Dictionary Of God And Godedesses

Maha-Ganapati 181from girl to hag and is generally dressed in red.She is depicted with red hair. She appears thus tothe Irish hero, Cu Chulainn, before the Battle ofMoytura when she suddenly changes herself intoa crow, the harbinger of death. Heads of slaughteredsoldiers were fixed on the so-called Pole ofMacha, and the ancient religious center of EmainMacha in Ulster is named after her.See also Banbha, ERIU and Fodla.Madhukara (honey maker)God. Buddhist. Derived from a Hindu deity andequating with Kama. He rides in a chariot drawnby parrots. Color: white. Attributes: arrow, banner,bow and wine glass.MaeveMother goddess. Celtic (Irish). The mythicalQueen of Connaught. According to tradition herconsort is Ailill and she represents the “Sovereigntyof Ireland” at Connaught. She is thus theapotheosis of the land which is sacred.MafdetMinor goddess. Egyptian. She acts as a guardianagainst snakes and scorpions. She is depicted inthe form of a panther, often with the instrumentof an executioner.MaghaMinor goddess of fortune. Hindu (Epic andPuranic). A benevolent NAKSATRA; daughter ofDAKSA and wife of CANDRA (SOMA).MahMoon god. Persian [Iran]. The progenitor of thecow, typically depicted with the tips of a sicklemoon projecting from his shoulders.Mahabala (very strong)God. Buddhist (Mahayana). A fearsome emanationof AMITABHA and a dikpala (guardian) of thenorthwestern quarter. Color: red. Attributes:jewel, snakes, sword, tiger skin, trident and whitefly whisk. Three-headed.MahabjaSnake god. Hindu (Puranic). One of a group ofseven MAHANAGAS.Mahacinatara (Tara of Tibet)Goddess. Buddhist (Mahayana) and Lamaist[Tibet]. An emanation of AKSOBHYA and, inLamaism, a fearsome form of the Vajrayana goddess,EKAJATA, who may be depicted with up totwelve heads and twenty-four hands. She standsupon a corpse. Attributes: arrow, ax, blue lotus,bow, cup, image of Aksobhya on crown, knife,skull, snake, staff, sword, tiger skin and trident.Three-eyed.Mahadeva (mighty god)God. Hindu (Puranic). An important epithet ofŠIVA with three heads (two male, one female)signifying the three aspects—Aghora (right),Saumya (center) and Sakti (left). Attributes: ax,bell, hook, mirror, noose, staff, sword, tree andtrident. Also identified as a manifestation of Šivaand one of the EKADASARUDRAS (eleven forms ofRUDRA). In northern India among tribes includingthe Gonds, the expression Mahadeo (greatgod) is directed toward Šiva as the supreme deity.Maha-GanapatiElephant god. Hindu (Puranic). This form ofthe god GANESA possesses ten arms instead of themore normal four and may have a goddess,BUDDHI or SIDDHI, seated on the knee.