Maheshvara, Maheśvara, Māheśvara, Maha-ishvara: 37 definitions
Introduction:
Maheshvara means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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.
The Sanskrit terms Maheśvara and Māheśvara can be transliterated into English as Mahesvara or Maheshvara, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Maheśvara (महेश्वर).—Another name of Śiva.
1) Maheśvara (महेश्वर) refers to one of the eight names of Śiva (śivanāma) and is mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 1.20 while explaining the mode of worshipping an earthen phallic image (pārthiva-liṅga) according to the Vedic rites:—“[...] the eight names of Śiva viz:—Hara, Maheśvara, Śambhu, Śūlapāṇi, Pinākadhṛk, Śiva, Paśupati and Mahādeva shall be used respectively for the rites of bringing the clay, kneading, installation, invocation, ceremonial ablution, worship, craving the forbearance and ritualistic farewell. Each of the names shall be prefixed with Oṃkāra. The name shall be used in the dative case and Namaḥ shall be added to them. The rites shall be performed respectively with great devotion and joy. [...]”.
2) Māheśvara (माहेश्वर) refers to a “devotee of Lord Śiva”, as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.18.—Accordingly, “[...] in the meantime a certain devotee of Lord Śiva [viz., māheśvara] came out of the city taking with him various articles of offering (upahāra). He had observed fast (uposhita) on the Śivarātri day. In order to worship lord Śiva, he was on his way, along with his kinsmen and was carrying different sorts of delightful offerings. [...]”.
1a) Maheśvara (महेश्वर).—(Śiva): cursed the seven sages to be born in every epoch;1 got vṛṣa (bull) from Surabhī for his standard;2 lived long in his father-in-law's house after marriage; Meru insulted him as poor and useless when Umā insisted on her husband to go to his house; he went to Benares after which it became Avimukta;3 also Brahmā;4 Stambha; Kāpāli on earth for having removed one face of Brahmā; to get rid of this brahmicide Śiva's service to Kāmākṣī at Kāñcī; blessed for his samādhi; bathed in Pañcasaras and found himself at Kāśi, from there to Kāñcī; Jyotirmayibhikṣa given; the Kapāla dropped out and he was relieved;5 blessed Kubera to be the lord of the Yakṣas for his penance at the confluence of the Narmadā and the Kāverī.6 Praise of, by Kāvya.7
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 27. 47; III. 1. 9.
- 2) Ib. III. 3. 78-79.
- 3) Ib. III. 31. 35. 67. 32, 60.
- 4) Ib. IV. 1. 203; 2. 221, 257; 4. 35, 73; 7. 49; 14. 18.
- 5) Ib. IV. 40. 52-59.
- 6) Matsya-purāṇa 181. 3-5; 185. 12; 189. 10.
- 7) Vāyu-purāṇa 97, 162-202.
1b) As cosmos; hence acintyātma but the source of all beings; Brahmanas from face, Kṣatriyas, from breast, Vaiśyas from the thighs and Śūdras from the feet;1 created the world, men, devas, asuras, constellation, night, day, Vedas, etc.;2 the smallest atom among the prakṛtis, never failing, absolute; formless, and of form; the darkness becomes illumination by the contact of tejas;3 the six angas of; all wise, all satiating, ever arousing, all free, eternally powerful, and of undiminished strength;4 a Mahāyogi;5 Lokeśa, worshipped in different ways.6
- 1) Vāyu-purāṇa 9. 122.
- 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 5. 95.
- 3) Vāyu-purāṇa 101. 226.
- 4) Ib. 12. 31-3.
- 5) Ib. 21. 36.
- 6) Ib. 49. 171.
1c) Born of Pradhāna and Puruṣa; father of world creation;1 the universe as limbs of.2
2) Māheśvara (माहेश्वर).—The 29th Kalpa in which Tripuram was burnt.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 290. 10.
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. XIV.8.27, XIV.8) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Maheśvara) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is the deity to be worshipped in the month Magha for the Anaṅgatrayodaśī-Vrata, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, the Anaṅgatrayodaśī-vrata is observed in honour of Śiva for acquiring virtue, great fortune, wealth and for destruction of sins [...] This vrata is to be performed for a year from Mārgaśīra.—In the month of Magha the tooth-brush is of vaṭa, food is milk, the deity to be worshipped is Maheśvara and the result is eight times that of gomedha sacrifice.
