (by Anindita Adhikari)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Act 9.3: Question of the bodhisattva Samantaraśmi < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]
Abhidharma auxiliaries (D): Order of the thirty-seven auxiliaries < [Part 2 - The auxiliaries according to the Abhidharma]
Part 1 - The auxiliaries belong to the Greater Vehicle as well < [Chapter XXXI - The Thirty-seven Auxiliaries to Enlightenment]