Mahishaka, Māhiṣaka, Mahiṣaka: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Mahishaka means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Māhiṣaka and Mahiṣaka can be transliterated into English as Mahisaka or Mahishaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Mahiṣaka (महिषक).—(MĀHIṢAKA): A special tribe. They were once Kṣatriyas but they became Śūdras by their evil mode of living. (Ślokas 22, 23, Chapter 33, Anuśāsana Parva). Arjuna during his victory march conquered this tribe in the south. (Chapter 83, Aśvamedha Parva).
2) Mahiṣaka (महिषक).—The name given by the Ancient people to modern Mysore. (Mahābhārata Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 59).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMāhiṣaka (माहिषक).—The people of the Dakṣiṇāpatha.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 125.
Māhiṣaka (माहिषक) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. VI.10.45, VI.10.57, VIII.30.45) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Māhiṣaka) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Shodhganga: The Kavyamimamsa of RajasekharaMāhiṣaka (माहिषक) is the name a locality mentioned in Rājaśekhara’s 10th-century Kāvyamīmāṃsā.—It is one of the regions on lower Narmadā, which capital name Māhiṣmatī.
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’.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraMahiṣaka (महिषक) refers to “buffaloes”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 17), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If Saturn should suffer defeat in his conjunction with Mercury, the people of Bengal, tradesmen, birds, animals and snakes will suffer; if he should so suffer in his conjunction with Jupiter, women will be happy; buffaloes (mahiṣaka) and the Scythians will suffer”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
India history and geography
Source: Wisdom Library: India HistoryMāhiṣaka (माहिषक) is the name of a country included within Dakṣiṇapatha which was situated ahead of Māhiṣmatī according to Rājaśekhara (fl. 10th century) in his Kāvyamīmāṃsā (chapter 17). Dakṣiṇāpatha is a place-name ending is patha mentioned in the Gupta inscriptions. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
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 dictionaryMāhiṣaka (माहिषक).—A buffalo-keeper.
Derivable forms: māhiṣakaḥ (माहिषकः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMāhiṣaka (माहिषक).—m.
(-kaḥ) A buffalo-keeper.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahiṣaka (महिषक):—[from mah] m. [plural] Name of a people, [Mahābhārata] ([Bombay edition]), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] ([varia lectio] māhiṣa).
2) Māhiṣaka (माहिषक):—[from māhiṣa] m. a buffalo keeper, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a people, [Mahābhārata; Purāṇa]
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Mahishakanda.
Full-text: Karnataka, Mahishika, Mahisha, Dravida, Dakshinapatha.
Relevant text
Search found 13 books and stories containing Mahishaka, Māhiṣaka, Mahiṣaka, Mahisaka; (plurals include: Mahishakas, Māhiṣakas, Mahiṣakas, Mahisakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara (Study) (by Debabrata Barai)
Part 8.5 - Region of Dakṣiṇāpatha (southern part) < [Chapter 5 - Analyasis and Interpretations of the Kāvyamīmāṃsā]
Appendix 2 - Identification of Geographical names mentioned in the Kāvyamīmāṃsā
List of Mahabharata tribes (by Laxman Burdak)
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 10.43 < [Section III - Status of the Mixed Castes]
Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)
7. Trade and Commerce (of clothes and dresses) < [Chapter 2 - Costumes]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)