Māheśvara (माहेश्वर) or Māheśvarapurāṇa refers to one of the eighteen Minor Puranas (i.e., Upapurāṇa) according to the Kūrmapurāṇa and other traditional lists of Puranic literature: a category of ancient Sanskrit texts which gives a huge contribution in the development of Indian literature.—The Upapurāṇas (e.g., māheśvara-purāṇa) can be considered as the supplements of the Mahāpurāṇas as those are mostly based on the Mahāpurāṇas. The Saurapurāṇa considers the Upapurāṇas as khilas i.e., supplements. [...] Though the numbers of Upapurāṇas are specified as eighteen, there are many important Upapurāṇas which are excluded from the lists of Upapurāṇas given by different sources.
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is the Sanskrit name for a deity to be worshipped during raṅgapūjā, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra 3.1-8. Accordingly, the master of the dramatic art who has been initiated for the purpose shall consecrate the playhouse after he has made obeisance (e.g., to Maheśvara).
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
1) Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is a Sanskrit word referring to one of the sixty-eight places hosting a svāyambhuvaliṅga, one of the most sacred of liṅgas according to the Śaivāgamas. The presiding deity residing over the liṅga in this place (Maheśvara) is named Oṃkāra.
2) Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is also the name of a deity presiding over Prayāga, Viśvamadhya and Dīpta, three of the sixty-eight places hosting a svāyambhuvaliṅga, which is one of the most sacred of liṅgas according to the Śaivāgamas.
The list of sixty-eight svāyambhuvaliṅgas and presiding deities is found in the commentary on the Jirṇoddhāra-daśaka by Nigamajñānadeva. The word liṅga refers to a symbol used in the worship of Śiva and is used thoughout Śaiva literature, such as the sacred Āgamas.
Maheśvara (महेश्वर).—There existed yet another group of Siddhas from the South known as Maheśvara Siddhas. They advocate the pure method (śuddha-mārga). Because, the dakṣiṇa-śrota (the right current), stressed on vidyā (knowledge) through yogic practices, instead of using the five ‘m’s as used by the vāma-śrota (left current), which include blood sacrifices, drinking and female consorts. The Tamil Siddhas belong to the dakśiṇa-śrota.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is mentioned in as the “chief of things animate and inanimate”. His dwelling place is the mountain-peak Kailāsa, located within Himavat, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 1. Accordingly, “There (Kailāsa) dwells Maheśvara the beloved of Pārvatī, the chief of things animate and inanimate, attended upon by Gaṇas, Vidyādharas and Siddhas. In the upstanding yellow tufts of his matted hair the new moon enjoys the delight of touching the eastern mountain yellow in the evening twilight.”
The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Maheśvara, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is a name of Śiva, as mentioned in the 9th century Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra (Ādikāṇḍa chapter 1).—“[...] Formerly, it is told, Virūpākṣa-Maheśvara (i.e., Śiva) with Gaurī (i.e., Pārvatī) questioned the four-faced one (Brahmā) who was staying in the above of Vairāja”.
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) refers to “supreme Controller; it sometimes refers to Śambhu Śiva and sometimes to Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).
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’).
Shaiva philosophy
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) refers to the “Great Lord”, according to the Īśvarapratyabhijñākārikā 1.1.2.—Accordingly, “What conscious Self could produce either a refutation or a demonstration [of the existence] of the agent, the knowing subject, the always already established Self, the Great Lord (maheśvara)?”
