Anishta, Aniṣṭa: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Anishta means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
The Sanskrit term Aniṣṭa can be transliterated into English as Anista or Anishta, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Anisht.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट, “undesired”) refers to a “unfavourable mind”, and is one of the three aspects of the mind (manas), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 24. Accordingly, “by turning the head, not using the eyes and keeping them fixed to the nose, one should represent whatever is unfavourable (aniṣṭa)”.

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट).—An undesired consequence or result; cf. अनिष्टं च प्राप्नोति इष्टे च न सिध्यति (aniṣṭaṃ ca prāpnoti iṣṭe ca na sidhyati) M. Bh. on I.3.1 , also cf. नानिष्टार्था शास्त्रप्रवृत्तिः (nāniṣṭārthā śāstrapravṛttiḥ) M. Bh. on VI.1.2.

Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट) refers to “bad portents”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.23 (“Outraging the modesty of Vṛndā”).—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra narrated to Vyāsa: “[...] The gentle lady Vṛndā, the wife of Jalandhara, though of pure rites, had a very bad dream at night on account of Viṣṇu’s power of illusion. [...] Later, towards the end of the night she had various bad dreams, such as the whole city was submerged in the sea, all of a sudden, along with herself. Then the lady woke up still thinking of the dream she had had. She saw the rising sun with a hole in the middle and fading repeatedly. On realising that it was a bad portent (aniṣṭa) [tadaniṣṭamidaṃ jñātvā], the terrified lady began to cry. She did not feel happy at all in the spacious terraces and towers of the palace. [...]”.

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट) refers to “(that which is) undesirable (towards elephants)”, according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 1, “on the origin of elephants”]: [As sage Pālakāpya said to king Romapāda]: “19. And Pālakāpya played with the elephants, their cows, and the young elephants, roaming with them through rivers and torrents, on mountain tops and in pools of water, and on pleasant spots of ground, living as a hermit on leaves and water, through years numbering twice six thousand, learning all about the elephants, what they should and should not eat, their joys and griefs, their gestures and what is good and bad (aniṣṭa) for them and so forth”.

