Megha, aka: Meghā; 13 Definition(s)

Introduction

Megha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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)

Megha (मेघ) or Meghaśabda refers to the “sounds of a thundercloud” and represents one of the ten kinds of sounds (śabda) according to Jayaratha (author of the 13th century commentary Tantrālokaviveka on Abhinavagupta’s Tantrāloka), the Matsyendrasaṃhitā and the Haṃsa-upaniṣad. Jayaratha cites the Brahmayāmala passage giving this order of the ten sounds (eg., Megha).

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)

1a) Megha (मेघ).—A Rākṣasa in Sutalam.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 20. 22; Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 22.

1b) Formed out of the shell of Brahmā's egg, cosmology of clouds and rain; waters taken in by the rays of the sun and let out as showers; served by the wind.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 2. 33; 125. 16-35.

1c) A commander of Tāraka's force; his chariot drawn by elephants.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 148. 42, 51.

1d) A hill.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 163. 82.

1e) A group of gods to be worshipped in śrāddha.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 10. 110.

1f) Nine Naiṣadha Kings who ruled from^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 74. 189; Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 376.

1g) Ety. three origins: from fire, brahmajā and pakṣaja clouds.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 51. 27-28.

2) Meghā (मेघा).—A river of the Bhadrā country.^*

• * Vāyu-purāṇa 43. 26.

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Megha (मेघ) is a Sanskrit word referring to a “cloud”.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

1. Megha. A youth in the time of Dipankara Buddha. Hearing the Buddha prophesy the future of Sumedha, Megha entered the Order with him. He was a former birth of Dhammaruci Thera. Ap.ii.430.

2. Megha (v.l. Majjha). He was treasurer of Saketa and father of Anopma Theri. ThigA.138.

3. Megha. A king of long ago; a previous birth of Dhajadayaka Thera. Ap.i.109.

1. Megha Sutta. Just as a rain cloud makes all the dust in the air vanish, so does the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path destroy evil states. S.v.50.

2. Megha Sutta. Just as a strong wind disperses rain clouds, so does the Noble Eightfold Path disperse all Ill. S.v.50.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Megha (मेघ) is the father of Sumati according to Śvetāmbara (according to Digambara he is named Meghaprabha), according to the Ācāradinakara (14th century work on Jain conduct written by Vardhamāna Sūri). Sumati is the fifth of twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras in Janism. A Tīrthaṅkara is an enlightened being who has conquered saṃsāra (cycle of birth and death), leaving behind him a path for others to follow.

The wife of Megha is is Maṅgalā. It is an ancient Jain practice to worship the Tīrthaṅkara’s parents in various rites, such as the pratiṣṭhāvidhi.

Megha (मेघ) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Megha] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

megha : (m.) rain; a cloud.

Megha, (Vedic megha; not to mih, mehati (see mīḷha), but to Idg. *meigh-, fog, rain; cp. Sk. miḥ mist; Av. maēga cloud; Gr. o)mi/xlh fog, Lith. mighá fog, Dutch miggelen to drizzle, also Ags. mist=Oicel mistr “mist”) a cloud Pv. II, 9⁴⁵; Vism. 126; esp. a thundercloud, storm, S. I, 100 (thaneti), 154; Th. I, 307 (as kāḷa); It. 66; J. I, 332 (pajjunna vuccati megha); DhA. I, 19; SnA 27 (°thanita-sadda). In this capacity often called mahā-megha, e.g. Sn. 30; DhA. I, 165; KhA 21; PvA. 132.—On megha in similes see J. P. T. S. 1907, 124, 125.

—nātha having clouds as protectors (said with ref. to grass-eating animals) J. IV, 253.—maṇḍala cloud-circle, a circle of clouds SnA 27.—vaṇṇa cloud-coloured J. V, 321 (C. for megha-sannibha); °pāsāṇa a sort of ornamental building stone Mhvs 30, 59 (v. l. , T. meda°; trsl. fat-coloured stones). See meda°. (Page 540)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

mēgha (मेघ).—m (S) A cloud. 2 A certain edible substance said to be obtained (and prepared by fire in a suitable receptacle) from the air during the prevalence of a dense fog. 3 Applied to Hoarfrost.

mēgha (मेघ).—m A cloud.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Megha (मेघ).—[mehati varṣati jalam, mih-ghañ kutvam]

1) A cloud; कुर्वन्नञ्जनमेचका इव दिशो मेघः समुत्तिष्ठते (kurvannañjanamecakā iva diśo meghaḥ samuttiṣṭhate) Mk.5.23,2,3 &c.

2) A mass, multitude.

3) Name of one of the six Rāgas (in music).

4) A fragrant grass.

-ghamū Talc.

Derivable forms: meghaḥ (मेघः).

Megha (मेघ).—(1) n. of a previous incarnation of Śākya-muni under Dīpaṃkara, who predicted his enlighten- ment: Mv i.2.1; 232.1 ff. (corresponds to Divy Sumati (4), q.v., and to Pali Sumedha, while Pali Megha corresp. to our Meghadatta, q.v.); (2) n. of another Bodhisattva, a Dravidian (dramiḍa): Gv 2.7; 72.13 ff.; Śikṣ 36.14 (quotation from Gv 76.26); 95.6 (allusion to events of Gv 73.14 ff.).

Megha (मेघ).—m.

(-ghaḥ) 1. A cloud. 2. A fragrant grass, (Cyperus rotundus.) 3. A demon, a goblin. 4. A mass, a multitude. n.

(-ghaṃ) Talc. E. mih to sprinkle, aff. ac, and the final changed.

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