Mahoraga, Maha-uraga, Mahant-oraga: 15 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
Mahoraga means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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.
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.
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.

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
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.]
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.
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