Shaiva philosophy is a spritiual tradition within Hinduism that includes theories such as the relationship between the Atman (individual soul) and Siva, the nature of liberation (moksha), and the concepts of maya (illusion) and shakti (divine energy). Saiva philosophy teaches that union with Shiva can be achieved through knowledge, devotion, and spiritual practice. It encompasses major branches like Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmir Shaivism.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Māheśvara (माहेश्वर) or Māheśvarakavaca refers to one of the topics discussed in the Yogāmṛta, a Sanskrit manuscript collected in volume 4 of the catalogue “Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (first series)” by Rajendralal Mitra (1822–1891), who was one of the first English-writing historians dealing with Indian culture and heritage.—The Yogāmṛta is a large Ayurvedic compilation dealing with the practice of medicine and therapeutics authored by Gopāla Sena, Kavirāja, of Dvārandhā. It is dated to the 18th century and contains 11,700 ślokas.—The catalogue includes the term—Māheśvara-kavaca in its ‘subject-matter list’ or Viṣaya (which lists topics, chapters and technical terms). The complete entry reads: (1) māheśvarakavacaṃ (2) maheśvaradhūpaḥ (3) māheśvaralauhaḥ .
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is the name of a deity mentioned in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter IV). Other individuals also know all the dharmas, e.g., Mo hi cheou lo (Maheśvara) [in the languag of Ts’in, ‘Great Lord’]: he has eight arms (aṣṭabhuja), three eyes (trinetra, tryakṣa) and he is mounted on a white bull (vṛṣavāhana) [Nandi]. All these gods are great guides (mahānāyaka). They cannot be omniscient. Why? Because their mind remains attached (abhiniviṣṭa) to hatred (dveṣa) and pride (abhhimāna).
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is the name of a Devarṣi appointed as one of the Divine protector deities of Śaya, according to chapter 17 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—In the Candragarbhasūtra, the Bhagavat invites all classes of Gods and Deities to protect the Law [dharma?] and the faithful in their respective kingdoms of Jambudvīpa [e.g., the Devarṣi Maheśvara in Śaya], resembling the time of the past Buddhas.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
1) Maheśvara (महेश्वर) refers to one of the “Twenty-Five Kalkis” (Tibetan: rigs ldan) as well as the “Thirty-two kings of Shambhala”, according to the Tibetan oral recounting and written texts such as the Kalachakra Tantra (kālacakratantra), dealing with the Buddhist conception of the end of the world and time.—The Tibetan mythic land (the kingdom of Shambhala) is a parallel world invisible and inaccessible to common people which is closely related to the teaching about the Wheel of Time (dus 'khor). The seven Dharmarajas and twenty-five Kulikas [e.g., Maheśvara] are the traditional rulers of Shambhala, passing on the reign from father to son.
Maheśvara is also known as Kulika Mahabala. He is known in Tibetan as (1) Wangchug Che (2) Rigden Wangchug [rigs ldan dbang phyug] (3) [dbang phyug] (4) [dbang phyug chen po] (5) [dbang phyug che] (6) [dbang chen ] and in Mongolian as: Khaan Vanchügchenbo. His traditional reign is considered to be from 2127 to 2227 CE.
2) Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is the name of a Bodhisattva 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 Maheśvara).
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) is the name of a deity commonly depicted in Buddhist Iconography, and mentioned in the 11th-century Niṣpannayogāvalī of Mahāpaṇḍita Abhayākara.—His Colour is white; his Vehicle is the bull; he has four arms.
Maheśvara is described in the Niṣpannayogāvalī (dharmadhātuvāgīśvara-maṇḍala) as follows:—
“Maheśvara sits on the Bull, and is white in colour. His crown of matted hair is beautified by the moon. He is four-armed. With the two principal hands he displays the añjali over the head, and with the two others he carries the triśūla and the kapāla”.
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) (in Tibetan: Wangchug Che) (2127–2227 CE) refers to the twenty-third of the twenty-five Kalki kings (of Shambhala) who represents the holders of the Kalachakra (“wheel of time”) teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni.—The king Maheśvara is described as “victorious over the armies of demons”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) refers to a class of mahoraga deities gods according to the Digambara tradition, while the Śvetāmbara does not recognize this class. The mahoraga refer to a category of vyantaras gods which represents one of the four classes of celestial beings (devas). The mahoragas are are dark or black in complexion and the Nāga is their caitya-vṛkṣa (sacred-tree).
The deities such as the Maheśvaras are defined in ancient Jain cosmological texts such as the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapaṇṇati by Yativṛṣabha (5th century) in the Digambara tradition.
