Nanatva, Nānātva: 11 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
2. Buddhist philosophy
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Nanatva 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.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Nānātva (नानात्व) refers to “multiplicity”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 2).—Accordingly, “[Question: The past and the future do not function with the nature of the present; the past functions with the nature of the past and the future with the nature of the future. That is why there is a [different] time for each nature separately (ekaika dharmalakṣaṇa)]—[Answer:]—[...] [The Buddhist texts] do not speak about kāla but about samaya in order to dispel wrong views of this kind. We speak metaphorically about time with regard to birth, the elements and bases of consciousness, but there is no distinct time [existing as a separate substance]. Expressions such as ‘region’ (deśa), ‘time’ (kāla), ‘separation’ (viyoga), ‘union’ (saṃyoga), ‘singleness’ (ekatva), ‘multiplicity’ (nānātva), ‘length’ (dīrghatva), ‘smallness’ (hrasvatva), etc., come from convention. Fools (bāla) cling to them and say that these are real Dharmas (sadbhūta). That is why mundane conventional Dharmas of purely nominal existence must be excluded.”.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Nānātva (नानात्व) refers to “difference”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[Characteristics of behavior of all beings] [...] The behaviour’s essence, essential character, the essential character of cause, the essential character of condition, the essential character of productive cause, the essential character of combination, the essential character of difference (nānātva-lakṣaṇa), the essential character of discordance, the essential character of passion, the essential character of aversion, the essential character of delusion, the essential character of the three together, the essential character of hell-beings, the essential character of animals [...]—he knows all the essential characters of behavior truly as they are, and there is no fault at all in his understanding”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

Buddhist philosophy

Source: Google Books: The Treasury of Knowledge: Book six, parts one and two (philosophy)

Nānātva (नानात्व) refers to “(imaginations of) multiplicity” and represents one of the ten aspects of distracting false imagination (daśa-vikṣepa-vikalpa), according to Khewang Yeshe Gyatso, Exegetical Memorandum chapter 5 (Cf. Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkārakārikā, chapter 11). These [e.g., Nānātva] are related to the imaginary nature (parikalpita). These ten are enumerated as aspects of false imagination which may be imputed in all sorts of contexts, and it is on this basis that the process of reification actually comes to partake of the imaginary nature.

context information

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Nānātva (नानात्व).—The state of diversity or plurality; नानात्वं बाह्यभेदाश्च (nānātvaṃ bāhyabhedāśca) Sāṃkhyakārikā 27.

Derivable forms: nānātvam (नानात्वम्).

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

Nānātva (नानात्व).—[nānā + tva], n. 1. Difference, Mahābhārata 2, 137. 2. Manifoldness, [Bhāgavata-Purāṇa, (ed. Burnouf.)] 2, 10, 13.

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

Nānātva (नानात्व).—[neuter] variety, diversity, difference.

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

Nānātva (नानात्व):—[=nānā-tva] [from nānā] n. difference, variety, manifoldness, [Brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata etc.]

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Nānātva (नानात्व) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇāṇata.

[Sanskrit to German]

Nanatva 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

Nānātva (ನಾನಾತ್ವ):—

1) [noun] the condition of being plural or numerous; plurality.

2) [noun] the quality, state, fact or an instance of being diverse; difference; diversity.

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 16 books and stories containing Nanatva, Nānātva, Nana-tva, Nānā-tva; (plurals include: Nanatvas, Nānātvas, tvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 2.4.158 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]

Verse 2.4.155-157 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]

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Verse 3.6.28 < [Book 3 - Pada-kāṇḍa (6): Dik-samuddeśa (On Position)]

Verse 3.13.29 < [Book 3 - Pada-kāṇḍa (13): Liṅga-samuddeśa (On Gender)]

Verse 3.6.24 < [Book 3 - Pada-kāṇḍa (6): Dik-samuddeśa (On Position)]

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Sūtra 2.2.13 (Above continued) < [Chapter 2 - Of the Five Bhūtas, Time, and Space]

Sūtra 2.1.14 (Air is manifold) < [Chapter 1 - Of Earth, Waters, Fire, Air, and Ether]

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Verse 2.536 < [Book 2 - Brahmavallī]

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