Matha, Maṭha, Mātha: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Matha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, biology. 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.
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In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Maṭha (मठ).—A temple of the Lord with an attached residence or āśrama for brahmacārīs (celibate students) and sannyāsīs (renunciants) to live; monastery.
Maṭha (मठ) refers to “a temple of the Lord with attached living quarters for brahmacārīs and sannyāsīs; a monastery”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).
Maṭha (मठ) refers to:—Āśrama; monastery. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).
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’).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Maṭha (मठ).—Public halls in the city of Tripura;1 institutions of.2
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)
Maṭha (मठ) refers to “monasteries”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—This ‘Lord of Yogis’ [Cf. Kumārikākhaṇḍa verse 5.41cd-43] lives in temples. This is in accord with the lifestyle of the ascetics of an earlier period who, prior to the development of monasteries (maṭha), lived in temples when they were not wandering about. This archaic trait is combined with another that appears in the early Tantras—he wanders in 'sacred seat and field'. The development of the outer sacred geography that this implies is an essential and integral part of the Kaula modality of practice as is its internalisation. Right
Note: Various Maṭhas (“monasteries”) are associated with the sacred seats (pīṭha).—The Tantras were studied, and probably a good many were redacted, in monasteries. It makes sense, therefore, that they are amongst the symbolic features of the main sacred seats where the original transmissions of the teachings are said to have taken place.
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)
Maṭha (मठ) refers to “monasteries” (for ascetics), according to Kṣemarāja’s commentary on the Svacchandatantra verse 4.85.—Accordingly, “The mundane path is the observance according to śruti and smṛti. The sacred rites [consist of] such actions as bathing at a sacred site and giving away food. The meritorious acts are [the donations and setting up of] such things as wells, tanks and monasteries (maṭha) for ascetics”.
Note: In the earlier Śaiva, maṭha refers to a place for an initiate to stay in for an extended period for the purposes of study, as an āśramin.—It is housing for initiated students, with a Guru offering teaching. This was not a shelter for itinerant ascetics, not a locus of political power, but both a residence and a school for initiates or, in Sanderson’s terms, a lodge for cult lineage members.
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.
India history and geography
Maṭha.—(EI 17, 19, 23, 31, 32; CII 3, 4; SII 1; BL; ASLV; CITD), a school or religious college; a temple; a monastery; hermitage or convent; a monastery which was a religious and educational institution. See maṭhikā. In Telugu records, it also means ‘a bullock cart’ and ‘a cart load’ (cf. Kannaḍa maṭṭī, ‘a load’). (SITI), place where pilgrims and religious mendicants (tapasvins) are fed. Note: maṭha is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
Maṭha (मठ) refers to an important building having had multiple functions over the centuries.—In the seventh and eighth centuries, maṭhas began to receive royal patronage. By the ninth and tenth centuries maṭhas collected taxes and agricultural profits (Sears 2014, 6). In the later period and in the south, maṭhas come to be a place for pilgrims passing through, or an institution for professional adepts, a place one might abide in on a hereditary basis. There is a rise in endowments for maṭhas in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, with the head of the maṭha perhaps being the rājaguru, the royal guru, of the dominion, hence a figure of political importance (Nandi 1987, 194–195).
Matha refers to: “Monastic establishment”.—It is included in the glossary section of the study dealing with the Temples and Cult of Shri Rama in Tamil-Nadu, with reference to the traditional lore, embodied in, for example the Nalayirativvaiyappirapantam (i.e., Nalayira Divyaprabandham).
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Matha in the Marathi language is the name of a plant identified with Vigna aconitifolia (Jacq.) Marechal from the Fabaceae (Pea) family having the following synonyms: Phaseolus palmatus, Phaseolus aconitifolius, Dolichos dissectus. For the possible medicinal usage of matha, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
1) Matha in India is the name of a plant defined with Anodendron paniculatum in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Tabernaemontana tenuiflora Miq. (among others).
2) Matha is also identified with Vigna aconitifolia It has the synonym Phaseolus palmatus Forssk. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany (1982)
· Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Gardens, Kew (1937)
· Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (1986)
· Encyclopédie Méthodique, Botanique (1786)
· Observationum Botanicarum (1768)
· Kew Bulletin (1993)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Matha, for example diet and recipes, extract dosage, health benefits, chemical composition, side effects, pregnancy safety, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
maṭha (मठ).—m (makuṣṭaka S) A bean, Phaseolus aconitifolius.
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maṭha (मठ).—m (S) A college. 2 An anchorite's or devotee's cell, cot, cave, or dwelling place; a hermitage. 3 A residence of a company of ascetics.
