Mahashtami, Mahāṣṭamī, Maha-ashtami, Mahāṣṭami: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Mahashtami means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Tamil. 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.
The Sanskrit terms Mahāṣṭamī and Mahāṣṭami can be transliterated into English as Mahastami or Mahashtami, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Mahāṣṭamī (महाष्टमी) refers to the “eighth lunar day”, as part of the Navarātra Tantric ritual (an autumnal festival of the warrior goddess Caṇḍikā).—Nine wooden shrines to be built on the Eighth lunar day (mahāṣṭamī), and the goddess is to be installed in a gold or silver image, in a sword or in a trident; worship involves chariot and palanquin processions.—Various 8th century sources refer to such rituals, for example: Devīpurāṇa, Kālikāpurāṇa, Kṛtyakalpataru, Durgābhaktitaraṅgiṇī, Durgāpūjātattva, Durgāpūjāviveka, Bhadrakālīmantravidhiprakaraṇa in Sanderson (2007); account of the Durgā Pūjā in Kelomal, West Bengal (Nicholas 2013).
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 Dictionarymahāṣṭamī (महाष्टमी).—f (S) The great aṣṭamī. A term for the eighth of āśvinaśuddha, sacred to the worship of Devi.
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 dictionaryMahāṣṭamī (महाष्टमी).—the eighth day in the bright half of Āśvina sacred to Durgā; आश्विने शुक्लपक्षस्य भवेद् या तिथिरष्टमी । महाष्टमीति सा प्रोक्ता (āśvine śuklapakṣasya bhaved yā tithiraṣṭamī | mahāṣṭamīti sā proktā) ......
Mahāṣṭamī is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and aṣṭamī (अष्टमी).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahāṣṭamī (महाष्टमी):—[from mahā > mah] f. (hāṣ) ‘gr° 8th’, the 8th day in the light half of the month Āśvina (or festival in honour of Durgā, called D°), [Kālikā-purāṇa; Catalogue(s)]
[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.
Tamil dictionary
Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil LexiconMahāṣṭami (மஹாஷ்டமி) noun < mahāṣṭamī. The day of the eighth titi of the bright fortnight in the month of Ācuviṉam; ஆசுவின மாதத்தில் வரும் சுக்கிலபட்ச அஷ்டமி நாள். (பஞ்சாங்கம்) [asuvina mathathil varum sukkilapadsa ashdami nal. (panchangam)]
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ashtami, Maha.
Starts with: Mahashtaminirnaya, Mahashtamisamdhipuja.
Full-text (+9): Mahashtaminirnaya, Mahashtamisamdhipuja, Shauryavrata, Rathayatra, Kumaripuja, Chariot, Candavati, Candarupa, Aticandika, Canda, Khadga, Maiden, Pracanda, Candogra, Astrapuja, Pradana, Nyasa, Bhutashuddhi, Palanquin, Navadurga.
Relevant text
Search found 2 books and stories containing Mahashtami, Mahāṣṭamī, Mahastami, Maha-ashtami, Mahā-aṣṭamī, Maha-astami, Mahāṣṭami, Mahashdami, Mahaashdami; (plurals include: Mahashtamis, Mahāṣṭamīs, Mahastamis, ashtamis, aṣṭamīs, astamis, Mahāṣṭamis, Mahashdamis, Mahaashdamis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Varahi Tantra (English Study) (by Roberta Pamio)
Chapter 28 - Durgāpūjā (the worship of Durgā) < [Summary of the Vārāhī Tantra]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 70 - Establishment of the Deities < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Chapter 66 - Śaileśa and Other Liṅgas < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
Chapter 61 - The Greatness of Vaiṣṇava Tīrthas < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]