In Hinduism

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Mahāsthiti (महास्थिति) refers to “Viṣṇu’s sustaining will in its collective regard”, as discussed in the tenth chapter of the Ahirbudhnyasaṃhitā, a Pāñcarātra work in 60 chapters dealing with topics such as Viṣṇu’s discus-power, the processes of creation and esoteric practices related to Sudarśana (such as mantras and yantras).—Description of the chapter [arthātmakapramāṇa-nirūpaṇa]: Nārada asks what proof there is for saying the entire world is sustained by a desire by Viṣṇu to uphold it, which desire is personified as His Sudarśana wheel symbol (1-6). Śiva undertakes to give the proof regarding Viṣṇu’s sthiti-sustaining will—in its collective (mahāsthiti) regard (10) and in its individual-directed concern (vyaṣṭisthiti) (11-40a). [...]

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

Shaiva philosophy

Source: Google Books: The philosophy of the Pratyabhijñā

Mahāsthiti (महास्थिति) refers to the “great maintenance” and represents one of the “five cosmic activities” (kṛtyapañcaka), according to Abhinavagupta’s Īśvarapratyabhijñāvimarśinī (also known as the “doctrine of divine recognition”) with the Sanskrit commentary called Bhāskarī.—Accordingly, [Vol. I, p. 261-262] [automatically translated from the French]: “During the worldly activity, the Lord creates unity with this or that subject, destroys unity with [such] other subject, carries out [the cosmic operation of] maintenance (sthiti) with respect to that which consists of a simple [object] such as the pot, etc., imposes obscuration by obliterating its complete nature, [and] produces grace by conferring completeness by the manifestation of unity in this particular manifestation. Therefore, the Lord exercises the five [cosmic] activities (kṛtyapañcaka) not only in the great creations, the great maintenances (mahāsthiti), the great destructions, the obscurations due to [his] anger and the graces [granted on the occasion of] initiation, knowledge, etc., but still absolutely always, even in worldly activity”.

context information

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See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Sthiti, Maha.

Full-text: Sthiti, Pancakritya, Krityapancaka, Vyashtisthiti, Vyashti, Arthatmakapramana, Arthatmakapramananirupana.

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