Mahoraga, Maha-uraga, Mahant-oraga: 22 definitions
Introduction:
Mahoraga means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMahoraga (महोरग).—A son of Viśveśā.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 171. 49.
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: ManthanabhairavatantramMahoraga (महोरग) refers to the “great serpent” and is used to describe Śaṃkara (i.e., Bhairava), according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, as the Goddess (i.e., Khageśī) said to the God (i.e., Bhairava), “[...] Give up the ash, the matted hair and the form with five faces. Give up the bones and skull and (all) else that is artificial. Give up (the practice of ritual) gestures, the Moon and the sacred thread. Give up the bull and the Ganges. Give up (your) spear and the great serpent [i.e., mahoraga], the ascetic's staff and, O god, the garland of severed heads and the skull. Accomplishment (siddhi) (can only be found) in Kula, Kaula and the Western (transmission) of Sadyojāta. [...]”.
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 Buddhism1) Mahoraga (महोरग) refers to one of the male Vidyā-beings 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 Mahoraga).
2) Mahoraga (महोरग) also refers to a group of deities summoned by the Yamāntaka-mantra and mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.
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.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)Mahoraga (महोरग) is the name of a Gandharva appointed as one of the Divine protector deities of Gaśa [?], 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 Gandharva Mahoraga in Kia-chö (Gaśa ? =Kāśī/Khaṣa ?)], 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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: BuddhismMahoraga:—A deity with the head of a snake who protects Buddhists.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismMahoraga (महोरग).—The mahoragas are a group of deities categorised as belonging to the vyantara class of Gods (devas). The vyantaras represent a class of Gods (devas) comprising eight groups of deities that wander about the three worlds (adhaloka, madhyaloka and ūrdhvaloka).
Source: Google Books: Jaina IconographyMahoraga (महोरग).—A class of vyantara gods;—The Tiloyapaṇṇati divides them into 10 classes:
- Bhujaga,
- Bhujaṅgaśāli,
- Mahātanu,
- Atikāya,
- Skandhaśāli,
- Manohara,
- Aśanijava,
- Maheśvara,
- Gambhīra,
- Priyadarśana.
The Mahoragas have dark complexion. The Nāga-tree is their Caitya-tree.
According to the Śvetāmbaras, the 10 Mahoragas are:
- Bhujaga,
- Bhogaśāli,
- Mahākaya,
- Atikāya,
- Skandhaśāli,
- Manorama,
- Mahāvega,
- Mahāyakṣa,
- Merukānta,
- Bhāsvanta.
Blackish in appearance, they have braod and muscular shoulders and necks and are adorned with various ornaments and sandal paste marks. The Nāga is the mark on their heralds.
The cities of Mahoraga gods situated in the vedi have palaces of square and rectangular plans, and of white, ruby, golden or various colors. These mansions contain various apartments, such as olagaśālā, mantraśālā, bhūṣaṇaśālā, abhiṣekaśālā etc.
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 4: The celestial beings (deva)Mahoraga (महोरग) refers to the “great serpent” class of “peripatetic celestial beings” (vyantara), itself a category of devas (celestial beings), according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 4.10. Who are the lords amongst the great serpent (mahoraga) class of peripatetic (forest) celestial beings? Atikāya and Mahākāya are the two lords in the great serpent peripatetic celestial beings.
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsMahoraga (महोरग) refers to the “serpent-lord” (of disease), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “In this world, fool, how could the body, which is covered in a mass of skin, a skeleton of bones, excessively filled with the smells of a stinking corpse, sitting in the mouth of Yama, the abode of the serpent-lord of disease [com.—roga-mahoraga-gṛha—‘the abode of the great snake of disease’], be for the pleasure of men? [Thus ends the reflection on] impurity”.
Synonyms: Bhogīndra.