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट) refers to “undesirable objects of enjoyment” and represents one of the five classifications of bhoga (objects of enjoyment) according to Cāmuṇḍarāya in his Caritrasāra p. 13. It is related with the bhogopabhoga-vrata ( vow of limitations of objects of daily use). Elaboration of the aniṣṭa aspect of bhoga: “to be avoided in so far as they are undesirable (aniṣṭa) are vehicles, riding animals, ornaments, and similar luxuries. Some are permissible but the rest are not permissible and should be eschewed”.
The late commentator Prabhācandra is probably mistaken in understanding by aniṣṭa “food that is unwholesome because it causes colic or other disorders”.
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट) or Aniṣṭatā refers to “undesirability”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “There ought to be steadfastness in equanimity for him whose mind does not become deluded by sentient and insentient beings, by desirability and undesirability (aniṣṭa—iṣṭāniṣṭatayā), [and] by situations”.
Synonyms: Ayogya.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट).—a (S) Undesired or disliked: also disagreeable or displeasing. 2 Unfriendly; unfavorable; unpropitious; disadvantageous. 3 Used as s n Disadvantage, detriment, damage, any thing undesired or disliked.
aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट).—a Unwished, undsirable, un- favourable. Evil.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट).—a.
1) Unwished, undesirable; unfavourable, disagreeable, ill (with gen.); ध्यायत्यनिष्टं यत्किञ्चित्पाणिग्राहस्य चेतसा (dhyāyatyaniṣṭaṃ yatkiñcitpāṇigrāhasya cetasā) Manusmṛti 9.21 whatever ill she thinks of her husband.
2) Evil, forbidden.
3) Bad, unlucky, ominous.
4) Not honoured with a sacrifice.
-ṣṭam An evil, mishap, misfortune, calamity, disadvantage; a crime, offence, wrong, unwelcome thing; °एकबुद्धि (ekabuddhi) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 8.12; भवत्यनिष्टादपि नाम दुःसहान्मनस्विनीनां प्रतिपत्तिरीदृशी (bhavatyaniṣṭādapi nāma duḥsahānmanasvinīnāṃ pratipattirīdṛśī) Kumārasambhava 5.42; ill-omen; प्रातरेव °दर्शनं जातम् (prātareva °darśanaṃ jātam) H.1.
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट).—mfn.
(-ṣṭaḥ-ṣṭā-ṣṭaṃ) Unwished, undesirable, bad, unlucky. f.
(-ṣṭā) A plant, (Sida alba.) E. an neg. iṣṭa wished.
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट).—1. [adjective] undesired, unpleasant, unlawful, wrong. [masculine] not a favourite; [neuter] ill-luck, evil, misfortune.
--- OR ---
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट).—2. [adjective] not sacrificed; not worshipped with a sacrifice.
1) Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट):—[=an-iṣṭa] 1. an-iṣṭa mfn. (√3. iṣ), unwished, undesirable, disadvantageous, unfavourable
2) [v.s. ...] bad, wrong, evil, ominous
3) Aniṣṭā (अनिष्टा):—[=an-iṣṭā] [from an-iṣṭa] f. the plant Sida Alba
4) Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट):—[=an-iṣṭa] n. evil, disadvantage.
5) [=an-iṣṭa] 2. an-iṣṭa mfn. (√yaj), not offered in sacrifice
6) [v.s. ...] not honoured with a sacrifice.
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट):—[tatpurusha compound] I. 1. m. f. n.
(-ṣṭaḥ-ṣṭā-ṣṭam) 1) Unwished, un-desirable, bad, wrong.
2) Bad, evil.
3) Unlucky. 2. n.
(-ṣṭam) 1) Bad luck, evil occurrence, misfortune.
2) Evil deed, crime. 3. f.
(-ṣṭā) The name of a plant (Sida alba). See nāgavalā. E. a neg. and iṣṭa (iṣ, kṛt aff. kta). Ii. m. f. n.
(-ṣṭaḥ-ṣṭā-ṣṭam) 1) Not sacrificed.
2) Not honoured with a sacrifice (as a god). E. a neg. and iṣṭa (yaj, kṛt aff. kta).
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट):—[ani+ṣṭa] (ṣṭaḥ-ṣṭā-ṣṭaṃ) a. Undesired, evil. (ṣṭā) f. A plant (Sida alba).
[Sanskrit to German]
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Aiṭṭha, Aṇiṭṭha.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट) [Also spelled anisht]:—(nm) harm, calamity; ~[kara,/~kārī |] (a) evil, ominous; harmful, calamitous.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Aniṣṭa (ಅನಿಷ್ಟ):—
1) [adjective] not to one’s liking.
2) [adjective] not auspicious; unlucky; bringing misfortune.
3) [adjective] causing pain or trouble; harmful; injurious; evil.
4) [adjective] offensive or disgusting.
--- OR ---
Aniṣṭa (ಅನಿಷ್ಟ):—
1) [noun] that which is not liked.
2) [noun] anything morally bad or wrong; wickedness; depravity; sin.
3) [noun] anything that causes harm, pain, misery, disaster, etc.
4) [noun] an inauspicious or unlucky thing.
5) [noun] a wicked man.
6) [noun] ಅನಿಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆಲ್ಲಾ ಶನೀಶ್ವರನೇ ಮೂಲ [anishtakkella shanishvarane mula] aniṣṭakkella śanīśvarane mūla (prov.) blame an innocent person for all misfortune, loss, etc.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Aniṣṭa (अनिष्ट):—adj. 1. undesired; undesirable; 2. harmful; n. harm; ill; evil; misfortune; calamity; perils; jeopardy; vulnerability;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+15): Anishtacintana, Anishtadina, Anishtadushtadhi, Anishtagandha, Anishtagraha, Anishtagrahashanti, Anishtahetu, Anishtaikabuddhi, Anishtaka, Anishtakara, Anishtakaraka, Anishtakari, Anishtakarman, Anishtalakshmi, Anishtam, Anishtamaduve, Anishtanivritti, Anishtanubandhin, Anishtapadana, Anishtapata.
Full-text (+25): Anishtasucaka, Anishtaphala, Anishtahetu, Anishtashanka, Anishtashamsin, Anishtadushtadhi, Anishtapadana, Anishtaprasanga, Ishtanishta, Anishtagraha, Anishtayajna, Anishtapatti, Anishtam, Anishtanubandhin, Anishtotprekshana, Anishtapti, Anisht, Anishtin, Gandha, Anishtaka.
Relevant text
Search found 49 books and stories containing Anishta, Aniṣṭa, Anista, An-ishta, An-iṣṭa, An-ista, Aniṣṭā, An-iṣṭā; (plurals include: Anishtas, Aniṣṭas, Anistas, ishtas, iṣṭas, istas, Aniṣṭās, iṣṭās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Yavanajataka by Sphujidhvaja [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 5.18 < [Chapter 5 - Rules of Impregnation]
Verse 4.17 < [Chapter 4 - The Rule of the Objects of the Zodiac Signs and Planets]
Verse 5.8 < [Chapter 5 - Rules of Impregnation]
Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 8.19 < [Chapter 8 - Dashas and Antar Dashas]
Verse 8.5 < [Chapter 8 - Dashas and Antar Dashas]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 144 < [Hindi-Bengali-English Volume 2]
Page 49 < [Malayalam-English-Kannada (1 volume)]
Page 146 < [Hindi-Malayalam-English Volume 1]
Bhagavad-gita (with Vaishnava commentaries) (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 18.12 < [Chapter 18 - Mokṣa-yoga (the Yoga of Liberation)]
Verses 13.8-12 < [Chapter 13 - Prakṛti-puruṣa-vibhāga-yoga]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
The Abhavya-sūtra < [Part 1 - Eliminating the three poisons]
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