Naimittika: 26 definitions
Introduction:
Naimittika means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Naimittik.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationNaimittika (नैमित्तिक) refers to “casual acts of piety” and represents one of the three rites of virtue, according to the Śivapurāṇa 1.13.—Accordingly, “everyone shall set apart a third of his wealth for Dharma, another third for Vṛddhi (flourishing) and the rest for his Bhoga (enjoyment). With the part intended for Dharma he shall perform the three rites of virtue viz. Nitya (daily prayers etc.), Naimittika (casual acts of piety) and Kāmya (specific rites for the fulfilment of desires). By means of the second part he shall increase his wealth. By utilising the third part he shall enjoy with restraint in pure and wholesome ways.”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Naimittika (नैमित्तिक).—A form of Pralaya, which is dissolution of the universe after a kalpa;1 one of the three kinds of saṃcāra (movements of creatures).2
1b) One of the three kinds of Śrāddha.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 16. 5.
Naimittika (नैमित्तिक) refers to one of the four kinds of destruction, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, chapter thirty-two contains accounts of Manvantaras while the chapter thirty-three contains descriptions of four kinds of destruction viz. Nitya, Naimittika, Prākṛta and Ātyantika.
Naimittika refers to “dissolution at the end of the kalpa”.—It is stated that at the end of on thousand of the four Yugas when the beings are annihilated , there arise extreme scarcity of rain. This state continues for one hundred years. All the plants, creepers, herbs etc. on earth are destroyed. At this time the sun becomes Saptaratha (having seven chariots) and drink all the water of the ocean. The rays of the Sun becomes highly effulgent and the earth is burnt by the scorching heat of the Sun. The earth along with its mountains, islands and oceans appears to be burning. When the beings are burnt by the fire of the Sun’s rays, it becomes one Fire united with the effulgence of Rudra. That Fire consumes the earth (pṛthivī), the sky (divaloka) and the nether region (pātāla). The flames of this Fire rises above hundred yojanas. By the effulgence of that kālāgni, Saṃvartakāgni burns also the Yakṣas, Rakṣas and Uragas. The universe at that time appears to be a red-hot iron sphere. Further the terrible cloud arises accompanied by lightning. The terrific cloud roars loudly and rains excessively and continuously. That kālāgni gets extinguished and everywhere there is only water and nothing else. Prajāpati sleeps on this water meditating on Lord Maheśvara. This is called Naimittika-Pralaya.
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: ŚaivismNaimittika (नैमित्तिक) is one of the three types of rites ācāryas (“Śaiva preceptor”) are qualified to perform, according to Nigamajñāna (Śaiva teacher of the 16th century) in his Śaivāgamaparibhāṣāmañjarī. Naimittika includes pratiṣṭhā, dīkṣā, and teaching of the Āgamas.
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraNaimittika (नैमित्तिक) refers to “special rites”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 19.88-89ab, while describing the ritual that protect the king and his kingdom]—“One should always perform [the recitation of the mantra] for the sake of peace in obligatory rites (nitya), special rites (naimittika), and for fulfillment of special wishes (kāmya). [The Mantrin should always] apply the forehead mark of white ash [infused] with seven recitations [of the Amṛteśa] mantra on [the king’s] washed face. [This] removes the pollution caused by the mothers”.
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.
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammarNaimittika (नैमित्तिक).—Effect; one that is caused; cf. निमित्ताभावे नैमित्तिकस्याप्यभावः (nimittābhāve naimittikasyāpyabhāvaḥ) a Paribhāsā given by Vyādi, Siradeva and others.
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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)Naimittika (नैमित्तिक) refers to “occasional, causal, incidental”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study (dharma)Naimittika (नैमित्तिक) or Naimittikadāna refers to “occasional donation” and represents one of the four types of Dāna (“gift”) according to the Dharmaśāstra taught in the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—The Saurapurāṇa describes the importance and enumeration of dāna in chapters nine and ten. It classifies dāna into four types.—Whatever donated with devotion (śrāddha) with a view to destroying sins, is called naimittika-dāna.