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
Source: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-katha (history)Mahoraga (महोरग) refers to one of the deities being worshiped in ancient India, as vividly depicted in the Kathās (narrative poems) such as Uddyotanasūri in his 8th-century Kuvalayamālā (a Prakrit Campū, similar to Kāvya poetry).—The Kuvalayamala (779 A.D.) is full of cultural material which gains in value because of the firm date of its composition. [...] Page 256.31-2 ff.: Here is a mixed list of 25 gods and Godlings of all religions. These were worshipped and propitiated to obtain favours. The list includes [e.g., Mahoraga] [...].
Source: Academia: Ritual Period: A Comparative Study of Three Newar Buddhist Menarche ManualsMahoraga (महोरग) refers to “snake demons”, according to the “Vādhā byaṃ ke vidhi”: the name of two manuscripts written by (1) Kathmandu-based priest, Badriratna Bajracharya and (2) Buddharatna Bajracharya from Lalitpur.—Badriratna’s text pays the most attention to the invocations of celestial bodies and other cosmologically grouped agents. The list consists of [e.g., snake demons (mahoragas)]. In this list, we particularly find the dark forces that are especially adept at causing problems for women, children and, more specifically, girl children, addressed and harnessed.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarymahoraga : (m.) a king of Nāgas.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryMahoraga refers to: (m+uraga) a great snake J. V, 165. (Page 525)
Note: mahoraga is a Pali compound consisting of the words mahant and oraga.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahoraga (महोरग).—a great serpent; वपुर्महोरगस्येव करालफणमण्डलम् (vapurmahoragasyeva karālaphaṇamaṇḍalam) R.12.98.
Derivable forms: mahoragaḥ (महोरगः).
Mahoraga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and uraga (उरग).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahoraga (महोरग).—n.
(-gaṃ) The root of a plant: see tagara. m.
(-gaḥ) 1. A sort of demigod of the serpent genus, and forming one of the classes inhabiting Patala, &c. 2. A large snake. E. mahā great, and uraga a snake.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahoraga (महोरग).—m. a sort of demi-god of the serpent genus, inhabiting Pātāla.
Mahoraga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and uraga (उरग).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahoraga (महोरग).—[masculine] great serpent.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahoraga (महोरग):—[from mahā > mah] m. a gr° serpent (with Jainas and Buddhists a class of demons), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc. (cf. [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 220])
2) [v.s. ...] n. the root of Tabernaemontana Coronaria, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahoraga (महोरग):—[maho+raga] (gaṃ) 1. m. A demigod, kind of the serpents; any large snake. n. The root of a plant.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Mahoraga (महोरग) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Mahoraga.
[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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryMahoraga (महोरग) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Mahoraga.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Maha, Mahant, Oraga, Mahanta, Uraga.
Starts with: Mahoragadashta, Mahoragaka, Mahoragakamtha, Mahoragalipi.
Full-text (+32): Mahoragalipi, Atikaya, Mahakaya, Vyantara, Mahoragadashta, Sarvamahoraga, Bhujaga, Mahatanu, Bhasvanta, Gambhira, Manohara, Merukanta, Bhujangashali, Skandhashali, Ashanijava, Bhogashali, Mahayaksha, Priyadarshana, Maheshvara, Mahavega.
Relevant text
Search found 38 books and stories containing Mahoraga, Maha-uraga, Mahā-uraga, Mahant-oraga, Mahanta-uraga, Mahōraga; (plurals include: Mahoragas, uragas, oragas, Mahōragas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 4.11 - The subclasses of the peripatetic beings (vyantara-deva) < [Chapter 4 - The Celestial Beings]
Verse 4.6 - The two lords (indra) < [Chapter 4 - The Celestial Beings]
Shurangama Sutra (with commentary) (English) (by Hsuan Hua)
Thirty-two response bodies < [Chapter 2 - Twenty-five Means to Enlightenment]
Manjushri seeks aid and generally concludes < [Chapter 3 - Manjushri Selects the Organ of Entry]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 19: The Vyantaras < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Part 4: Birth ceremonies of Ṛṣabha < [Chapter II]
Lankavatara Sutra (by Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 101 < [Volume 6 (1882)]
Lotus Sutra (by Tsugunari Kubo)