The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

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(Saptapuri), it also has other important
religious sites. Historically, Ujjain is said
to have been the capital of King
Vikramaditya, founder of the Vikram
Era. Trade routes that passed through it
made it economically prosperous.


Mahakali


In the Devimahatmya, the earliest and
most important source for the mythol-
ogy of the Goddess, the three parts of
this text describe the goddess in three
different manifestations: Mahasaraswati,
Mahalakshmi, and Mahakali. All of
these manifestations are extremely
powerful, but Mahakali is the most
ferocious of all. She is said to have
sprung from the forehead of the
Goddess, as a physical manifestation
of the deity’srage when insulted by
the demon generals Chanda and
Munda, who denigrate her fighting
ability because she was a woman.
According to the story, Mahakali is
black in color, thin, and haggard, with
long teeth and nails, and utters terrify-
ing cries. She defeats the demon
armies by picking them up and stuffing
them into her mouth, consuming them
whole. She later kills Chanda and
Munda by cutting off their heads. Her
final adversary is Raktabija, who has
received the boon that any drop of his
blood falling to the earth will instantly
turn into a copy of him, rendering him
practically unconquerable. Kali
defeats this demon by drinking his
blood as it is shed, until finally it is
completely gone. For more informa-
tion on Mahakali and all the goddesses
of Hinduism, see David R. Kinsley,
Hindu Goddesses, 1986; and John
Stratton Hawley and Donna Wullf
(eds.), Devi, 1996.


Mahakavya


An epic poem in Sanskritliterature.
According to tradition, there are six
such mahakavyas: the Kumarasambhava,
Meghaduta, and Raghuvamshaby the
poet Kalidasa; the Shishupala-vadha


by the poet Magha; the Kiratarjuniyaby the
poet Bharavi, and the Naishadacharitraby
the poet-kingHarsha.

Mahalakshmi


In the Devimahatmya, the earliest and
most important source for the mythology
of the Goddess, the three parts of this
text describe this goddess in three differ-
ent manifestations: Mahasaraswati,
Mahalakshmi, and Mahakali. Unlike
the goddess Lakshmi, who is a sedate
and propitious married goddess,
Mahalakshmi is seen as a powerful war-
rior goddess, the premier divine power
on the earth. She is formed from the col-
lected radiance (tejas) of all the gods, in
order to kill a demon named
Mahishasura, against whom the gods
have been unable to prevail. Her climac-
tic act in the Devimahatmyais killing
Mahishasura, despite his desperate
attempts first to defeat and then to
elude her. For more information on
Mahalakshmi and all the goddesses of
Hinduism, see David R. Kinsley, Hindu
Goddesses, 1986.

Mahamandaleshvar


(“Great Lord of the Region”) Term of
respect given to a Mandaleshvarwhen
one of his disciples is chosen a
Mandaleshvar while the preceptor is still
living. Mandaleshvars are the learned
ascetics who lead the Naga akharas of
theDashanami Sanyasis, a practice that
began in the nineteenth century. The
Dashanami Nagas are renunciant
ascetics who are devotees (bhakta) of
Shivaand who formerly made their
living as traders and mercenary sol-
diers. Their rough-and-ready qualities
made them effective soldiers, but gave
them little preparation for formal
argument with Christian missionaries.
Mandaleshvars were chosen from
among the more learned Paramahamsa
ascetics, so that the latter could provide
a more coherent and telling opposition;
he also serves as the Nagas’ teacher and
spiritual adviser. The enshrinement of

Mahamandaleshvar
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