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) and Īśvara are the two Indras of the Bhūtavādita class Vyantaras living in the first 100 yojanas of the Ratnaprabhā-earth in the “lower world” (adhaloka), 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: “[...] In the first 100 yojanas of Ratnaprabhā, with the exception of 10 above and 10 below, i.e., in 80 yojanas, there are 8 classes of Vyantaras: [viz., the Bhūtavāditas, ...] The two Indras in these classes are respectively: [viz., Īśvara and Maheśvara;...]”.
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
Maheśvara.—(SITI), Māheśvara, followers of the Śaiva reli- gion; a congregation of Śaiva devotees having a voice in the management of the affairs of a Śiva temple. (ASLV), trustee of a Śaiva temple. (IE 8-2), ‘devotee of Maheśvara (Śiva),’ epithet of a Kuṣāṇa king. Note: maheśvara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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Maheśvara.—(EI 28), the Pāśupta faith. Note: maheśvara 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
Māheśvara (माहेश्वर).—a. (-rī f.)
1) Belonging to a great lord or to Śiva; अनेन च महाराज माहेश्वरमनुत्तमम् । इष्ट्वा यज्ञं (anena ca mahārāja māheśvaramanuttamam | iṣṭvā yajñaṃ) ... Rām. 6.7.19.
2) Worshipping Śiva.
-raḥ A worshipper of Śiva.
-rī Name of Pārvatī or Durgā.
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Maheśvara (महेश्वर).—
1) a great lord, sovereign; महेश्वरस्त्र्यम्बक एव नापरः (maheśvarastryambaka eva nāparaḥ) R.; गोप्तारं न निधीनां कथयन्ति महेश्वरं विबुधाः (goptāraṃ na nidhīnāṃ kathayanti maheśvaraṃ vibudhāḥ) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 2.74.
2) Name of Śiva.
3) of Viṣṇu.
4) a god (opp. prakṛti).
5) the Supreme Being (paramātmā); मायां तु प्रकृतिं विद्यान्मायिनं तु महेश्वरम् (māyāṃ tu prakṛtiṃ vidyānmāyinaṃ tu maheśvaram) Śvet. Up.4.1. °सखः (sakhaḥ) Name of Kubera; यया कैलासभवने महेश्वरसखं बली (yayā kailāsabhavane maheśvarasakhaṃ balī) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 9.11.55. (-rī) 1 Name of Durgā.
2) a kind of bell-metal.
Derivable forms: maheśvaraḥ (महेश्वरः).
Maheśvara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and īśvara (ईश्वर).
Maheśvara (महेश्वर).—(1) sg. or pl.; in Lalitavistara 112.3; 113.1, 11, a devaputra, evidently a leader of the śuddhāvāsakāyika gods, with whom he comes to salute the infant Bodhisattva and predict his future Buddhahood; in Mahāvastu i.224.3, 5 = ii.27.3, 5 (verses) pl., 8000 gods named Mah° come to cast the horoscope of the infant Bodhisattva; probably interpret in this sense maheśvara-rūpeṇa (the Bodhisattva, it is suggested, should enter his mother's womb thus) Lalitavistara 39.12; Mahāvyutpatti 3108 mahāmaheśvarāyatanam, q.v., a special stage of śuddhāvāsakāyika gods; (2) name of a yakṣa: Divyāvadāna 41.2 ff.; Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 161.6; Mahā-Māyūrī 9; (3) name of one or two Bodhisattva(s): Sādhanamālā 71.4 (here between Avalokite- śvara and Mahāsthāmaprāpta); Gaṇḍavyūha 442.6 (in a long, rigmarole list).
Maheśvara (महेश्वर).—m.
(-raḥ) Siva. f. (-rī) 1. Durga the wife of Siva. 2. Mixed or bell-metal. 3. A flower, (Clitoria ternata.) E. mahā great, and īśvara God, fem. aff. ṅīṣ .
Maheśvara (महेश्वर).—m. Śiva.
Maheśvara is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and īśvara (ईश्वर).
Maheśvara (महेश्वर).—[masculine] = [preceding], also [Epithet] of [several] other gods, [especially] of the 4 world-protectors; [feminine] ī [Epithet] of Durgā.
