Mauli, Maulī: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Mauli means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
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In Hinduism
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Google Books: Elements of Hindu iconographyMauli (मौलि):—The commonly known Sanskrit name for the head-gear is Mauli. There are various well-known varieties of head-gear such as:
- Jaṭāmukuṭa,
- Kirīṭamukuṭa
- and Karaṇḍamukuṭa.
And the minor varieties thereof are:
- Śirastraka,
- Kuntala,
- Keśabandha,
- Dhammilla
- and Alakacūḍaka
In the formation of these minor varieties, the plaits of hair are bound by what are called
- Patrapaṭṭa,
- Puṣpapaṭṭa and
- Ratnapaṭṭa

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationMauli (मौलि) refers to “crest” and is used to describe Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.20 (“The story of the submarine fire”).—Accordingly, as Nārada said to Brahmā: “O Brahmā, please tell me “Where did the flame of fire emerging from the eye of Śiva go?” Please tell me also the further story of the moon-crested lord [i.e., śaśin-mauli]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Mauli (मौलि).—A Tripravara.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 196. 33.
1b) A son of Maṇibhadra.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 156.

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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraMaulī (मौली) refers to a type of mask (pratiśiras) or crown, prescribed for the middling gods (as opposed to superioir or inferior) and kings, according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. It is also known by the name Mastakī. Providing masks is a component of nepathya (costumes and make-up) and is to be done in accordance with the science of āhāryābhinaya (extraneous representation).

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsMauli [मौली] in the Hindi language is the name of a plant identified with Raphanus sativus from the Brassicaceae (Mustard) family. For the possible medicinal usage of mauli, 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.
Source: Ancient Science of Life: Vaidyavallabha: An Authoritative Work on Ayurveda TherapeuticsMauli (मौलि) is a Sanskrit technical term referring to the “head”, and is dealt with in the 17th-century Vaidyavallabha written by Hastiruci.—The Vaidyavallabha is a work which deals with the treatment and useful for all 8 branches of Ayurveda. The text Vaidyavallabha (mentioning mauli) has been designed based on the need of the period of the author, availability of drugs during that time, disease manifesting in that era, socio-economical-cultural-familial-spiritual-aspects of that period Vaidyavallabha.

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Mauli (मौलि) refers to “crowns (studded with jewels)”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] O mother! Even the kings of gods bow to the feet of those men who have acquired a drop of the grace of seeing you. Kings of all the rich lands extending to the four oceans [bow to them] all the more, illuminating their footrests with the studded jewels of their elevated crowns (mauli-maṇi)”.