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts1) Naimittika (नैमित्तिक) refers to “occasional festivals” representing one of the three kinds of festivals (utsava), as discussed in the twentieth chapter of the Aniruddhasaṃhitā, an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama text dealing with the annual festivals of temples and regular temple worship routines.—Description of the chapter [dhvaja-ārohaṇa-vidhi]: [...] Description of the chapter [dhvajārohaṇavidhi]: Definition of the word utsava is given (1), and there are three kinds—occasional [naimittika], optional [kāmya] and routine [pratisamvatsara, or māsika]. Certain occasions call for a festival, but not all of these call for a flag to be raised in the temple precincts (3-19). The detailed preparations preliminary to the flag-hoisting ceremony are given : preparing mud vessels (20-34), readying and sanctifying the cloth for the flag (35-70), [...].
2) Naimittika (नैमित्तिक) or Naimittikaśrāddha refers to “seasonal śrāddha-rites”, as discussed in chapter 27 of the Pauṣkarasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text of almost 5900 verses divided into forty-three chapters presented as a frame-work dialogue between Pauṣkara and Bhagavān dealing with the esoteric meaning of maṇḍala-designs, worship routines and temple-building.—Description of the chapter [śrāddha-ākhyāna]: The first section of this long and intricately-constructed chapter concerns itself with routine, regular domestic rites which are obligatory [nitya-śrāddha] (1-146a). [...] A second section of this chapter deals with the occasional or seasonal, but still obligatory, śrāddha-rites [naimittika] (146b-243a). [...]
3) Naimittika (नैमित्तिक) refers to one of the three varieties of “grand festivals” (mahotsava), as discussed in chapter 31 of the Śrīpraśnasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 5500 Sanskrit verses covering a number of subjects ranging from selecting a temple site through building and furnishing it to sanctifying and maintaining worship in the sacred complex.—Description of the chapter [mahotsavabheda-ādi-prapāstambhakalpa-anta-vidhi]: [...] Bhagavān classifies mahotsava into: nitya, naimittika and kāmya. Those which are naimittika are those which have to do with the contravention of natural disasters, with the renovation of a temple, with the pacification of certain celestial portents, etc. [...] When a mahotsava is declared, no one else should attempt a sacramental undertaking lest they interfere with the mahotsava (21-23). [...]
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraNaimittika (नैमित्तिक) refers to “one who knows or teaches prognostication” and represents one of the eight divisions of Prabhāvanā (“propogation”), according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “[...] Vajranābha acquired strong Tirthakṛt-body-making and family-karma by the twenty sthānakas as follows:—[...] The twentieth is the propagation of the doctrine by Vidyās, prognostication, literary composition, discussion, discourses on dharma, etc. [viz., Naimittika] Of these (i.e., of the twenty) one is cause for gaining tīrthakṛtnāma-karma”.—(Cf. note 120 and Yogaśāstra 2.16, p. 65)
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.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryNaimittika.—(EI 19, 26; HD), a soothsayer or astrologer. See Ep. Ind., Vol. IX, p. 305. Note: naimittika is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarynaimittika (नैमित्तिक).—a (S) Incidental, occasional, emergent, occurrent; not regular and constant, but arising upon occasion.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishnaimittika (नैमित्तिक).—a Incidental, occasional. Not regular and constant.
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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNaimittika (नैमित्तिक).—a. (-kī f.)
1) Produced by, connected with, or dependent on, any particular cause.
2) Unusual, occasional, accidental, produced by some cause (opp. nitya).
-kaḥ An astrologer, prophet.
-kam 1 An effect (opp. nimitta 'cause'); निमित्तनैमित्तिकयोरयं क्रमः (nimittanaimittikayorayaṃ kramaḥ) Ś.7.3.
2) An occasional rite, a periodical ceremony, a conditional act, an act which is to be performed on the occurrence of a निमित्त (nimitta) ; निमित्तप्राप्तौ च नैमित्तिकं कर्तव्यम् (nimittaprāptau ca naimittikaṃ kartavyam) ŚB. on MS.12.1.18.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryNaimittika (नैमित्तिक).—m. (= Pali ne°, both mgs.; from nimitta plus -ika), (1) one who hints at a desire for a gift (from a lay patron): Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā 58.7 °kāḥ; compare Wogihara, Lex. 21, 24 f., and next; (2) (commonly) sign-reader, soothsayer, for- tune-teller (also nimittika, naimitta, °ttaka; but these are much rarer than naimittika, contrary to Wogihara's statement, above, that the latter is found in Buddhist sources only in the Lalitavistara and Mahāvyutpatti passages; to disprove this statement, I cite a few of many occurrences, altho the word is also recorded in Sanskrit): Lalitavistara 186.15; Mahāvyutpatti 3793; Mahāvastu ii.32.6; iii.178.17; Divyāvadāna 132.8; 168.17; 319.14 ff.; 410.18 f.; 474.26; Avadāna-śataka i.13.11 etc.; Gaṇḍavyūha 53.6.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNaimittika (नैमित्तिक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) 1. Occasional. n.