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Māheśvara (माहेश्वर).—[adjective] relating to great Śiva; [masculine] a Śivaite.
1) Maheśvara (महेश्वर) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—guru of Kaiyaṭa.
2) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—father of Bhāskarācārya (Siddhāntaśiromaṇi).
3) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—poet. Mentioned in Bhojaprabandha Oxf. 150^b.
4) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—on [dharma] Quoted in Saṃskārakaustubha.
5) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—a medical author, quoted by Herambasena L. 206.
6) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Amarakośaviveka.
7) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Kāmaśāstra. Śp. p. 46.
8) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Keśavīvāsanābhāṣya. Yantrāja and—[commentary] Compare Mahendra. Laghujātakaṭīkā. Siddhāntaśiromaṇibhāṣya.
9) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Cityupaniṣadbhāṣya. Sahavaiupaniṣadbhāṣya.
10) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Caurapañcāśikāṭīkā. Prabodhacandrodayaṭīkā.
11) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Jīvanmuktiprakaraṇa.
12) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Tattvacintāmaṇiṭīkā. Tattvacintāmaṇidīdhitiṭīkā.
13) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Dāyabhāgaṭīkā.
14) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Dhūrtaviḍambana prahasana.
15) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—
—[commentary] on Bhartṛhari’s Nītiśataka.
16) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Mahābhāratasaṃgraha.
17) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Mudrārākṣasaṭīkā.
18) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Raghuvaṃśaṭīkā.
19) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—Rasārṇava med. Quoted in Rasendracintāmaṇi W. p. 299.
20) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—son of Brāhma, grandson of Kṛṣṇa (Keśava): Viśvaprakāśa lex. composed in 1111. Śabdabhedaprakāśa or Śabdabhedanāmamālā, a sequel to the lexicon. Sāhasāṅkacarita. Quoted in the Preface to the Viśvaprakāśa. Oxf. 187^b.
21) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—son of Manoratha: Vṛttaśataka jy.
22) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—son of Virūpākṣa, wrote in 1590:
—[commentary] on Puruṣottama’s Viṣṇubhaktikalpalatā.
23) Māheśvara (माहेश्वर):—Sabhānāṭaka.
24) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—father of Somanātha Bhaṭṭa (Ajñānadhvāntadīpikā).
25) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—astronomer. Quoted L.. 1065-1067.
26) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—C. on Bhartṛhari’s Nītiśataka.
27) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—pupil of Svayamprakāśatīrtha: C. on the Rāmasahasranāman from the Liṅga-purāṇa.
1) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—[from mahā > mah] m. a great lord, sovereign, chief, [Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad; Mahābhārata] etc. (with tridaśānām, ‘chief of the gods’ id est. Indra)
2) [v.s. ...] a god (opp. to prakṛti), [Śvetāśvatara-upaniṣad]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of various gods ([especially] of Śiva and of Kṛṣṇa; [plural] of the Loka-pālas or guardians of the world, viz. Indra, Agni, Yama and Varuṇa), [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.
4) [v.s. ...] of a Deva-putra, [Lalita-vistara]
5) [v.s. ...] of various authors and other men, [Inscriptions; Siddhāntaśiromaṇi; Catalogue(s)]
6) [v.s. ...] bdellium, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) Māheśvara (माहेश्वर):—[from māhā] mf(ī)n. ([from] maheśvara) relating or belonging to the great lord Śiva, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa; Purāṇa]
8) [v.s. ...] m. a worshipper of Śiva, [Harivaṃśa; Kathāsaritsāgara; Harṣacarita]
Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—(raḥ) 1. m. Shiva. f. (rī) Durgā; bell-metal; a flower (Clitoria).
Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—
1) m. (mahā + ī) a) der grosse Herr, Oberherr, Haupt [Medinīkoṣa r. 292.] tamīśvarāṇāṃ paramaṃ maheśvaram [ŚVETĀŚV. Upakośā 6, 7.] tridaśānām (Indra) [Mahābhārata 1, 8261.] loka Beiname Kṛṣṇa’s [Bhagavadgītā 10, 3.] sarvaloka desgl. [5, 29.] Śiva’s [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 37, 13.] devāsura (Śiva) [Mahābhārata 13, 1260.] Ohne Ergänzung pl. Bez. der Welthüter Indra, Yama, Agni und Varuṇa [Nalopākhyāna 3, 8. 4, 23. 5, 21.] sg. Gott (im Gegens. zu prakṛti) [ŚVETĀŚV. Upakośā 4, 10.] [Weber’s Indische Studien 2, 92.] [MUIR, Stenzler 3, 5. 71. 222.] Insbes. Beiname Śiva’s [Amarakoṣa.1,1,1,25.3,4,9,37.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 198.] [Medinīkoṣa] [Pariśiṣṭa des Atharvaveda 42,3.] [Weber’s Indische Studien.4,359.] [Mahābhārata.1,1154. 7701. 12,12957. 14,141.] [Harivaṃśa 7586.] [Rāmāyaṇa.1,37,27. 44,5. 76,17.5,5,7.] [Raghuvaṃśa.3,49.] [Spr. 9. 2159.] [Kathāsaritsāgara 69,37.] [Viṣṇupurāṇa 65. 66.] [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 51,56.] [Oxforder Handschriften 45,a,6. 76,a,6. 103,a,31.] [Rgva tch’er rol pa ed. Calc. 340,1 v. u.] [WASSILJEW] 198. 214. [Hiouen-Thsang 1,124. 237. 264. 354.2,157. 178.] liṅga [KṢITĪŚ. 26, 4.] Bez. Viṣṇu’s [WEBER, Rāmatāpanīya Upaniṣad 352.] [Spr.] [?4512(?).] — b) Nomen proprium eines Devaputra [Rgva tch’er rol pa ed. Calc. 3, 16. 4, 15. 6, 19. 7, 12.] [Lot. de Lassen’s Anthologie b. l. 3.] eines Yakṣa [Burnouf 256.] — c) Nomen proprium verschiedener Männer [Siddhāntaśiromaṇi 13,61.] [Weber’s Verzeichniss No. 687. 843.] [Oxforder Handschriften 327,a, No. 774.] [Weber’s Verzeichniss No. 802. 820. 967.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 528,] [Randgl.] [Oxforder Handschriften 113,b,2. 150,b,33. 185,b,40. 187,b,15. 37. 207,b, No. 488.] [HALL] in der Einl. zu [VĀSAVAD. 18. 46. 54.] Inschr. in Journ. of the Am. Or. [S. 6, 508, Śloka 32.] tīrtha [Weber’s Indische Studien 1, 468.] nyāyālaṃkāra [Bibliothecae sanskritae 339.] vaidya [Colebrooke II, 58.] —
2) f. ī (mahā + ī) a) die grosse Frau, Beiname der Durgā [TANTRASĀRA im Śabdakalpadruma] Bez. der Dākṣāyaṇī in Mahākāla [Oxforder Handschriften 39,b,18.] — b) eine Art Messing, = brahmarīti [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1048.] = rājarīti [Rājanirghaṇṭa im Śabdakalpadruma] — — c) Clitoria Ternatea Lin. [Śabdacandrikā im Śabdakalpadruma] — Vgl. bhūtamaheśvara, māheśvara .
