Mahant

A mahant (English pronunciation: /məˈhʌnt/) is a religious superior, in particular the chief priest of a temple or the head of a monastery.^[1] The Hindi word mahant is from Prakrit mahanta-, from Sanskrit mahat "great".^[2] The priest, pundit, gyani, or pastor of any well-known religious place would be a mahant. In the Swaminarayan Hindu Faith, the mahant is an ascetic, who is the head and leader of the temple and has religious responsibilities as a preacher. ^[3]

Notes

1. ^ New Oxford American Dictionary (2nd ed., 2005), p. 1020.
2. ^ Webster's Third New International Dictionary, p. 1361.
3. ^ Raymond Brady Williams (2001). An Introduction to Swaminarayan Hinduism. Cambridge University Press. pp. 239. ISBN 052165422X. 

External links

• SGPC Glossary, "Mahant."