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maṭha (मठ).—a (S) Dull, heavy, sluggish, slow of motion.
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maṭhā (मठा).—m Milk coagulated with its butter in it and churned. Used as a sauce with rice &c. 2 The coagulum or thick residue of curds.
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māṭha (माठ).—m f A pot-herb, Amaranthus tristis. 2 m A broad and spreading earthen jar.
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māṭha (माठ).—a Flattish, low, of mild slope--a roof &c.: opp. to khara or pāṇaḍhāḷa Steep. 2 Dumpy, squat, stunt--a person or an animal. Both senses are from the sense of the noun, A low or flattish jar.
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māṭhā (माठा) [or ठ्या, ṭhyā].—a (māṭha An earthen jar.) Dull, doltish, thickheaded, heavywitted.
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māthā (माथा).—m (mastaka S) The upper or the fore part of the head, the crown or the sinciput. Pr. urīṃ kēṃsa māthāṃ ṭakkala. 2 The forehead. Ex. ajāyuddha hōtēṃ tēvhāṃ māthyāsīṃ māthā apaṭatō. 3 The head. Pr. pōṭānta jaḷē āṇi māthyānta kaḷē. 4 The head of a churn-staff; the head or knob of anything similar. 5 The crown or crest of a hill. 6 For figurative senses and lax applications see ḍōī. māthāṃ māraṇēṃ g. of o. To cast upon; to commit, consign, attach, impute unto. māthyāvaracā padara ṭākaṇēṃ-utaraṇēṃ-paḍaṇēṃ To become a harlot. (As a modest or decorous female always shrouds her head with the padara or skirt of her garment).
maṭha (मठ).—m A bean.
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maṭha (मठ).—m A college; a hermitage.
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māṭha (माठ).—m f A pot-herb. m A broad and spreading earthen jar.
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
Maṭha (मठ).—[maṭhatyatra maṭh ghañarthe ka]
1) The hut of an ascetic, a small cell or room.
2) A monastery, convent.
3) A seminary, college, place of learning.
4) A temple.
5) A cart drawn by oxen.
-ṭhī 1 A cell.
2) A cloister, convent.
Derivable forms: maṭhaḥ (मठः), maṭham (मठम्).
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Matha (मथ).—= माथ (mātha) q. v.
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Māṭha (माठ).—A road.
Derivable forms: māṭhaḥ (माठः).
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Mātha (माथ).—[math-ghañ]
1) Stirring, churning, shaking about.
2) Killing, destruction.
3) A way, road.
Derivable forms: māthaḥ (माथः).
Maṭha (मठ).—m.
(-ṭhaḥ) 1. A school, a college, the residence of young Brahmans, prosecuting sacred studies. 2. A building inhabited by asceties of the same order. 3. A temple. 4. A cart, a carriage, particularly drawn by oxen. E. maṭh to dwell, aff. ac .
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Māṭha (माठ).—m.
(-ṭhaḥ) A road. f. (-ṭhī) An armour.
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Mātha (माथ).—m.
(-thaḥ) 1. Churning, stirring. 2. A road. 3. Hurting, injuring, killing. E. māth to hurt, aff. ac; or math to agitate, aff. ghañ.
Maṭha (मठ).—m. 1. A school. 2. A building inhabited by ascetics, a cloister, a college, [Pañcatantra] 116, 18. 3. A temple. 4. A carriage.
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Mātha (माथ).—i. e. math + a, m. 1. Churning. 2. A road.
Maṭha (मठ).—[masculine] ī [feminine] hut, also = seq.
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Mātha (माथ).—[masculine] destruction, annihilation.
1) Maṭha (मठ):—[from maṭh] mf(ī)n. ([gana] ardharcādi; ī f. [gana] gaurādi) a hut, cottage, ([especially]) the retired hut (or cell) of an ascetic (or student), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] a cloister, college ([especially] for young Brāhmans), temple, [ib.]
3) [v.s. ...] m. a cart or carriage drawn by oxen, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) Matha (मथ):—[from manth] m. = mātha [gana] jvalādi.
5) Mathā (मथा):—ind. a Nidhana formula, [Lāṭyāyana]
6) Māṭha (माठ):—or māṭhya m. a road, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] (cf. māca, mātha).
7) Mātha (माथ):—m. (√math) churning, stirring, [Horace H. Wilson]
8) hurting, killing, destruction, [Śatruṃjaya-māhātmya]
9) illness, disease, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) a way, road, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] (cf. māṭha).
1) Maṭha (मठ):—(ṭhaḥ) 1. m. A school, a college; a residence for ascetics; a temple; a cart or carriage.
2) Māṭha (माठ):—(ṭhaḥ) 1. m. A road.
