noun, noun, used as a prefix
greatness; maha
Buddhist term for greatness or superiority, often used as a prefix in compounds like 摩訶不思議 (mysterious and wondrous). The standalone noun use is rare; it mainly appears in religious or literary contexts.
from Sanskrit mahā
「摩訶」はサンスクリット語の「マハー」に由来し、偉大さを表す。
摩訶 comes from the Sanskrit 'mahā' and expresses greatness.
摩訶不思議な出来事に遭遇
I encountered a mysterious and wondrous event.
Standard kanji spelling for this Buddhist term, borrowed from Sanskrit mahā.
Kana spelling is sometimes used in explanatory or less formal contexts.
Borrowed from Sanskrit mahā (महा), meaning 'great' or 'mighty', via Buddhist texts.