(-kaṃ) 1. An effect (opposite to “cause”) 2. Occasional, periodical act or rite. m.
(-kaḥ) An astrologer, a prophet. E. nimitta cause, ṭhak aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNaimittika (नैमित्तिक).—i. e. nimitta + ika, adj. 1. Occasional, [Daśakumāracarita] in
Naimittika (नैमित्तिक).—[feminine] ī having a cause, as [substantive] effect (cf. nimitta); having some particular cause, occasional, accidental. —[masculine] fortune-teller, soothsayer.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Naimittika (नैमित्तिक):—[from naimitta] mf(ī)n. produced by any or by some [particular] cause, occasional, special, accidental (opp. to nitya), [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc. (-tva n., [Kapila [Scholiast or Commentator]])
2) [v.s. ...] m. = [preceding] m. [gana] ukthādi, [Divyāvadāna]
3) [v.s. ...] n. an effect (See nimitta-n)
4) [v.s. ...] = next, [Horace H. Wilson]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNaimittika (नैमित्तिक):—[(kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) a.] Occasional.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Naimittika (नैमित्तिक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ṇemittia, Ṇemittiga.
[Sanskrit to German]
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
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryNaimittika (नैमित्तिक) [Also spelled naimittik]:—(a) casual; occasional, accidental; hence ~[tā] (nf).
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusNaimittika (ನೈಮಿತ್ತಿಕ):—[adjective] related to a particular point of time, period or cause.
--- OR ---
Naimittika (ನೈಮಿತ್ತಿಕ):—
1) [noun] = ನೈಮಿತ್ತಕರ್ಮ [naimittakarma].
2) [noun] he who can analyse the cause of an effect, the effects of a cause or he who can interpret omens.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryNaimittika (नैमित्तिक):—adj. 1. produced by some special cause; 2. occasional; periodical;
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 (+2): Naimittikacirattam, Naimittikadana, Naimittikakalpa, Naimittikakarma, Naimittikakarman, Naimittikakriya, Naimittikalaya, Naimittikam, Naimittikappiralayam, Naimittikaprakarana, Naimittikapralaya, Naimittikapratisancara, Naimittikapratisarga, Naimittikaprayoga, Naimittikaprayogaratnakara, Naimittikapuja, Naimittikapuje, Naimittikashraddha, Naimittikata, Naimittikatva.
Query error!
Full-text (+95): Nityanaimittika, Naimittikakarman, Naimittikaprayoga, Naimittikashraddha, Nimittanaimittika, Naimittikaprakarana, Naimittikakriya, Naimittikam, Naimittikapralaya, Naimittikakarma, Naimittikalaya, Nitya, Naityaka, Kamya, Nittiyanaimittikam, Naimittikatva, Naimittikapratisancara, Naimittikaprayogaratnakara, Naimittikacirattam, Naimittikappiralayam.
Relevant text
Search found 107 books and stories containing Naimittika, Naimitikas, Naimittikas; (plurals include: Naimittikas, Naimitikases, Naimittikases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.5.2 < [Chapter 5 - Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Entrance Into Mathurā]
Verse 5.5.14 < [Chapter 5 - Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Entrance Into Mathurā]
Verse 8.13.73 < [Chapter 13 - A Thousand Names of Lord Balarāma]
Padarthadharmasamgraha and Nyayakandali (by Ganganatha Jha)
Text 130 < [Chapter 6a - On Qualities]
Text 41: On Ākāśa < [Chapter 5 - Of the Mahābhūtas (Ultimate Material Substances)]
Samkhya elements in the Bhagavata-purana (by Jumli Nath)
Part 3 - Dissolution in the Bhāgavatapurāṇa < [Chapter 2b - Theory of Creation and Dissolution in the Bhāgavata-Purāṇa]
Part 4 - Similarities and Dissimilarities on the concept of Creation and Dissolution < [Chapter 5 - Sāṃkhya and the Bhāgavata-purāṇa: Comparative note]
Markandeya Purana (by Frederick Eden Pargiter)
Canto XXX - Madālasā’s Exhortation (continued)
Canto XXXIV - Alarka’s Education: The exposition of Virtuous Custom
Hanuman Nataka (critical study) (by Nurima Yeasmin)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
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