3) Mātha (माथ):—(thaḥ) 1. m. Churning; a road.
Maṭha (मठ):—m. n. gaṇa ardharcādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher.2,4,31.] m. [Siddhāntakaumudī 250,a,4.]
1) m. Hütte, insbes. die einsam stehende Hütte eines Einsiedlers oder Schülers, Zelle; Zellengebäude, Kloster, Klosterschule, Collegium [Amarakoṣa 2, 2, 7.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 994.] [Medinīkoṣa Manu’s Gesetzbuch 39.] [Halāyudha 2, 143.] (śvapacānāṃ niveśanam) sarpanirmokamālābhiḥ kṛtacihnakuṭīmaṭham [Mahābhārata 12, 5348.] niveśaṃ kārayāmāsuryādavāḥ sarva eva hi . svaṃ svaṃ yathāsukhaṃ rājanpragṛhītakuṭīmaṭham .. [Harivaṃśa 15857.] tato dṛṣṭvāśramapadaṃ vyapaviddhabṛsīmaṭham [Mahābhārata.3,16069.] [Prabodhacandrodaja 106,12.] [Pañcatantra 33,5. 116,18. 22. 117,1.] [Oxforder Handschriften 234,a,12.] pratiṣṭhātattva [290,b, No. 700.] [Bibliothecae sanskritae 465. 485.] vratinām [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha 3, 461.] tatra ca praviveśaikaṃ maṭhamāryairadhiṣṭhitam [Geschichte des Vidūṣaka 250. 38.] [Kathāsaritsāgara 24, 218.] [Spr. 1441.] maṭhenādbhutabhūmikena Inschr. in Journ. of the Am. Or. [S. 6, 507, Śloka 20.] vipra [Geschichte des Vidūṣaka 37.] pāśupatānām [Rājataraṅgiṇī 3, 460.] paitṛke sthaṇḍile kṛtaḥ . chātrāṇāmāryadeśyānāṃ tena vidyārthināṃ maṭhaḥ [6, 87. 308. 8, 437.] vidyā Klosterschule [Pañcatantra 244, 22.] f. maṭhī gaṇa gaurādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 41.] Zelle: eko daṇḍako nāma bhautikaḥ svamaṭhyarthaṃ sthūṇānayanāya vane gataḥ [Oxforder Handschriften 156,a,13.] Kloster: bhautika [morgenländischen Gesellschaft 14, 569, 10.] Vgl. brahma, kāṣṭhamaṭhī . —
2) ein von Ochsen gezogener Wagen [Hārāvalī 149.]
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Matha (मथ):—(von 1. math) m. = mātha gaṇa jvalādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 3, 1, 140.]
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Mathā (मथा):—indecl. eine Nidhana-Formel [LĀṬY. 7, 10, 10. 11.]
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Māṭha (माठ):—und māṭhya m. Weg [Śabdaratnāvalī] bei [WILSON.] — Vgl. mātha, māca .
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Mātha (माथ):—m.
1) (nom. act. von 1. math) = matha gaṇa jvalādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 3, 1, 140.] = manthana [Śabdaratnāvalī im Śabdakalpadruma] das Aufreiben, Zunichtemachen: karmamāthakṛt (ādinātha) [Śatruṃjayamāhātmya 2, 1.] —
2) Weg [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 2, 1, 19.] [Jaṭādhara] bei [WILSON]; vgl. māṭha .
Maṭha (मठ):——
1) m. f. (n.) Hütte , insbes. die einsam stehende Hütte eines Einsiedlers oder Schülers , Zelle ; Zellengebäude , Klosterschule , Collegium. Nach [BURNELL] ,[Vaṃśabrāhmaṇa .XIV.] ursprünglich Tempel. —
2) m. Wagen.
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Mathā (मथा):—Indecl. eine best. Nidhāna-Formel.
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Māṭha (माठ):—m. Weg.
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Mātha (माथ):—m. —
1) das Aufreiben , Zunichtemachen. —
2) *Weg.
Maṭha (मठ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Maḍha.
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
1) Maṭha (मठ) [Also spelled math]:—(nm) a monastery; ~[dhārī] an abbot; chief of a monastery.
2) Maṭhā (मठा):—(nm) butter-milk.
3) Mātha (माथ):—(nm) the forehead; head.
