Naimisha, Naimiśa, Naimiṣa, Naimiṣā: 17 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Purana
2. Shaivism
3. Jyotisha
India history
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Naimisha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 terms Naimiśa and Naimiṣa and Naimiṣā can be transliterated into English as Naimisa or Naimisha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Naimiṣa (नैमिष).—(NAIMIṢĀRAṆYA). General. Naimiṣa is very famous in the Purāṇas. It is considered to be a sacred place. Nimasar is the modern name for the place, and it is in the Sītāpur zilla of North India.

Śaunaka conducted a yajña here which lasted for twelve years. All the reputed Ṛṣis participated in it, and there Sūta (Sauti) the son of Vyāsa recited to the Maharṣis Mahābhārata composed by Vyāsa. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 1; also see under Sūta). Other information.

Devas once came to this place and conducted a yajña there. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 196, Verse 1).

(ii) Arjuna once visited here the river called Utpalinī. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 214, Verse 6).

(iii) Half of the sin of those who visit Naimiṣa will at once be dispelled. The remaining portion of the sin also will be removed before they return from the place. He who stays for a month and bathes here will derive all the results of Gomeda yajña. He who quits his life here by fasting will attain all the sacred lokas. (Vana Parva, Chapter 84, Verse 59).

(iv) River Gomatī, Yajñabhūmi of the Devas and the yājñic vessel of Sūrya are found at this place. (Vana-Parva, Chapter 87, Verse 6).

(v) Dharmaputra once came to this place with his brothers and bathed here and made gifts of cows. (Vana Parva, Chapter 95, Verse 1). (See full article at Story of Naimiṣa from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Naimiṣa (नैमिष) is the name of a sacred place as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 1.12, “somehow men must strive to find a residence in a holy centre. On the shores of the ocean in the confluence of hundreds of rivers there are many such holy centres (puṇyakṣetra or tīrtha) and temples. [...] The devotees of Śiva are the bestowers of Śivaloka and accord cherished desires. When the Jupiter and the sun are in the zodiac of Meṣa, the devotee shall take the holy bath in Naimiṣa and Badara”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1) Naimiśa (नैमिश).—A R.: a fit place for performing Śrāddha.^*

* Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 14. 18.

2) Naimiṣa (नैमिष).—The southern sun;¹ a tīrtha for performing Śrāddha.²

1) Vāyu-purāṇa 109. 21.
2) Ib. 106. 67

3) Naimiṣā (नैमिषा).—(also Naimiṣālaya s.v.) sacred to Viṣṇu; here Śaunaka and other sages performed a satra extending over a thousand years;¹ visited by Balarāma who was honoured by all except Śūta Romaharṣaṇa; Balarāma killed the Śūta in anger thus committing brahmicide; then at the instance of the sages and as an expiation for the offence he killed Asura Balvala here;² revisited by Balarāma who took part in the sacrifices;³ sages of, visited Dvārakā.⁴

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa I. 1. 4 and 21; III. 20. 7; VII. 14. 31; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 4. 45.
2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 78. 20-32; 79. 5.
3) Ib. X. 79. 30-32.
4) Ib. X. 90. 28. [6]. Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa I. 1. 37; III. 13. 100; IV. 2. 111 and 246; 4. 41.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Naimiṣa (नैमिष) refers to the name of a Spot or Tīrtha (pilgrim’s destination) mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. III.85.4, II.82.54, III.81.173, VIII.30.60, VIII.30.75). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Naimiṣa) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Naimiṣā (नैमिषा) or Naimiṣāraṇya is the name of a forest and one of the various Tīrthas (holy places) mentioned in the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—In the very first chapter of the Saurapurāṇa the author designates Naimiṣā as the best of the tīrthas, best of the kṣetras as well, where there is the regular abode of the sages. The sages Saunaka and others who were the devotees of Śiva performed a long sacrifice in the Naimiṣāraṇya in order to please Śiva. Sūta Romaharśaṇa arrived there to visit the sages and the sages requested Sūta to narrate the Saura-purāṇa.

