Mahayoga, Maha-yoga, Mahāyoga: 5 definitions
Introduction:
Mahayoga means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Mahāyoga (महायोग) is the name of the Samayā associated with the sacred seat of Pūrṇagiri, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Mahāyoga (महायोग) refers to a “great Yoga”, according to the Niśvāsakārikā verse 32.149cd-152.—Accordingly, as the Lord teaches the Yoga of detachment to the Goddess: “O goddess, listen to the supreme secret [teaching] and its unsurpassed Siddhi. It has no form, no colour and no meditation. It is both with and without aspects. It lacks anything through which it can be acted upon and it has no location. [This] great no-mind yoga [i.e., amanaska-mahāyoga] is not a division of [mantra] recitation, is free from form and colour [but] gives all Siddhis”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Mahāyoga (महायोग) refers to one of the topics discussed in the Mahāmokṣa-Tantra, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 12 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (second series)” by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri.—The Mahāmokṣatantra manuscript, consisting of 3,024 ślokas (metrical verses), is deposit: Dhaka, Vikramapura Majhapada, Babu Rasavihari Raya. It deals with the salvation, cosmogony (i.e., the order of cosmic regions) and contains a bibliography of Tantric literature.— The catalogue includes the term—Mahāyoga in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads—32 śe paṭale,—mahāyogakathanam.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Mahāyoga (महायोग) refers to one of the “Nine Vehicles” (In Nyingma) which in Tibetan are known as theg pa dgu.
Mahāyoga (महायोग) (lit. “great yoga”) is the designation of the first of the three Inner Tantras according to the nine-fold division of practice used by the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. Mahāyoga is held to emphasise the generation stage (or “development stage”) of Tantra, where the succeeding two yana, anuyoga and atiyoga, emphasise the completion stage and the synthesis or transcendence of the two, respectively.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Mahayogakkhema, Mahayogapancaratnayashvalayanopayogyadhanaprakarana, Mahayogapancaratne ashvalayanopayogyadhanaprakaranam, Mahayogeshvara, Mahayogeshvari, Mahayogin.
Full-text (+58): Mahayogin, Mahayogeshvara, Eight transmitted precepts, Mahayogeshvari, Hayagriva, Vajrakilaya, Mantrabhiru, Yamantaka, Mopa drakngak, Mamo Botong, Jikten Choto, Matamahiyuga, Mahayogapancaratnayashvalayanopayogyadhanaprakarana, Acariyamahayuga, nang ba'i rnal 'byor gsum, Three inner tantric yogas, bum dbang, gsang dbang, Four initiations, Caturabhisheka.
Relevant text
Search found 35 books and stories containing Mahayoga, Maha-yoga, Mahā-yoga, Mahāyoga; (plurals include: Mahayogas, yogas, Mahāyogas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.2.185 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]
Love me for the Sake of the World < [Volume 11, Issue 3 (2020)]
Devotion, a Lamp That Illuminates the Ground < [Volume 11, Issue 3 (2020)]
The Visualization of the Secret < [Volume 11, Issue 3 (2020)]
On the use of Human remains in Tibetan ritual objects (by Ayesha Fuentes)
Introduction: The use of skulls and bone ornaments < [Chapter 2 - The use of skulls and bone ornaments]
Interpretation and context < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Terms and concepts < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)
16. Mahāyoga and Atiyoga Interpretations of the Guhyagarbha < [Introduction]
1. The rNying-ma School and the Three Inner Classes of Tantra < [Introduction]
7. The Indian historical tradition of the Guhyagarbhatattvaviniścayamahātantra < [Introduction]
The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda (by Srila Narayana Maharaja)
Raja-Yoga in brief < [Raja-Yoga]
The Great Chariot (by Longchenpa)
Part 6 - The divisions of the three inner tantras < [A. Resolving the view]
Part 2d - The empowerments that ripen the ground < [B. The explanation of meditation practice]
Part 2b - The way of arising of developing and completion < [B. The explanation of meditation practice]
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