4) Māthā (माथा):—(nm) the forehead; forepart; —[kūṭanā] to lament, to wail; -[garama honā] to be enraged, to get angry; —[ghisanā] to make repeated entreaties and requests, to implore in all humility; —[jhukānā ṭekanā/navānā] to make deferential salutation; to bow low; to yield; —[ṭhanakanā] to have an inkling of imminent danger, to have a foreboding of the coming affliction/catastrophe; —[ṭhokanā] to lament for one’s luck, to curse one’s luck; —[dhunanā] see —[pīṭanā;-pakaḍakara baiṭha jānā] to be helpless through frustration, to be hard hit by affliction; ~[paccī karanā] to tax one’s brain; to take pains in elucidating something; to over-exert mentally (to bring home a point to somebody); —[pīṭanā] to lament: to wail; —[māranā] see ~[paccī karanā; -ragaḍanā] to implore in deep humility.
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Kannada-English dictionary
Maṭha (ಮಠ):—
1) [noun] the building which a monk lives in; a monastery.
2) [noun] a religious institution engaged in the propogation of education, religion, etc.
3) [noun] an institution incepted in memory of a great person, engaged in social service or development.
4) [noun] a place where food is provided gratis for travellers, esp. pilgrims.
5) [noun] a building for the worship of a divinity or divinities.
6) [noun] the place where a person or thing is ordinarily found; ಮಠಕ್ಕೆ ಮಣ್ಣು ಹೊರು [mathakke mannu horu] (ಹಾಕು [haku]) maṭhakke maṇṇu horu (hāku) (sarc.) to go to a school.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
1) Maṭha (मठ):—n. 1. monastery; abbey; hermitage; shrine; 2. temple; pagoda; 3. a raised place where basil is grown for worship; cloister;
2) Mātha (माथ):—n. 1. head; forehead; pinnacle; 2. defeat;
3) Māthā (माथा):—n. head; forehead; pinnacle;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+23): Malla, Mata, Mata-matappukuttal, Matacalam, Matacankiramanam, Matacankiranti, Matacatti, Mataccuram, Mataccuvatu, Matacuniyam, Matacutakam, Matakayam, Matama, Matamalai, Matamatar, Matamatenal, Matamattai, Matamattakam, Matamattam, Matamattan.
Full-text (+636): Mada, Madhura, Pramatha, Malla, Matta, Umatha, Mathana, Mathita, Mathadhipati, Mathayatana, Shringerimatha, Shuramatha, Vimatha, Gopalamatha, Cakramatha, Dandamatha, Meghamatha, Brahmamatha, Pushpamatham, Nirmatha.
Relevant text
Search found 156 books and stories containing Matha, Maathaa, Maṭha, Maṭhā, Māṭha, Māṭhā, Māthā, Mātha, Mathā; (plurals include: Mathas, Maathaas, Maṭhas, Maṭhās, Māṭhas, Māṭhās, Māthās, Māthas, Mathās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Preceptors of Advaita (by T. M. P. Mahadevan)
57. Śrī Śaṅkara And Śaṅkarite Insitutions
59. Śrī Kāmakoṭi Pīṭha and Śrī Śaṅkarāchārya
(i) Kāmākṣī < [58. (various)]
Bhagavatpadabhyudaya by Lakshmana Suri (study) (by Lathika M. P.)
Maṭhas founded by Śaṅkara < [Chapter 4 - Similarities and Dissimilarities]
Śaṅkaradigvijaya (list of available works) < [Chapter 4 - Similarities and Dissimilarities]
Dispute over Śaṅkara’s Birth Place < [Chapter 4 - Similarities and Dissimilarities]
Informal Education of Sanskrit in Kerala (by Jayasree M.)
17. Educational institution of Matha < [Chapter 1 - Sanskrit Education in Historical Perspective]
2. Vedic Education in Kerala: Multiple Streams < [Chapter 3 - Informal Education of Sanskrit in Kerala: the Traditional Streams]
3. Brahmaswam Madham < [Chapter 3 - Informal Education of Sanskrit in Kerala: the Traditional Streams]
Later Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Temples in Kovilur (Usattanam) < [Chapter XVI - Temples of Rajendra III’s Time]
Temples in Pattisvaram (Palayarai-Malapadi) < [Chapter X - Temples of Rajadhjraja II’s Time]
Temples in Palur (Palaiyur) < [Chapter II - Temples of Kulottunga I’s Time]
Srila Gurudeva (The Supreme Treasure) (by Swami Bhaktivedanta Madhava Maharaja)
The Closing of His Pastimes < [Chapter 2.19 - The Concluding Transcendental Pastimes]
Further Manifestations of Illness < [Chapter 2.19 - The Concluding Transcendental Pastimes]
Residing in Śrī Keśavajī Gauḍīya Maṭha < [Chapter 2.7 - Śrīla Gurudeva and Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Swāmī Mahārāja]
Studies in the Cult of Jagannatha (by K. C. Mishra)