Mahotsava, aka: Maha-utsava; 5 Definition(s)
Introduction
Mahotsava means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
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.
Source: Shodhganga: Temple management in the Āgamas
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
mahōtsava (महोत्सव).—m (S) mahōtsāha m (S) Any great festival or great rejoicings.
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarymahōtsava (महोत्सव).—m Any great festival or great rejoicings.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi 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-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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahotsava (महोत्सव).—m.
(-vaḥ) 1. A great festival. 2. Kama. E. mahā, and utsava a festival.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Relevant definitions
Partial matches: Maha, Utsava.
Ends with: Atthai-mahotsava, Madanamahotsava, Mallakridamahotsava, Navasamvatsara Mahotsava, Parapushtamahotsava, Rathamahotsava, Snana-mahotsava.
Full-text: Mocchava, Motsava, Snana-mahotsava, Atthai-mahotsava, Navasamvatsara Mahotsava, Rathamahotsava, Brahmotsava, Madanamahotsava, Ratikara, Ashtahnika, Tripurantaka.
Relevant text
Search found 4 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:
Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 3.4.51 < [Part 4 - Parenthood (vātsalya-rasa)]
Verse 1.2.220 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī)
Verse 1.7.132 < [Chapter 7 - Purna: The Complete Perfection]
Preceptors of Advaita (by T. M. P. Mahadevan)
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 17 - Bhadratanu’s Story < [Section 7 - Kriyāyogasāra-Khaṇḍa (Section on Essence of Yoga by Works)]