Maharishi

This article is about the title. For the film, see Maharshi (film).

Maharishi (noun, mah-huh-ree-shee) is the anglicized version of the Sanskrit word Maharshi महर्षि (mahā meaning "great" and ṛṣi meaning "seer"). Maharishi is often use as an addition to a person's name as an honorary title. The term was first seen in modern English literature in the 18th century . ^[1]

Description and usage

Maharishi may refer to a Hindu guru or "spiritual teacher" of "mystical knowledge". Additional meanings cited by dictionaries include: sage, poet, spiritual leader, wise man and holy man. ^{[2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}

Alternate meanings describe Maharishi as a collective name that refers to the seven rishis or saptarishis (including Maharishi Bhrigu) cited in the scriptures of Rig Veda and the Puranas or any of the several mythological seers that are referenced in Vedic writings and associated with the seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major. ^[9][10]

Maharishi may refer to any individual who has added the title to their name. ^[11] Outside of India the most well known Maharishi was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who founded the Transcendental Meditation technique and made it available to the West. ^[2]

Ramana Maharshi (1879-1950) was an "Indian sage" with a philosophy about the path to self-knowledge and the integration of personality espoused in books by author Paul Brunton and Ramana's own writings such as the Collected Works (1969) and Forty Verses on Reality (1978).^[12]

The title was also used by Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Patanjali and Maharishi Dayananda Sarasvati. ^[13][14][15]

History

Maharishi has it origin in the Sanskrit term, Maharshi, which originates in the Veda literature called Manusmriti (1.34) and states that ten maharshis were created by Manu Svayambhuva, viz. Marici, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Pracetas, Vasishtha, Bhrigu, Narada, also called the ten Prajapatis; while other sources restrict the number of maharshis to seven.^{[citation needed]} The title Maharshi first appears in the Sanskrit Epics.^{[citation needed]}

The term Maharishi became popular in modern English literature "sometime before 1890" and was first used in 1758. ^{[16] [17]}

See also

• Maha
• Maharaj
• Rishi

References

1. ^ Websters Online Dictionary with Multilingual Thesaurus Translation Retrieved November 2011
2. ^ ^{a b} Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (2009) Retrieved November 9 2011
3. ^ In Merriam-Webster's Collegiate(R) Dictionary (2004) Retrieved November 2011
4. ^ Collins German Dictionary (2007) Retrieved November 2011
5. ^ Drury, Nevill (2002) Watkins Publishing, The dictionary of the esoteric: 3000 entries on the mystical and occult, page 200
6. ^ Luck, Steve (1998) publisher: George Philip Ltd, The American desk encyclopedia, page 499
7. ^ Online Etymological Dictonary Retrieved Nov 2011
8. ^ Oxford Dictionary Retrieved Nov 2011
9. ^ Dictionary.com Retrieved Nov 2011
10. ^ Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (2002) Thames & Hudson, Retrieved November 2011
11. ^ Websters Online Dictionary with Multilingual Thesaurus Translation Retrieved November 2011
12. ^ In Chambers Biographical Dictionary (2007) Retrieved November 2011
13. ^ J. Agarwal (15 September 2008). I Am Proud to be a Hindu. Pustak Mahal. pp. 191–. ISBN 978-81-223-1022-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=9hJjCz8COhMC&pg=PA191. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
14. ^ J.M.Mehta (22 December 2005). Essence of Maharishi Patanjali's Ashtang Yoga. Pustak Mahal. ISBN 978-81-223-0921-8. http://books.google.com/books?id=sEN1_K0TAoYC. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
15. ^ J.P. Mittal (1 January 2006). History of Ancient India: From 7300 BC to 4250 BC. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. pp. 270–. ISBN 978-81-269-0615-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=b7gOBW8oDFgC&pg=PA270. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
16. ^ Merriam Webster M-W.com Retri3eved November 2011
17. ^ Websters Online Dictionary with Multilingual Thesaurus Translation Retrieved November 2011