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Māheśvara (माहेश्वर):—(von maheśvara)
1) adj. f. ī auf den grossen Herrn (Śiva) bezüglich, ihm gehörig u. s. w.: pada [Mahābhārata 13, 815.] cāpa [Harivaṃśa 2330.] tanu [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 109, 71.] parṣad [Rājataraṅgiṇī 2, 127.] yuga [Harivaṃśa 3019.] kalpa (s. u. kalpa 2, d.). jvara [Harivaṃśa 9556.] dharmāḥ [Oxforder Handschriften 266,b,15.] yoga [52,b,4.] stotra [Harivaṃśa 14860.] yajña [Rāmāyaṇa 4, 37, 31.] vedāṅga [Weber’s Indische Studien 1, 17, 1.] upapurāṇa [18,18.] [Oxforder Handschriften.8,a,9. 65,b,13. 80,a,6.] tantra [104,a,16.] śākunaśāstrasāra [Weber’s Verzeichniss No. 897.] dhārā Nomen proprium eines heiligen Badeplatzes [Mahābhārata 3, 8095.] pada desgl. [8097.] pura desgl. [8107.] māheśvare pure [Oxforder Handschriften 39,b,20.] —
2) adj. Śiva verehrend; m. ein Verehrer des Śiva: janāḥ [Harivaṃśa 14844.] [Kathāsaritsāgara 25, 230.] [Colebrooke I, 406. fgg.] [BANERJEA 270.] [Rājataraṅgiṇī 1, 154.] parama Inschr. in [Journ. of the Am. Or. S. 6, 539, 2.] Davon nom. abstr. māheśvaratā [Rājataraṅgiṇī 1, 135. 3, 453.] Vgl. mahāmāheśvara . —
3) f. ī a) Maheśvara’s Energie [Oxforder Handschriften 25,b, Nalopākhyāna 5.] unter den sieben göttlichen Müttern [?184,a,4. Mitākṣarā 142,10. Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 201, Scholiast Śabdaratnāvalī im Śabdakalpadruma] = Durgā ebend. [Mahābhārata 14,1184.] [Oxforder Handschriften 71,b,12.] tantra [108,b,36. 109,a,25.] — b) Nomen proprium eines Flusses [Śatruṃjayamāhātmya 1, 54.] — c) eine best. Schlingpflanze, = yavatiktā [Rājanirghaṇṭa im Śabdakalpadruma]
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Māheśvara (माहेश्वर):—
2) [SARVADARŚANAS. 74, 6. 80, 14. 90, 17. 97, 11.]
Maheśvara (महेश्वर):——
1) m. — a) ein grosser Herr , Oberherr , Haupt. — b) Gott. — c) Bez. — α) Śiva's. — β) Viṣṇu's. — γ) Pl. der Welthüter Indra , Yama , Agni und Varuṇa. — d) Nomen proprium — α) eines Devaputra. — β) verschiedener Männer. —
2) f. ī — a) Beiname der Durgā. — b) Name der Dākṣāyaṇi in Mahākāla. — c) *eine Art Messing [Rājan 13,29.] — d) *Clitoria ternatea.
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Māheśvara (माहेश्वर):——
1) Adj. (f. ī) — a) auf den grossen Herrn (Śiva) bezüglich , ihm gehörig u.s.w. dhārā Nomen proprium eines heiligen Badeplatzes. — b) Śiva verehrend. —
2) m. ein Verehrer des Śiva , ein Śivait. Vier Secten derselben [Govindānanda .S.592.] parama [Kād. (1872) 249,11.] [Harṣacarita 71,10.] Nom.abstr. tā f. —
3) f. ī — a) Śiva’s Energie , eine der sieben göttlichen Mütter , = ddhargā. — b) *eine best. Pflanze [Rājan 3,65.] — c) Nomen proprium eines Flusses.
Maheśvara (महेश्वर) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Mahissara, Mahesara, Māhesara.
Maheśvara (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 大神妙天 [dà shén miào tiān]: “Maheśvara” [name of a Deity].
2) 摩醯徑伐羅 [mó xī jìng fá luó]: “Maheśvara” [name of a Deity].
3) 摩醯首羅 [mó xī shǒu luó]: “Indra”; “Maheśvara”; “Mahissara”; “Śiva” [name of a Deity].
4) 莫醯 [mò xī]: “Maheśvara” [name of a Deity].
5) 魔醯 [mó xī]: “Maheśvara” [name of a Deity].
6) 魔醯首羅 [mó xī shǒu luó]: “(Skt. Maheśvara)”.
7) 大自在 [dà zì zài]: “great freedom”.
8) 自在 [zì zài]: “sovereignty”.
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
Māheśvara (माहेश्वर):—(a) pertaining to [maheśvara] (Lord Shiv).
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Mahēśvara (ಮಹೇಶ್ವರ):—
1) [noun] Śiva, the Great or Supreme Lord.
2) [noun] (vīr.) the second of six stages in the path of development of a devotee; the stage in which the devotee comes to have trust and the resultant confidence in Śiva.
