A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

M
Macdonell, Arthur Anthony
(1854–1930)
Orientalist and Sanskrit scholar. He
was born at Muzaffarpur, he was a
Taylorian teacher of German at Oxford
University (1880–99), and later Boden
Professor of Sanskrit. His works as editor
and translator include Sarvänukramaæika
of the Øgveda (1886); a
Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1892),
Vedic Mythology (1897), History of
Sanskrit Literature (1900), and Sanskrit
Grammar (1901).
macrocosm–microcosm
The Øgveda assumes a close correspondence
between the universe and the
individual person: the Puru•asükta
depicts the creation of everything on
earth as the result of the sacrifice of
PURUÆA, a human-shaped primeval
cosmic being. The Upani•ads not only
equate the human ÄTMAN with the cosmic
BRAHMAN, but also categorize
human properties and cosmic phenomena
in corresponding pentads. SÄßKHYA
YOGA is based on the assumption of a
thoroughgoing structural parallelism
between human and cosmic realities.
The VAIÆŒAVA notion of the universe as
the body of God, and Vi•æu as the soul
and immanent ruler of the world, gives
concrete expression to the microcosm–macrocosm
parallelism. Parallels
were also drawn between the various
components of the human body and the
sacred geography of India: the Gaögä
(Ganges) was equated with the Ïõä, and
the Yamunä with the Piögalä of the subtle
body. Popular Hindu writings
expand these parallelisms vastly and
base the process of LIBERATION on it.
mada (‘intoxication’)
Personified as a monster created by the
Vedic sage Cyavana, with fearful teeth
and long jaws. Intoxication is forbidden
by Hindu ethics, but forms one of the
‘five ms’ of tantric practices. (See also
TANTRA (2).)
Mädhava (1) (‘made of honey’)
Name of KØÆŒA or VIÆŒU.
Mädhava (2), also Vidyäraöya
(14th century)
An important teacher in the ADVAITA
VEDÄNTA tradition. Brother of Säyaöa, a
commentator on the Veda. He was
prime minister at the court of
VIJÄYANÄGARA before taking SAMNYÄSA
and becoming ÄCÄRYA of the Ÿringerï
mätha. He is the author of Sarvadarÿanasaƒgraha,
a critical compendium
of all philosophical and religious
systems, the Pañcädaÿï, a manual for
the study and practice of Advaita
Vedänta, and the Ÿaökara Digvijäya, a
summary of ŸA¢KARA’s (2) victorious