context information

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śaivism

Naimiśa (नैमिश) is a Sanskrit word referring to one of the sixty-eight places hosting a svāyambhuvaliṅga, one of the most sacred of liṅgas according to the Śaivāgamas. The presiding deity residing over the liṅga in this place (Naimiśa) is named Devadeveśa. The list of sixty-eight svāyambhuvaliṅgas is found in the commentary of the Jirṇoddhāra-daśaka by Nigamajñānadeva. The word liṅga refers to a symbol used in the worship of Śiva and is used thoughout Śaiva literature, such as the sacred Āgamas.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Naimiṣa (नैमिष) is the name of an ancient kingdom or tribe of people, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 11), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If the stars of the constellation of Śravaṇa should be dimmed by the tails of or appear to be in contact with the malefic comets, the ruler of Kekaya will perish; if those of Dhaniṣṭhā, the ruler of Punjab will perish; if those of Ṣaṭbhiṣaj the ruler of Ceylon will perish; if those of Pūrvabhādra, the ruler of Bengal will perish; if those of Uttarabhādra, the ruler of Naimiṣa will perish; and if those of Revatī, the ruler of Kirāta will perish”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

India history and geography

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana (history)

Naimiṣa (नैमिष), modern Nimsar, is a sacred region of Uttarapradeśa in the district of Sitapur, on the bank of Gomatī. Naimiṣa was sacred in the Kṛta age, as Puṣkara in the Tretā, Kurukṣetra in the Dvāpara, the Ganges in the Kali age.

Note: Naimiṣa, modern Nimsar, is a sacred region of Uttara Pradeśa in the district of Sitāpur on the bank of Gomatī.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Naimiṣa (नैमिष).—a. (-ṣī f.) Lasting for a 'nimiṣa' or twinkling, momentary, transient.

-ṣam Name of a sacred forest celebrated as the residence of certain sages to whom Sauti related the Mahābhārata; शिश्रिये श्रुतवतामपश्चिमः पश्चिमे वयसि नैमिषं वशी (śiśriye śrutavatāmapaścimaḥ paścime vayasi naimiṣaṃ vaśī) R.19.1; (the name is thus derived:-yatastu nimiṣeṇedaṃ nihataṃ dānavaṃ balam | araṇye'smiṃstatastena naimiṣāraṇyasaṃjñitam ||).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Naimiṣa (नैमिष).—mfn.

(-ṣaḥ-ṣī-ṣaṃ) Momentary, transient, in a twinkling. n.

(-ṣaṃ) The name of a forest. See naimiṣāraṇya. E. nimiṣa, and aṇ aff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Naimiṣa (नैमिष).—n. The name of a forest.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Naimiṣa (नैमिष).—[neuter] [Name] of a sacred forest, [masculine] [plural] its inhabitants.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Naimiśa (नैमिश):—[=nai-miśa] [from nai] ([Bhāgavata-purāṇa]) = miṣa

2) Naimiṣa (नैमिष):—[=nai-miṣa] [from nai] a mf(ī)n. momentary, transient, [Horace H. Wilson]

3) [v.s. ...] n. Name of a forest and a sacred Tīrtha (where Sauti related the [Mahābhārata], and so called because in it an army of Asuras was destroyed in a twinkling), [Mahābhārata i, 1026; Harivaṃśa] etc.

4) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] the inhabitants of the Naimiṣa wood, [Mahābhārata]

5) b etc. See under nai, [column] 1.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Naimiṣa (नैमिष):—[(ṣaḥ-ṣī-ṣaṃ) a.] Momentary, transient. n. Name of a forest.

[Sanskrit to German]

Naimisha in German

context information

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Naimiśa (ನೈಮಿಶ):—[noun] = ನೈಮಿಷ [naimisha]2.

--- OR ---

Naimiṣa (ನೈಮಿಷ):—[adjective] lasting for only a minute; momentary.

--- OR ---

Naimiṣa (ನೈಮಿಷ):—[noun] name of a forest often referred to in Mahābhārata.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 32 books and stories containing Naimisha, Naimiśa, Naimiṣa, Naimiṣā, Naimisa, Nai-misha, Nai-miśa, Nai-misa, Nai-miṣa; (plurals include: Naimishas, Naimiśas, Naimiṣas, Naimiṣās, Naimisas, mishas, miśas, misas, miṣas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Starting with N

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Chapter 1 - Dialogue between Sūta and Śaunaka in the Naimiśa forest < [Book 1 - First Skandha]

Chapter 3 - Glorious deeds of Kṛṣṇa < [Book 3 - Third Skandha]

Chapter 79 - Balvala Killed: Balarāma’s Pilgrimage < [Book 10 - Tenth Skandha]

+ 5 more chapters / show preview

Story of Balabhadra

Story of Naimiṣa

Story of Nara

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Section 45 < [Karna Parva]

Section 37 < [Shalya Parva]