Mahima, Mahimā: 15 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Shaivism
2. Yoga
3. Purana
4. Shaktism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Prakrit
5. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Mahima means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Nahima.

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantra

Mahimā (महिमा):—Seventh of the eight Mahāmātṛs existing within the Mātṛcakra, according to the Kubjikāmatatantra. Mahimā stands for the element “earth”. The eight Mahāmātṛs are also called mudrās because all the directions are ‘sealed’ by them.

Mahimā (as do each of the eight Mahāmātṛs) divides herself into eight (secondary) mātṛs, presided over by a Bhairava (fearsome manifestations of Śiva) and his Mātṛkā as consorts. The Mātṛs of this sixth and north-western group are born from Mahimā’s body. They are presided over by Jhaṇṭha Bhairava and his consort Aindryā.

The eight deities originating from Mahimā are called:

Nivṛtti,
Pratiṣṭhā,
Vidyā,
Śānti,
Śāntātītā,
Pṛthivī,
Vajriṇī
and Kāmadhenavī.

All these Mātṛs are characterized as carrying a diamond (vajra) in their hand.

context information

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.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Yoga

Mahimā (महिमा) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “ability to become huge”, as described in the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali.

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Mahimā (महिमा) refers to “(the supernatural power of) becoming immense”, and as one of the “eight common Yogic paranormal powers”, represents one of the various signs and paranormal powers (siddhi) experienced by the Yoga practicioner, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise.—The last fifty-two verses of the Amanaska’s first chapter describe a temporal sequence of psychosomatic signs and paranormal powers (siddhi) brought about by absorption (laya). In the Amanaska, The 8 common yogic paranormal powers are, [e.g., the power to be immense (mahimā)], [...] This list is similar to that given in Pātañjalayogaśāstra 3.45.

context information

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).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Mahimā (महिमा) refers to the “power of greatness”, representing the achievements of the western petal of the Aṣṭadala (mystical diagram of the lotus of eight petals), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.11, while explaining the mode of worshipping Śiva:—“[...] the Liṅga shall be purified and installed with various mantras beginning with Praṇava and ending with Namaḥ (obeisance). The pedestal in the form of Svastika or lotus shall be assigned with Praṇava. In the eight petals, in the eight quarters, the eight achievements are identified [viz., the western is Mahimā (greatness)]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Mahimā (महिमा).—A siddhi devī.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 19. 4; 36. 51; 44. 108.

1b) One of the eight Yogaiśvaryas; the third Yoga.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 13. 3, 13.

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Mahimā (महिमा) refers to one of the maids (cellakā) associated with Pūrṇagiri, one of the sacred seats (pīṭha), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Nine of the twelve female servants (three in each of the first four seats), are low-caste women who we find, in other contexts, embody the Mothers (mātṛkā). The maids (cellakā) [i.e., Mahimā] are Yoginīs and the servants their male counterparts. These replace the spiritual ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ the goddess generates and the guardians she appoints in the sacred seats listed in the ‘Kubjikāmatatantra’.

context information

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 Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 3: The Lower and middle worlds

Mahimā (महिमा) refers to “transforming the body into bigger stature” and represents one of the eleven types of extraordinary form-changing (vikriyā), which itself is a subclass of the eight ṛddhis (extraordinary powers). These powers can be obtained by the Ārya (civilized people) in order to produce worldly miracles. The Āryas represent one of the two classes of human beings according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 3.46, the other being Mleccha (barbarians).

What is meant by extraordinary power to transform body into bigger stature (mahimā-riddhi)? It is the extraordinary power by which one transforms his body into bigger stature like a hill.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

mahimā (महिमा).—m f (S) Greatness, grandeur, glory, illustriousness, majesty. Ex. patanauddhāra santāñcā ma0 || tyajāvēṃ adhamā santadvēṣṭayā ||. 2 m Magnitude as one of Shiva's attributes, immensity or illimitability. 3 Greatness or magnitude in general.

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

mahimā (महिमा).—m f Greatness, glory. m Magnitude.

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

1) Mahima (महिम):—[from mah] in [compound] for mahiman.

2) Mahimā (महिमा):—[from mah] f. = mahiman, greatness etc., [Rāmāyaṇa]

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahima 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

Mahimā (महिमा) [Also spelled nahima]:—(nf) exaltation, greatness, dignity; majesty; importance; ~[maṃḍita] exalted; dignified; majestic; bearing the stamp of greatness/importance; ~[maya/vāna] dignified, exalted, great, majestic; important.

context information

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Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Mahima (महिम) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Mahiman.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Mahima (ಮಹಿಮ):—

1) [noun] = ಮಹಿಮೆ - [mahime -] 1.

2) [noun] a man of greatness or he who has spiritual or super-human power.

context information

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

Relevant text

Search found 67 books and stories containing Mahima, Mahimā; (plurals include: Mahimas, Mahimās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 2.8.42 < [Chapter 8 - Description of Seeing Lord Kṛṣṇa]

Verse 2.9.15 < [Chapter 9 - Brahmā’s Prayers]

show preview

Text 28 < [First Stabaka]

Text 16 < [Second Stabaka]

Text 36 < [First Stabaka]

+ 1 more chapters / show preview

Verse 1.5.115 < [Chapter 5 - Priya (the beloved devotees)]

Verse 1.5.28 < [Chapter 5 - Priya (the beloved devotees)]

Verse 2.3.98 < [Chapter 3 - Bhajana (loving service)]

+ 18 more chapters / show preview

Verse 201-202 [Kalpanā-Dhāraṇā-Kālidevata Tattvas] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]