3) [noun] a devotee in this level.
4) [noun] (yoga.) the deity presiding over the sixth mystical circle in the human body.
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Māhēśvara (ಮಾಹೇಶ್ವರ):—
1) [noun] (vīr.) a devotee in the second of six stages in the path of development of a devotee (the stage in which the devotee comes to have trust and the resultant confidence in Śiva).
2) [noun] name of one of the Śaiva clans.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
1) Maheśvara (महेश्वर):—n. 1. the supreme god; 2. Mythol. an epithet of Shiva;
2) Māheśvara (माहेश्वर):—adj. 1. worshipping Shiva; 2. pertaining to Shiva;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Ishvara, Maha.
Starts with (+19): Maheshvara bhatta, Maheshvara bhattacarya, Maheshvara mishra, Maheshvara nyayalamkara bhattacarya, Maheshvara sharman, Maheshvara-putra, Maheshvarabala, Maheshvarabhattiya, Maheshvaradanta, Maheshvaradatta, Maheshvaradharma, Maheshvaradharmadharma, Maheshvaradhupa, Maheshvaradikshita, Maheshvaradikshitiya, Maheshvaradipa, Maheshvarajvara, Maheshvarakaracyuta, Maheshvarakavaca, Maheshvarakhanda.
Full-text (+721): Mahamaheshvara, Bhutamaheshvara, Maheshvarapura, Umamaheshvara, Maheshvarapada, Maheshvara bhatta, Maheshvaratva, Maheshvaradipa, Maheshvarasiddhanta, Maheshvaradatta, Maheshvaratirtha, Hamsamaheshvara, Maheshvaratantra, Maheshvaravaidya, Maheshvaralinga, Maheshvaranyayalamkara, Lokamaheshvara, Subuddhimishramaheshvara, Maheshvaradharmadharma, Laditamaheshvara.
Relevant text
Search found 244 books and stories containing Maheshvara, Maha-ishvara, Mahā-īśvara, Maha-isvara, Maheśvara, Māheśvara, Mahesvara, Mahēśvara, Māhēśvara; (plurals include: Maheshvaras, ishvaras, īśvaras, isvaras, Maheśvaras, Māheśvaras, Mahesvaras, Mahēśvaras, Māhēśvaras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.1.7 < [Chapter 1 - Summary of Lord Gaura’s Pastimes]
Verse 1.1.178 < [Chapter 1 - Summary of Lord Gaura’s Pastimes]
Verse 3.4.484 < [Chapter 4 - Descriptions of Śrī Acyutānanda’s Pastimes and the Worship of Śrī Mādhavendra]
Saura-purana (analytical study) (by Priyanku Chakraborty)
Part 4 - Śakti, Śaktism and the Saura-purāṇa < [Chapter 6 - Different Religious Cults in the Perspective of the Saura-purāṇa]
Part 2.22b - The Marriage of Śiva and Pārvatī < [Chapter 3 - Myths and Legends of the Saura-purāṇa]
Part 2.6.2 - The Dāruvana episode and its significance < [Chapter 4 - The Vedic and other Elements as Reflected in the Saura-purāṇa]
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
2. Rudra-Śiva in the Upaniṣadic Literature < [Chapter 4 - Rudra-Śiva in the Post-Brāhmaṇic Literature]
4. Forms of Śiva and his different activities < [Chapter 5 - Rudra-Śiva in the Purāṇic Literature]
2.3. Rudra as Śarva < [Chapter 6a - The Epithets of Rudra-Śiva]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Ushaharana Kavya of Trivikrama Pandita (Study) (by Pranesh R. Archak)
Part 4 - The story of Usha and Aniruddha in the Shiva Purana < [Chapter 3 - Sources of the Ushaharana-kavya]
Part 1 - The story of Usha and Aniruddha in the Bhagavata Purana < [Chapter 3 - Sources of the Ushaharana-kavya]
Part 5 - The story of Usha and Aniruddha in the Harivamsa Purana < [Chapter 3 - Sources of the Ushaharana-kavya]
Srikara Bhashya (commentary) (by C. Hayavadana Rao)