entrance-hall, which was separated
from the main sanctuary (garbhagrha)
by a short vestibule named the antarala.
Mahamantra
A thirty-two syllable mantra, or sacred
formula, the recitation of which is the
primary religious act for devotees
(bhakta) belonging to ISKCON
(International Society for Krishna
Consciousness), a group more popularly
known as the Hare Krishnas. The mantra
itself is “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama,
Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”
Mahamaya
(“[she whose] power of illusion is great”)
Epithet of the Goddess in the
Devimahatmya, the earliest and most
important textual source for the notion
that God is female. This epithet reflects
her position as the sole and supreme
power in the universe, wielding the
power of illusion that obscures this fact
from human awareness. See Goddess.
Mahanirvani Akhara
The name of a group of the Nagaclass of
the Dashanami Sanyasis, a type of
renunciant ascetic. The Dashanami
Nagas are devotees (bhakta) of the god
Shiva, organized into different akharas
or regiments on the model of an army.
Until the beginning of the nineteenth
century, the Nagas’ primary occupation
was as mercenary soldiers or traders;
both of these have largely disappeared
in contemporary times. This akhara is
described as taking part in a battle with
the forces of the Moghul emperor
Aurangzebin 1664, and are credited
with saving the city of Benaresfrom
being sacked.
The Mahanirvani Akhara is one of
the seven main Dashanami Naga akha-
ras and remains one of most influential.
The principal center of the Mahanirvani
Akhara is in Allahabad, site of the largest
and most important bathing (snana)
festivals, known as the Kumbha Mela.
Their strength in Allahabad has allowed
them to assume the most desirable spot
at the head of the bathing procession
during the Kumbha Mela. Each of the
akharas has a (guardian) deity who
defines their organizational identity; the
tutelary deity of the Mahanirvani Akhara
is the great sage Kapila.Mahant
(“great”) Honorific title given to an
asceticwho is the leader of a monastery.
Mahants are chosen by their predeces-
sors and designate their successors.
While they are living, they have virtually
total control over the monastery and
its assets, even though they do not
own them. In any given ascetic
establishment, the mahant has very
high status, since he is the absolute ruler
of his small domain.Mahanubhav
(“Great Experience”) A regional religious
community, whose members are devo-
tees (bhakta) of the god Vishnu, and
who are found mainly in the central
regions of the state of Maharashtra. The
Mahanubhavs were founded by
Chakradhar in the thirteenth century.
Under his influence the community has
rejected many aspects of “mainstream”
Hindu religious life: social distinctions
based on caste, the worshipof images,
and the religious authority of brahmins.
The community is also noted for
espousing an ascetic way of life.
Although the Mahanubhavs are consid-
ered Vaishnavas, they acknowledge only
one God, whom they call Parameshvar
(“Great Lord”), and whom they conceive
as having had five incarnations. Two of
these incarnations are established fig-
ures in the Hindu pantheon, the god
Krishna and the deified ascetic
Dattatreya. The other three are sectari-
an figures: their founder Chakradhar,
Chakradhar’s guru, and his guru’s guru.
Their modern practice stresses pilgrim-
age, vows, and almsgiving. Nevertheless,
through much of Maharashtra there is aMahanubhav