Mahotsava, Maha-utsava: 16 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Shaivism
2. Purana
3. Vaishnavism
4. Shaktism
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Mahotsava means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Mahotsav.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Temple management in the Āgamas

Mahotsava (महोत्सव) refers to periodical pūjā or Parārthapūjā as defined in the Śaivāgamas.—Brahmotsava or Mahotsava that is a large-scale festival celebrated every year at all Śiva temples, involving flag hoisting and daily ritual procession of the Lord in the morning and evening in various forms and vāhanas, ending with lowering the flag. Mahotsava is hailed as a democratic, social festival with the participation and contribution of people from all walks of life including decoraters, traders, craftsmen, tailors, flower-sellers, singers, musicians, artists, carpenters, public speakers, other performers and so on.

The mahotsava is considered the culmination of the entire year’s worship at the temple. The Lord and his retinue come out of the temple to bless the entire village. Each year, the nakṣatra, month, tithi and other parameters must be analyzed well before time and the utsava schedule fixed according to the day of the tīrtha. The mahotsava must be conducted for 27 days, 18 days, 9 days or at least one day. If mahotsava is not performed, it causes great harm to the king and kingdom.

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Mahotsava (महोत्सव) refers to “great festivities”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.19. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] then at my bidding in the capacity of the main priest, Śivā and Śiva duly and with great delight performed the circumambulation of the sacred fire. O excellent Brahmin, then wonderfully great festivities (mahotsava) were conducted with beatings of drums and playings on musical instruments accompanied by songs and dances pleasing everyone”.

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.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Mahotsava (महोत्सव) refers to:—Joyous spiritual festival. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

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’).

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Mahotsava (महोत्सव) refers to one of the eight Heroes (vīra-aṣṭaka) associated with Pūrṇagiri or Pūrṇapīṭha (which is located in the northern quarter), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight heroes (vīrāṣṭaka): Chadmaka, Pramāthin, Prakṛṣṭa, Pramodin, Śaṅkukarṇa, Gokarṇa, Saṃvatsara, Mahotsava.

2) Mahotsava (महोत्सव) or Laghvībīja refers to the Vidyā associated with Pūrṇagiri, one of the eight Sacred Seats (pīṭha), according to the Yogakhaṇḍa (chapter 14) of the Manthānabhairavatantra.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

mahōtsava (महोत्सव).—m (S) mahōtsāha m (S) Any great festival or great rejoicings.

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

mahōtsava (महोत्सव).—m Any great festival or great rejoicings.

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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mahotsava (महोत्सव).—

1) a great festival or occasion of joy; नयनविषयं जन्मन्येकः स एव महोत्सवः (nayanaviṣayaṃ janmanyekaḥ sa eva mahotsavaḥ) Māl.1.36.

2) the god of love.

Derivable forms: mahotsavaḥ (महोत्सवः).

Mahotsava is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and utsava (उत्सव).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahotsava (महोत्सव).—m.

(-vaḥ) 1. A great festival. 2. Kama. E. mahā, and utsava a festival.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahotsava (महोत्सव).—[masculine] great festival.

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

1) Mahotsava (महोत्सव):—[from mahā > mah] m. (ifc. f(ā). ) a gr° festival, any gr° rejoicing, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] the god of love, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mahotsava (महोत्सव):—[maho+tsava] (vaḥ) 1. m. Great festival.

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

Mahotsava (महोत्सव) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Mahūsava.

[Sanskrit to German]

Mahotsava 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

Mahotsava (महोत्सव) [Also spelled mahotsav]:—(nm) a great celebration, festival.

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Mahōtsava (ಮಹೋತ್ಸವ):—

1) [noun] a great festival.

2) [noun] any great rejoicing; great joy.

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 8 books and stories containing Mahotsava, Maha-utsava, Mahā-utsava, Mahōtsava; (plurals include: Mahotsavas, utsavas, Mahōtsavas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 3.4.51 < [Part 4 - Parenthood (vātsalya-rasa)]

Verse 1.2.220 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]

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Verse 2.23.62 < [Chapter 23 - Wandering about Navadvīpa On the Day the Lord Delivered the Kazi]

Verse 2.5.160 < [Chapter 5 - Lord Nityānanda’s Vyāsa-pūjā Ceremony and His Darśana of the Lord’s Six-armed Form]

Verse 1.3.42 < [Chapter 3 - Calculation of the Lord’s Horoscope]

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Verse 1.4.80 < [Chapter 4 - Bhakta (the devotee)]

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Text 12 < [Chapter 1 - Prathama-yāma-sādhana (Niśānta-bhajana–śraddhā)]

Text 13 < [Chapter 7 - Saptama-yāma-sādhana (Pradoṣa-kālīya-bhajana–vipralambha-prema)]

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