Back مهاتما Arabic মহাত্মা Assamese Mahatma Azerbaijani Махатма Bulgarian Mahatma Breton Mahatma Danish Μαχάτμα Greek Mahatma Spanish Mahatma Finnish Mahatma French
Mahātmā (English pronunciation: /məˈhɑːtmə, məˈhætmə/, Sanskrit: महात्मा, romanized: mahātmā, from Sanskrit महा (mahā) 'great' and आत्मा (ātmā) 'soul') is an honorific used in India.
The term is commonly used for Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who is often referred to simply as "Mahatma Gandhi". Albeit less frequently, this epithet has also been used with regard to such people as Basava[1] (1131–1167), Swami Shraddhanand (1856–1926), Lalon Shah (1772–1890), Ayyankali (1863–1941), and Jyotirao Phule (1827–1890).
The term mahātmā has also been historically used for a class of religious scholars in Jainism; for the selected religious leaders in Theosophy; and for local religious teachers in the Divine Light Mission church.