Mahacanda, Mahācaṇḍa, Mahācanda, Mahācaṇḍā, Maha-canda: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Mahacanda 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Mahachanda.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramMahācaṇḍā (महाचण्डा) refers to one of the four Goddesses, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “[...] One should (also) worship with effort the goddess in the middle of the sacred seats accompanied by the four goddesses and Siddhas [i.e., caturdevī-samāyuktā]. Worship the goddesses Caṇḍeśī, Mahācaṇḍā, Cāṇḍālī, and Caṇḍikā to the sides (of the goddess) ranging from the east to the north. (Commentary):—Who are those (four)? (They are) Ādhārīśa and the rest along with the four, the goddess Raktā and the rest. They are present here with a different name, that is, as Caṇḍeśī, Mahācaṇḍā, Caṇḍālī, and Caṇḍikā. These are the goddesses. Four directions pertain to these goddesses, namely, the east, south, west, and north. The reference to the directions (implies) a reference to the four sacred seats”.
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Wisdom Library: HinduismMahācaṇḍa (महाचण्ड, “terror”):—One of the ministers of Yama, who resides in the city known as Saṃyaminī. Yama, the vedic God of death, represents the embodiment of Dharma. Yama rules over the kingdom of the dead and binds humankind according to the fruits of their karma.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesA river. See Candabhaga.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureMahācaṇḍa (महाचण्ड) refers to the “greatly fierce one” as occurring in the Heart-mantra (hṛdayamantra) taught to Vajrapāṇi, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.
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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahācaṇḍā (महाचण्डा).—Name of Chāmuṇḍā.
Mahācaṇḍā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and caṇḍā (चण्डा).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahācaṇḍa (महाचण्ड).—m.
(-ṇḍaḥ) 1. One of Yama'S attendants. 2. A very violent or passionate man. E. mahā great, much, caṇḍa hot, passionate.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahācaṇḍa (महाचण्ड):—[=mahā-caṇḍa] [from mahā > mah] m. a very violent or passionate man, [Horace H. Wilson]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of one of Yama’s two servants, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] of one of Śiva’s attendants, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) Mahācaṇḍā (महाचण्डा):—[=mahā-caṇḍā] [from mahā-caṇḍa > mahā > mah] f. Name of Cāmuṇḍā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahācaṇḍa (महाचण्ड):—[mahā-caṇḍa] (ṇḍaḥ) 1. m. One of Yama's attendants; a violent man.
[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: Mahacandana, Mahacandaroshana.
Full-text: Makacantam, Mahacandi, Makacantan, Caturdevi, Catuhsiddha, Candeshi, Candali.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Mahacanda, Mahācaṇḍa, Mahācanda, Mahācaṇḍā, Maha-canda, Mahā-caṇḍā, Mahā-caṇḍa; (plurals include: Mahacandas, Mahācaṇḍas, Mahācandas, Mahācaṇḍās, candas, caṇḍās, caṇḍas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 8 - Description of the Hell (naraka) < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)
Text 16.2 (Commentary) < [Chapter 16 (Text and Commentary)]
Chapter 16 - Emanation of the Maṇḍala of Buddha-speech < [Chapter 16 (Text and Commentary)]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Manasara (English translation) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 6 - Battle Between the Goddess and Mahiṣāsura < [Section 1 - Setu-māhātmya]
Chapter 2 - Satī’s Arrival at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice < [Section 1 - Kedāra-khaṇḍa]
The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)