Mahasatva, Mahāsatva: 4 definitions
Introduction:
Mahasatva means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexMahāsatva (महासत्व).—A god of the Prasūta group.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 71.
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 Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāMahāsatva (महासत्व) refers to a “great being” and is used to describe Bodhisattva Gaganagañja, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly: “At that time, there were five hundred men who were in danger of being killed [by robbers]. When they were led to their death, a voice resonated in open space: ‘You should do homage to the Bodhisattva Gaganagañja, who provides fearlessness to the frightened. Then you will be saved from death’. Then all those, terrified with the fear of death, said together in one voice: ‘Homage to the Bodhisattva, the great being (mahāsatva) Gaganagañja!’ [...]”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāsatva (महासत्व).—mfn.
(-tvaḥ-tvā-tvaṃ) Good, virtuous, just. E. mahā and satva purity.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāsatva (महासत्व):—[mahā-satva] (tvaḥ) 1. m. Kuvera.
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)
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Full-text: Mahasanna, Mahasattvata, Garudamantra.
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Search found 4 books and stories containing Mahasatva, Maha-satva, Mahā-satva, Mahāsatva; (plurals include: Mahasatvas, satvas, Mahāsatvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shringara-manjari Katha (translation and notes) (by Kumari Kalpalata K. Munshi)
Appendix 2 - General Maxims in the Shringara-manjari-katha
Section 7.6 - shashti lavanyasundari-kathanika < [Sanskrit text]
Hanuman Nataka (critical study) (by Nurima Yeasmin)
9.1. The character of Rāma < [Chapter 4]
Vaishnava Myths in the Puranas (by Kum. Geeta P. Kurandwad)
The concept of Parashurama-Avatara (incarnation) < [Chapter 4 - Significance of Vaishnava Myths]
Abhijnana Sakuntalam (with translation and notes) (by Bidhubhusan Goswami)
Chapter 7: Translation and notes < [Abhijnana Sakuntalam, text and notes]