Naimisha, Naimiśa, Naimiṣa, Naimiṣā: 11 definitions
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 EncyclopediaNaimiṣa (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 TranslationNaimiṣa (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 Index1) 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
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.
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.
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: ŚaivismNaimiśa (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.
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.
India history and geogprahy
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.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNaimiṣa (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 DictionaryNaimiṣa (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: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNaimiṣa (नैमिष).—[neuter] [Name] of a sacred forest, [masculine] [plural] its inhabitants.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Naimishaka, Naimishakanana, Naimishakunja, Naimishalaya, Naimishanripa, Naimisharanya, Naimisharanyamahatmya, Naimishayana.
Full-text (+24): Naimisheya, Naimishanripa, Naimishakanana, Naimishya, Naimishayana, Ugrasrava, Balvala, Naimisharanya, Lingadharini, Dakshinarka, Yajnavata, Sauti, Haricakra, Naimishalaya, Pancatirthi, Naimishiya, Shuli, Naimishakunja, Vishvasrija, Dharmacakra.
Relevant text
Search found 22 books and stories containing Naimisha, Nai-miśa, Nai-misa, Nai-miṣa, Nai-misha, Naimiśa, Naimiṣa, Naimiṣā, Naimisa; (plurals include: Naimishas, miśas, misas, miṣas, mishas, Naimiśas, Naimiṣas, Naimiṣās, Naimisas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 32 - Sugandha, Arundhatīvaṭa, Sindhuprabhava etc. < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]
Chapter 11 - A list of sacred places (tīrtha) < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
Chapter 47 - Prayāga Again < [Section 3 - Svarga-khaṇḍa (section on the heavens)]
The Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 2 - The Legend of Naimiṣāraṇya < [Section 1 - Prakriyā-pāda (section on rites)]
Chapter 4 - Re-creation of the Cosmic Egg < [Section 4a - Upasaṃhāra-pāda]
Chapter 1 - Contents of the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa < [Section 1 - Prakriyā-pāda (section on rites)]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī)
Verse 1.4.11 < [Chapter 4 - Bhakta: The Devotee]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 40 - Journey of the sages of Naimiṣa < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]
Chapter 1 - The discussion among Vyāsa, Śaunaka and others < [Section 6 - Kailāsa-saṃhitā]
Chapter 3 - The Naimiṣa episode < [Section 7.1 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (1)]
The Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section IV < [Pauloma Parva]
Section LXXXVII < [Tirtha-yatra Parva]
Section LXXXIV < [Tirtha-yatra Parva]