In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Mārgastha (मार्गस्थ) refers to “one who is established in the path” (of meditation), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.8.—Accordingly, as Himavat said to Nārada:—“O sage Nārada, O intelligent one, I have one submission to make. Please listen to it lovingly and make us delightful. It is heard that the great God abhors all attachments. He has perfect self-control. He is ever busy in penance and is out of reach of even the Gods. O celestial sage, He is in the path of meditation [i.e., mārgastha—dhyāna mārgasthaḥ]. How can He withdraw His mind from the supreme Brahman? I have a great doubt in this respect. [...]”.

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.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Mārgastha (मार्गस्थ) refers to “(those vīthis) classified as a certain path”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 9), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The ecliptic is divided into nine divisions known as Vīthis (paths). [...] Of the nine Vīthis the first three are known as the northern Vīthis; the next three as the central Vīthis and the last three as the southern Vīthis. [i.e., mārgastha—udaṅmadhyayāmyamārgasthāḥ] Again in the case of each three the first is known as the northern Vīthi, the second as the central Vīthi and the last as the southern Vīthi”.

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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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Mārgasthā (मार्गस्था) refers to “she who is the presiding deity of the Kaula Path”, according to the Lalitāsahasranāma.—Lalitā’s thousand names are eulogized in the Lalitāsahasranāma, describing the goddess’s spiritual beauty on the analogy of physical, sensuous beauty. [...] She is the Kula Yoginī (95) and her very nature is Kula (kularūpiṇī) (897). She is the Mother of the Heroes, that is, Kaula initiates (vīramātā) (836) and delights in their company (vīragoṣṭhipriyā) (898). She is the presiding deity of the Kaula Path and is on both aspects of it, that is, the Right and the Left (savya-apasavya-mārgasthā) (912). So although the goddess is given these names they are sacred to the devotees who practice Vāmācāra also. In short, the Kula rites—sexual yet chaste—share in the same ambiguity as the goddess who presides over them.

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

1) Mārgastha (मार्गस्थ) refers to “(being) engaged in the path (of the observance)”, according to the Vārāṇasīmāhātmya verse 1.116-125.—Accordingly, “Engaged in the path of the observance of the skull (kāpāla-vrata-mārgastha), the Lord wanders, free from attachment, displaying the Lokamārga and the supreme Lokātīta. And the lokas are designated ‘bound souls’, including gods, demons and men. No one realizes the supreme certainty with respect to knowledge of the self. And except for Śarva, the supreme god, there is no such behaviour of another [God]. No other god has certainty of knowledge. There is no such behaviour anywhere in the world with all its Gods. [...]”.

2) Mārgastha (मार्गस्थ) refers to “adhering to a particular path”, according to the Svacchandatantra verse 4.79b-81b.—Accordingly, “The Sādhaka is of two kinds. On the one hand, there is the śivadharmī, for whom the cosmic path is purified by Śaiva mantras and who is yoked to [particular] mantras that are to be mastered; he is knowledgeable, consecrated [to office], and devoted to the propitiation of mantras. This Śaiva Sādhaka is capable [of mastering] the threefold supernatural powers. The second [kind of Sādhaka] adheres to the mundane path (loka-mārgastha) and is devoted to the performance of good and meritorious works; desiring the fruits produced by [his] karma, he abides solely [devoted to] meritorious [karma], free of the unmeritorious. [The Guru] should always perform the destruction of the unmeritorious portion [of the candidate’s karma] with mantras”.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

mārgastha (मार्गस्थ).—a (S mārga & stha Placed or situated.) That is on a journey; a traveler, passenger, wayfarer.

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

mārgastha (मार्गस्थ).—a A way farer, traveller.

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

Mārgastha (मार्गस्थ).—a. travelling; wayfaring; अनुगन्तुं सतां वर्त्म कृत्स्नं यदि न शक्यते । स्वल्पमप्यव- गन्तव्यं मार्गस्थो नावसीदति (anugantuṃ satāṃ vartma kṛtsnaṃ yadi na śakyate | svalpamapyava- gantavyaṃ mārgastho nāvasīdati) || Subhāṣ.

Mārgastha is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mārga and stha (स्थ).

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

Mārgastha (मार्गस्थ).—[adjective] being on the (right) way (l.&[feminine]).

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

1) Mārgastha (मार्गस्थ):—[=mārga-stha] [from mārga > mārg] mfn. being on the road, a traveller, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]

2) [v.s. ...] staying on the right way ([literally] and [figuratively]), [Kathāsaritsāgara; Śārṅgadhara-paddhati]

[Sanskrit to German]

Margastha 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Marga, Stha.

Ends with: Sanmargastha, Trimargastha, Vimargastha.

Full-text: Stha, Vimargastha, Sanmargastha, Nasikarandhra, Savyamarga, Apasavyamarga, Loka, Dhyanamarga, Savyapasavya, Apasavya, Savya.

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Search found 2 books and stories containing Margastha, Mārgastha, Mārgasthā, Marga-stha, Mārga-stha, Mārga-sthā; (plurals include: Margasthas, Mārgasthas, Mārgasthās, sthas, sthās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)

Verse 2.25.3 < [Chapter 25 - The Rāsa-dance Pastime]

Verse 2.25.4 < [Chapter 25 - The Rāsa-dance Pastime]

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Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)

Chapter XXIII < [Book IV - Naravāhanadattajanana]

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