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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Mahatma

Mahatma \Ma*hat"ma\, n. [Skr. mah[=a]tman, lit., great-souled, wise.] (Theosophy) One of a class of sages, or ``adepts,'' reputed to have knowledge and powers of a higher order than those of ordinary men.

Note: The title was popularly applied to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in tribute to his wisdom, though not implying any supernatural powers; he is thus often referred to as Mahatma Ghandi or The Mahatma. He was most noted for his advocacy of non-violence in resisting oppression, and played an important role in convincing Great Britain to grant independence to India and Pakistan. -- Ma*hat"ma*ism, n.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
mahatma

1884, literally "great-souled," from Sanskrit mahatman, from maha "great," from PIE root *meg- "great" (see magnate) + atman, "soul, principle of life," properly "breath" (see atman). In esoteric Buddhism, "a person of supernatural powers." In common use, as a title, a mark of love and respect. Said to have been applied to Gandhi (1869-1948) in 1915 by poet Rabrindranath Tagore.

Wiktionary
mahatma

n. An epithet granted in India and Tibet to people thought to have great knowledge and love of humanity

WordNet
mahatma

n. (Hinduism) term of respect for a Brahmin sage

Wikipedia
Mahātmā

Mahatma (Mə-HÄT-mə) is Sanskrit for "Great Soul" (महात्मा mahātmā: महा mahā (great) + आत्मं or आत्मन ātman [soul]). It is similar in usage to the modern Christian term saint. This epithet is commonly applied to prominent people like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), Munshiram (later Swami Shraddhananda, 1856–1926), Lalon Shah (1772–1890), Ayyankali (1863-1941) and Jyotirao Phule (1827–1890). It has also been historically used for a class of Jain scholars.

Mahatma (film)

Mahatma ( Telugu: మహాత్మా) is a 2009 Telugu film written and directed by noted director Krishna Vamsi. This film stars Srikanth in the lead role. The film was to release on 2 October which is Gandhi Jayanti holiday but due to censoring issues, the film's release was postponed a week for 9 October 2009. The film was dubbed in Tamil as Puthiya Thalapathy. It is dubbed in Hindi as Ek Aur Mahanayak.

Mahatma (disambiguation)

Mahātmā is a Sanskrit epithet meaning "Great Soul" that is similar in usage to the Christian term saint.

Mahatma may also refer to:

  • Mahathma, 1996 Malayalam films
  • Mahatma (2000 film), 2000 Kannada film
  • Mahatma (film), 2009 Telugu film
  • Mahatma Lalon Fakir (1774–1890), Bengali Baul saint, mystic, songwriter, social reformer and secular thinker
  • Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India
  • Mahatma Hansraj (1864–1938), Indian educationist and Swami Dayanand follower
  • Mahatma Otoo (born 1992), Ghanaian footballer
  • "Mahatma", a song by Barrage on Barrage
  • Mahatma, a brand of rice sold by Riviana Foods, a subsidiary of Ebro Foods

Usage examples of "mahatma".

Night after night there comes this Mahatma to spend the hours in heaven!

As she finished on a chord of triumph that seemed like a new spirit bursting the bonds of ancient mystery and sank to the floor among her women, there stood the Gray Mahatma in their midst, not naked any longer, but clothed from head to heel in a saffron-colored robe, and without his paste of ashes.

Gray Mahatma led the way through the door by which we had entered, stalking along in his saffron robe without the slightest effort to seem dignified or solemn.

Gray Mahatma found an opening behind a curtain in a wall whose thickness could be only guessed.

Gray Mahatma turned and shut the gate behind me, taking no notice at all of the black brute that crouched in the other corner, grumbling and moaning rather than growling.

Gray Mahatma stirred the beast with his toe and drove him away as carelessly and incautiously as you might shove your favorite dog aside!

In the right-hand corner, almost invisible from outside, was a narrow door of thick teak that opened very readily when the Mahatma fumbled with it although I saw no lock, hasp or keyhole on the side toward us.

As the Mahatma swung the lantern I just caught sight of an enormous rat closely pursued by a six-foot snake, and after that we might as well have been in hell for all the difference it would have made to me.

Gray Mahatma to a gallery at the top, on the other side of which was a sheer drop and the smell of stagnant water.

A heavy monster splashed somewhere beneath us and the Mahatma raised the lantern to peer into our faces.

Gray Mahatma beckoned King and me and led the way between the shuddersome, self-immolated, twisted wrecks of humanity to an opening in the far wall, through which we passed into another chamber carved out of the rock, not so large as the first and only lighted by a charcoal brazier that gave off as much fumes as flame.

For the Mahatma went a great deal faster than we cared to follow, so that although he had shown us the way we were still doubtful of our footing.

King set his foot on it and in a moment more we were working our way cautiously along the causeway again, making for the next sharp corner where the Mahatma had been standing to give us the direction.

Gray Mahatma picked up a short pole from the embankment, and returned into the water with it, not striking out right and left as any ordinary-minded person would have done, but shoving the brutes away gently one by one, as if they were logs or small boats.

Gray Mahatma came and peered into our faces, and asked an extraordinary question.