Nairriti, Nairṛtī, Nairṛti: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Nairriti means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 Nairṛtī and Nairṛti can be transliterated into English as Nairrti or Nairriti, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Nairṛtī (नैरृती):—One of the nine Dūtī presided over by one of the nine bhaivaravas named Diṅmaheśvara (emanation of Ananta, who is the central presiding deity of Dūtīcakra), according to the Kubjikāmata-tantra and the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Nairṛti (नैरृति).—A Rākṣasa. His name also occurs in the list of the ancient guards or protectors of the world. (Śanti Parva, Chapter 227, Verse 52).
1a) Nairṛti (नैरृति).—A town of Nirṛti;1 bali to be given to Nirṛti in Śrāddha.2
1b) A Lokapāla: Image of.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 261. 15-6; 266. 22; 286. 8.
2) Nairṛtī (नैरृती).—A mind-born mother.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 179. 10.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Nairṛtī (नैरृती) is the name of a Mātṛkā-Śakti created by Mahārudra in order to control the plague of demons created by Andhakāsura.—Accordingly, Andhaka-Asura tried to kidnap Umā (Devī Pārvatī), and was fiercely attacked by Mahārudra who shot arrows at him from his mahāpināka. when the arrows pierced the body of Andhakāsura, drops of blood fell to earth and from those drops, thousands of Andhakas arose. To control this plague of demons, Mahārudra created Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Nairṛtī] and ordered them to drink the blood of the demons and drain them dry.
Nairṛtī (नैरृती) refers to one of the various Mātṛkā-Śaktis created by Rudra in order to destroy the clones that spawned from Andhaka’s body.—Accordingly, [...] Andhakāsura attempted to abduct Girājanandinī (Pārvatī) and thus ensued a fierce battle between Andhakāsura and the great Rudra, the Lord of Umā. Like raktabīja, every drop of blood that fell from the body of Andhaka created another Asura like him and in no time, the entire world was filled with Andhakas. To destroy the growing number of Andhakas, Rudra created innumerable Mātṛkā-Śaktis [viz., Nairṛtī]. These Śaktis of immense power at once began to drink every drop of blood that flowed from the body of Andhaka, but they could still not effectively contain the emergence of more and more demons.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Nairṛiti (नैरृइति) is the presiding deity the building-plot associated with the object Dūrvā, as discussed in the thesis entitled “concept of ritual deposit of Khmer temples in northeastern Thailand from 10th-13th century A.D.” by Naiyana Munparn.—(Also see: Acharya, Architecture of Mānasāra, 111).—Note: Nairṛiti is denoted in the Thai language as นิรฤติ (ninriti).
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Nairṛti (नैरृति).—The southwest (nairṛti) is the quarter of the demons, lorded over by the demon-imp Nairṛti (Śmaśānavidhi 16). Nairṛti is the child of Nirṛti, “calamity/death”, wife of Mṛtyu. He is also called Rākṣasa and Niścāreśa, “lord of night wanderers”.
Agni (अग्नि) (direction: Nairṛti-corner) refers to one of the eight Dikpālas, commonly depicted in Buddhist Iconography, and mentioned in the 11th-century Niṣpannayogāvalī of Mahāpaṇḍita Abhayākara.—His Colour is blue; his Vehicle is a corpse; he has two arms
Nairṛti is described in the Niṣpannayogāvalī (dharmadhātuvāgīśvara-maṇḍala) as follows:—
“In the Nairṛta corner there is the Lord of the Rākṣasas (goblins) called Nairrti who is blue in colour and rides on a corpse. In his two hands he holds the sword and the kheṭaka (stick)”.
Nairṛtī (नैरृती) refers to the “southwestern (direction)”, according to the 10th-century Ḍākārṇava-tantra: one of the last Tibetan Tantric scriptures belonging to the Buddhist Saṃvara tradition consisting of 51 chapters.—Accordingly, [while describing the Merit Circle (guṇacakra)]: “[...] The charnel grounds on the Innate Layer (sahajacakra) are explained here—[...] (7) Ghorāndhakāra is in the southwest (nairṛtī); [...] The charnel grounds are terrifying in appearance with howlings of Vetālas, Bhūtas, and jackals. The eight charnel grounds should be placed in this order. [...]”.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Nairṛtī (नैरृती).—
1) An epithet of Durgā.
2) The south-western direction.
1) Nairṛtī (नैरृती):—[=nair-ṛtī] [from nair-ṛta > nair > naiḥ] f. (with or sc. diś) the south-west quarter, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata; Varāha-mihira]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of Durgā, [Devī-māhātmya]
3) Nairṛti (नैरृति):—[=nair-ṛti] [from nair > naiḥ] m. Name of a demon, [Mahābhārata]
4) [v.s. ...] a Rākṣasa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Nairṛti (नैरृति):—(wohl von nairṛta) m. Nomen proprium eines Unholds [Mahābhārata 12, 8264.] Nach [Loiseleur Deslongchamps] zu [Amarakoṣa 1, 1, 1, 56] = nairṛta ein Rākṣasa.
Nairṛti (नैरृति):—m. —
1) Nomen proprium eines Unholdes. —
2) *ein Rakṣas.
Nairṛtī (नैरृती) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇeraī.
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
Nairṛti (ನೈರ್ಋತಿ):—
1) [noun] the direction halfway between south and east; the south-east direction.
2) [noun] (myth.) the Regent of this direction.
3) [noun] an evil spirit conceived as a cannibal having huge size, cruel features, wicked nature and an enemy of gods; a daemon.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Nair, Riti.
Starts with (+0): Nairriti shanti, Nairritika.
Full-text (+41): Nairriti shanti, Nairuti, Nairitte, Nairutya, Nairuta, Nairritya, Nerai, Nairrita, Deva-vibhavana, Nirriti, Avantaradish, Avantaradisha, Caitra, Disha, Nirutti, Hema, Badara, Barbara, Raivataka, Dravida.
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Search found 25 books and stories containing Nairriti, Nair-riti, Nair-ṛtī, Nair-rti, Nair-ṛti, Nairṛtī, Nairṛti, Nairrti; (plurals include: Nairritis, ritis, ṛtīs, rtis, ṛtis, Nairṛtīs, Nairṛtis, Nairrtis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Padarthadharmasamgraha and Nyayakandali (by Ganganatha Jha)
Text 43: On Space (Diś) < [Chapter 5 - Of the Mahābhūtas (Ultimate Material Substances)]
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 11.104 < [Section X - Expiation for the violating of the Preceptor’s Bed (gurutalpa)]
Ramayana of Valmiki (Shastri) (by Hari Prasad Shastri)
Chapter 62 - Sampati learns where Sita is from the Sage Nishakara < [Book 4 - Kishkindha-kanda]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 1044 < [English-Urdu-Hindi (1 volume)]