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| Mahabharata | ||
| ("great tale of Bharata's descendents"). Epic tale of over 100,000 verses in length composed between about 400 BCE and 400 CE. The Mahabharata recounts the battle between the Pandavas and Kauravas for kingship. It contains the Bhagavad-Gita, in which the god Krishna assists the Pundava hero Arjuna at a moment of decision. | ||
| mahabhuta | ||
| ("great element"). The five elements: air, fire, water, earth, and ether. | ||
| Mahadeva | ||
| One of the names of Shiva. | ||
| Mahavidyas | ||
| ("great" + "knowledge"). Ten Hindu goddesses who represent the ten forms of transcendent knowledge and tantric power. They are personifications of Brahman's Sakti, so through worship of them, one can gain knowledge of Brahman. They are: Kali, Tara, Sodasi, Bhukanesvari, Bhairavi, Chinnamasta/Viraratri, Dhumavati, Bagala, Matangi and Kamala. The Mahavidyas were especially popular in medieval Bengal. |
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| Mahesvara | ||
| ("Great Lord"). Epithet of Shiva (sometimes of Vishnu). |
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| Mahesvara-sutra | ||
| A Saivite text attributed to Shiva, dealing with the four ways that lead to ultimate insight: yoga, vedanta, language and music. |
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| Mahesvari | ||
| Consort of Mahesvara; a name for Shakti; one of the goddesses created by Shiva who constitute the Divine Mothers (Matrkas). | ||
| mara | ||
| Evil. | ||
| marga | ||
| Path or way to moksa. | ||
| mlecchas | ||
| Foreigners. | ||
| moksa | ||
| ("release"). Liberation from the cycle of rebirth, which is believed by most philosophical schools to be the ultimate goal of life. | ||
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