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 Dictionarymāulī (माउली).—f (Used esp. in poetry.) Commonly māvalī.
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mauli (मौलि) [or मौली, maulī].—f S The head. 2 A lock of hair on the crown.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishmāulī (माउली).—f A mother. Gen- erally in poetry.
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mauli (मौलि) [-lī, -ली].—f The head; a lock of hair on the crown.
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 dictionaryMauli (मौलि).—a. [mūlasyādūrabhavaḥ iñ] Head, foremost, best; अखिलपरिमलानां मौलिना सौरभेण (akhilaparimalānāṃ maulinā saurabheṇa) Bv.1.121.
-liḥ 1 The head, the crown of the head; मौलौ वा रचयाञ्जलिम् (maulau vā racayāñjalim) Ve. 3.4; R.13.59; Kumārasambhava 5.79.
2) The head or top of anything, top-most point; Uttararāmacarita 2.3; देव्यग्रदीपमालाया मौलिदीपतुलां दधौ (devyagradīpamālāyā maulidīpatulāṃ dadhau) Parṇāl.
3) The Aśoka tree.
-liḥ (m., f.)
1) A crown, diadem, tiara; अलब्धशाणोत्कषणा नृपाणां न जातु मौलौ मणयो वसन्ति (alabdhaśāṇotkaṣaṇā nṛpāṇāṃ na jātu maulau maṇayo vasanti) Bv.1.73.
2) Hair on the crown of the head, tuft or lock of hair; जटामौलि (jaṭāmauli) Kumārasambhava 2.26 (jaṭājūṭa Malli.); पुष्पितलतान्तनियमितंविलम्बिमौलिना (puṣpitalatāntaniyamitaṃvilambimaulinā) Kirātārjunīya 12.41.
3) Braided hair, hair braided and ornamented; दुःशासनेन कचकर्षणभिन्नमौलिः (duḥśāsanena kacakarṣaṇabhinnamauliḥ) Ve.6.34.
-liḥ, -lī f. The earth.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMauli (मौलि).—mf. (-liḥ-liḥ or lī) 1. A lock of hair on the crown of the head. 2. Hair ornamented and braided round the head. 3. A diadem, a tiara. 4. The head. f. (-lī) The earth. E. mūla the root or base, aff. iñ; or mūla a name, and iñ aff of descent; or mū to bind, li aff., and the radical vowel changed.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMauli (मौलि).— (akin to mūla), m. and f. 1. A lock of hair on the crown of the head. 2. Hair ornamented and braided round the head. 3. A crown, diadem, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 60; [Pañcatantra] 230, 18. 4. The head, [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 66, 2; [Hitopadeśa] 72, 19 (maulau nidhāya, Obeying).
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Maulī (मौली).— (akin to mūla), f. The earth.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMauli (मौलि).—[masculine] head, top, point; crest, diadem (also [feminine]). —maulau nidhā put on the head i.e. receive with submission.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mauli (मौलि):—[from maula] m. the head, the top of anything, [Harivaṃśa; Kāvya literature; Hitopadeśa] etc. (maulau ni-√dhā, to place on the head, receive respectfully)
2) [v.s. ...] chief, foremost, best, [Bhāminī-vilāsa]
3) [v.s. ...] Jonesia Asoka, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] [patronymic] [Pravara texts]
5) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a people, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
6) [v.s. ...] mf. a diadem, crown, crest, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
7) [v.s. ...] a tuft or lock of hair left on the crown of the head after tonsure, a top-knot (= cūḍā), [Kumāra-sambhava] ([varia lectio])
8) [v.s. ...] hair ornamented and braided round the head (= dhammilla), [Veṇīs.]
9) [v.s. ...] the earth, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) Maulī (मौली):—[from mauli > maula] f. the earth, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMauli (मौलि):—[(liḥ-lī)] 2. m. 3. f. A lock of hair on the crown of the head; a diadem; the head. f. The earth.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Mauli (मौलि) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Mauli.
[Sanskrit to German]
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 dictionaryMauli (मौलि):—(nm) the crown of the head, diadem; summit; (a) best, foremost, most outstanding.
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Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Mauli (मौलि) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Mukulin.
2) Mauli (मौलि) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Mauli.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMauli (ಮೌಲಿ):—
1) [noun] a top or apex; the tip.
2) [noun] the head.
3) [noun] a head-dress, usu. of gold and jewels, worn by king, as a symbol of authority; a crown.
4) [noun] plaited hair.
5) [noun] (fig.) a leader; a highly valued person.
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Mauḷi (ಮೌಳಿ):—[noun] = ಮೌಲಿ [mauli].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+4): Maulia, Maulibandha, Maulik, Maulika, Maulikapha, Maulikapida, Maulikara, Maulikaratana, Maulikate, Maulikya, Maulimala, Maulimalika, Maulimalin, Maulimandana, Maulimandanamalika, Maulimani, Maulimga, Maulimga, Maulimgi, Maulimukuta.
Ends with (+12): Ardhendumauli, Balashashimauli, Balendumauli, Bharanmauli, Cakramauli, Candramauli, Candrardhamauli, Chandramauli, Dashamauli, Enadharamauli, Gamgamauli, Indumauli, Jatamauli, Katmauli, Khamdemdumauli, Mrigankamauli, Nishakarakalamauli, Pailamauli, Parshvamauli, Prithvimandalamauli.
Full-text (+32): Candramauli, Cakramauli, Maulin, Maulimandana, Maulyabharana, Maulimukuta, Maulikapha, Maulibandha, Mauliratna, Mauliprishtha, Maulimani, Sahasramauli, Indumauli, Saudhamauli, Samauliratna, Ardhendumauli, Shashimauli, Ardhendu, Mukuta, Maulimala.
Relevant text
Search found 15 books and stories containing Mauli, Maulī, Māulī, Mauḷi; (plurals include: Maulis, Maulīs, Māulīs, Mauḷis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.381 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.2.216 < [Chapter 2 - The Lord’s Appearance]
The Indian Buddhist Iconography (by Benoytosh Bhattachacharyya)
The Markandeya Purana (by Frederick Eden Pargiter)
Manasara (English translation) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)
Chapter 49 - The crowns (mauli) and coronation (abhiṣeka)
Chapter 42 - The royal orders and insignia (rāja-lakṣaṇa)
Chapter 19 - The one-storeyed buildings (ekatala or ekabhūmi)
Who is Who < [October – December, 2002]