Maheshvara
/məˈheɪʃvərə/noun
A Sanskrit epithet meaning “Great Lord,” most commonly referring to the Hindu god Shiva.
Did you know?Maheshvara is formed through Sanskrit sound combination from mahā, “great,” and īśvara, “lord” or “sovereign,” making the name itself a verbal proclamation of supreme power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*meǵh₂-
“Great or powerful; the ancient root associated with Sanskrit mahā.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
mahā
“Great, mighty, or eminent.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
īśvara
“Lord, ruler, master, or supreme being.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Maheśvara
“Mahā combined with īśvara through Sanskrit sandhi, meaning “Great Lord.””
Medieval Hindu Sanskrit usage
Sanskrit
Maheśvara
“A major epithet of Shiva, especially in theological and devotional texts.”
Modern English
English
Maheshvara
“An English transliteration of the Sanskrit name and epithet for Shiva.”