Mahabhima, Maha-bhima, Mahābhīma, Mahābhīmā: 13 definitions
Introduction:
Mahabhima means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali. 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
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramMahābhīmā (महाभीमा) refers to “she who is very fierce”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “Nādamaṅgalyā (Vinayā) is in the north-east. She has the face of a bird and three eyes. She sits on a pig. She has ten arms and is very fierce [i.e., mahābhīmā]. In the right hands she holds a sword, lance, bow, double-headed drum, and skeleton; in the left, a dagger, a skull (kādya), trident, fetter, and goad. She has matted hair and is the goddess who bestows boons in the north-east. Worshipped, there is success in whatever one desires. Full of the sixteen energies, she, the guardian of the door, is beautiful”.
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: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)Mahābhīma (महाभीम) refers to “one who is very fierce” and is used to describe Svacchanda, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult. Accordingly, “O goddess, Svacchanda is in the middle, within the abode of the triangle. Very powerful, he has five faces with three times five flaming eyes. He has ten arms and, very fierce [i.e., mahābhīma], is adorned with many garlands, ornaments, necklaces and anklets. He has beautiful matted hair and the half moon is his crest jewel. O beloved, the face in the east is white like cow’s milk, it shines brilliant white. Generating great energy, contemplate it thus. One should think that the northern face is like the young rising sun, the form of a pomegranate flower and (red) like a Bandhūka”.
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)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationMahābhīma (महाभीम) refer to “terrifying” (i.e., “a terrible deity”), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.20 (“The fight between the Gaṇas and the Asuras”).—Accordingly, as Jalandhara laid siege to Kailāsa: “[...] On hearing it, lord Śiva became terribly furious. He became terrific blazing the quarters as it were. A terrible Kṛtyā came out of Rudra’s mouth. Her calves were as stout as Palmyra trees. Her mouth was huge and deep like mountain caverns. With her breasts she crushed huge trees. O excellent sage, she rushed immediately to the battle ground. The terrible (mahābhīma) Kṛtyā roamed the battleground devouring the great Asuras. [...]”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismMahābhīma (महाभीम) is the name of a class of rākṣasas according to both the Digambara and the Śvetāmbara traditions. The rākṣasas refer to a category of vyantaras gods which represents one of the four classes of celestial beings (devas). The rākṣasas are black and their caitya-vṛkṣas (sacred-tree) is Kaṇṭaka according to the Digambara They are white and have a fierce appearance according to Śvetāmbara.
The deities such as the Mahābhīmas are defined in ancient Jain cosmological texts such as the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapaṇṇati by Yativṛṣabha (5th century) in the Digambara tradition.
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraMahābhīma (महाभीम) and Bhīma are the two Indras (i.e., lords or kings) of the Rakṣasas who came to the peak of Meru for partaking in the birth-ceremonies of Ṛṣabha, according to chapter 1.2 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 4: The celestial beings (deva)Mahābhīma (महाभीम) refers to one of the two Indras (lords) of the Rākṣasa class of “peripatetic celestial beings” (vyantara), itself a main division of devas (celestial beings) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 4.6. Bhīma and Mahābhīma are the two lords in the class ‘demon’ peripatetic celestial beings.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahābhīma (महाभीम).—an epithet of king Śantanu.
Derivable forms: mahābhīmaḥ (महाभीमः).
Mahābhīma is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and bhīma (भीम).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahābhīma (महाभीम).—m.
(-maḥ) 1. A name of Santanu. 2. One of Siva'S chamberlains. E. mahā great or much, bhīma formidable.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahābhīma (महाभीम).—1. a name of Śāntanu. 2. one of Śiva’s chamberlains.
Mahābhīma is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and bhīma (भीम).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahābhīma (महाभीम):—[=mahā-bhīma] [from mahā > mah] m. Name of Śāṃtanu, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] of one of Śiva’s attendants, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahābhīma (महाभीम):—[mahā-bhīma] (maḥ) 1. m. Sāntanu; one of Shiva's chamberlains.
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Mahabhimana.
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Full-text: Rakshasa, Bhima, Mahabhishma, Vyantara.
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Search found 13 books and stories containing Mahabhima, Maha-bhima, Mahā-bhīma, Mahā-bhīmā, Mahābhīma, Mahābhīmā; (plurals include: Mahabhimas, bhimas, bhīmas, bhīmās, Mahābhīmas, Mahābhīmās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 105 < [Volume 6 (1882)]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 19: The Vyantaras < [Chapter III - The initiation and omniscience of Ajita]
Part 6: The birth-bath of Sambhava < [Chapter I - Sambhavajinacaritra]
Part 8: Birth-ceremonies presided over by Śakra < [Chapter II - Birth of Ajita and Sagara]
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 4.6 - The two lords (indra) < [Chapter 4 - The Celestial Beings]
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Part 3 - Family of the Indra of the Vyantar as and others < [Chapter 5]
Chapter 8: Indras < [Book 3]
Hevajra Tantra (analytical study) (by Seung Ho Nam)
3.3. The State of Union of a Non-Trainee < [Chapter 3 - Tantric Doctrine in Hevajra Tantra]
Brahma Purana (critical study) (by Surabhi H. Trivedi)