Nandaka, Ṇandaka, Namdaka: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Nandaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, biology. 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 Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Nandaka (नन्दक).—A tabor. Whenever the flag of Yudhiṣṭhira was hoisted, two tabors called Nandaka and Upanandaka used to be beaten. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 27, Stanza 7).
2) Nandaka (नन्दक).—A sword of Mahāviṣṇu. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 147, Stanza 15).
2) There is a story explaining how Mahāviṣṇu came by this sword Nandaka. In days of old Brahmā performed a sacrifice on the banks of the heavenly Gaṅgā on a peak of mount Mahāmeru. While Brahmā was sitting in deep meditation in the sacrifice Lohāsura was seen coming to cause disturbance to the sacrifice. Immediately a male being came into existence from the meditation of Brahmā. The male being paid homage to Brahmā and the devas (gods) became glad and they encouraged the male being. Because the gods greeted the male one, he was changed to a sword called Nandaka (that which is greeted or thanked for). That sword was received by Mahāviṣṇu at the request of the gods. When Mahāviṣṇu slowly took it Lohāsura came near. He was an asura of blue complexion, with thousand hands of adamantine fists. By wielding his club he drove away the gods. Mahāviṣṇu cut down his limbs one by one and those organs became metals by the touch of the sword. Then Mahāviṣṇu killed the asura. Then Mahāviṣṇu granted Nandaka a pure body and various boons. Afterwards Nandaka became the deity of weapons on the earth. Thus Brahmā, who got rid of the disturbance by the aid of Viṣṇu, completed the sacrifice. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 245).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationNandaka (नन्दक) is the name of Viṣṇu’s sword (used to cut the trident of Jalandhara), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.17 (“The fight between Viṣṇu and Jalandhara”).—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra narrated to Vyāsa: “[...] Then a great battle ensued between Viṣṇu and Jalandhara, the ruler of Asuras, both filling up the sky with their arrows. [...] Then the infuriated Jalandhara, invincible in war, terrifying to the Asuras [=Devas?] hurled a trident, resembling fire, at Viṣṇu. Immediately Viṣṇu remembered the lotus-like feet of Śiva and cut the trident with his sword Nandaka [e.g., nandakākhyena khaḍgena]. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Nandaka (नन्दक).—Viṣṇu's sword; reached Kṛṣṇa during Jarāsandha's siege of Mathurā.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa X. 50. 11. [14].
1b) A Nāga chief with his city in the third Talam.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 20. 30.
1c) A son of Vṛkadevī and Vasudeva.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 46. 18.
1d) A disciple of Brahmā.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 22. 16.
Nandaka (नन्दक) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.108.5) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Nandaka) 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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (vastu)Nandaka (नन्दक) refers to one of the hundred types of Temples (in ancient Indian architecture), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—It is quite difficult to say about a definite number of varieties of Hindu temples but in the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa hundred varieties of temples have been enumerated. For example, Nandaka. These temples are classified according to the particular shape, amount of storeys and other common elements, such as the number of pavilions, doors and roofs.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama TextsNandaka (नन्दक) is the name of a Mantra mentioned in chapter 11 of the Brahmarātra section of the Sanatkumārasaṃhitā: an encyclopedic Sanskrit text written in over 3500 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as yoga, temple-building, consecration ceremonies, initiation and dhanurveda (martial arts).—Description of the chapter [mantra-kośa]: Sanatkumāra says that everything in this world can be obtained by employing mantra-formulas properly (1-4a). He then gives (in prose) the mantras that Brahma revealed to him, in each case citing the bīja, astra, kavaca, etc. The mantras given are: [e.g., Nandaka] [...] The chapter closes by stating that the fruits obtained through reciting mantra-formulas can be selected and varied by adding particular suffixes and prefixes to the set formulas .
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 Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names1. Nandaka (v.l. Nanda) Thera
A householder of Savatthi. (The Apadana (ii.499) says he belonged to a rich clan of merchants and that he entered the Order at the ceremony of dedication of Jetavana.)
Having entered the Order after hearing a sermon of the Buddha, he developed insight and soon attained arahantship. Once, at the Buddhas request, he preached a sermon to the nuns; on the first day they became sotapannas, and, on the second, five hundred of them attained arahantship. From that time the Buddha declared him foremost among exhorters of the nuns. (A.i.25. The sermon he preached is known as the Nandakovada Sutta (q.v.). The Anguttara Commentary (i.173) says that the nuns were Sakyan maidens who had entered the Order with Pajapati. At first Nandaka was reluctant to preach to them, they having been his wives in a previous birth when he was king, and he feared the calumny of his colleagues who might suggest that he wished to see his former companions. He, therefore, sent another monk in his place; but the Buddha, knowing that only Nandas preaching would effect the nuns release, insisted on his going.)
The Theragatha (vs.279 82) contains several verses uttered by him to a woman to whom he was once married. She met him begging alms in Savatthi and smiled to him with sinful heart.
His aspiration after eminence was formed in the time of Padumuttara Buddha, when he heard a disciple of that Buddha declared foremost among exhorters of nuns. He offered the Buddha a very costly robe and illuminated his bodhi tree. In the time of Kakusandha Buddha he was a karavika bird and delighted the Buddha with his song. Later, he was a peacock, and sang three times daily at the door of a Pacceka Buddhas cell. (ThagA. i.384f. The Apadana verses given in this context differ from those given in the Apadana itself (ii 499 f.).
The Anguttara Nikaya attributes two discourses to Nandaka. The first (A.i.193f. See sv., Salha) was preached at the Migaramatupasada and takes the form of a discussion with Salha, Migaras grandson, and Rohana, Pekkhuniyas grandson on greed, covetousness, malice and delusion, and the benefits following their destruction. The second discourse is a sermon addressed to the monks at the waiting hall at Jetavana. It is said that the Buddha was attracted to the spot by the sound of Nandakas preaching, and, finding the door locked, stood fur a long time outside, listening (A.iv.358ff.; throughout the three watches of the night says the Commentary, AA.ii.794; also MA.i.348). When his back began to ache he knocked at the door, and, having entered, told Nandaka that he had been waiting until the end of his discourse to speak to him. Nandaka expressed. his regret that he should have kept the Buddha waiting and pleaded ignorance of his presence. The Buddha, conscious of Nandakas remorse, went on to praise his sermon,
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāNandaka (नन्दक) refers to the “the Cadamba flower”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “To wit, the moon flower, the great moon flower, the most beautiful moon flower, [...] the Cadamba flower (nandaka), the golden bark tree flower, the source of happiness flower, the satisfaction of body and mind flower, the one billion fragrances flower, the herbal flower, and the medicinal flower, [...] [The flowers] were adorned with their own splendor, produced by immeasurable merits, and known by Bodhisattvas of the ten directions. The great three-thousand thousands of worlds were covered with those flowers, and all congregations of the Lord were filled with flowers (puṣpa) up to their knees [...]”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions (jainism)Ṇandaka (णन्दक) is a Prakrit technical term referring to a ending for names in general as well as friendly names, representing a rule when deriving personal names as mentioned in the Aṅgavijjā chapter 26. This chapter includes general rules to follow when deriving proper names. The Aṅgavijjā (mentioning ṇandaka) is an ancient treatise from the 3rd century CE dealing with physiognomic readings, bodily gestures and predictions and was written by a Jain ascetic in 9000 Prakrit stanzas.
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraNandaka (नन्दक) refers to a sword and represents one of the nine gifts of the Gods given to Tripṛṣṭha, according to chapter 4.1 [śreyāṃsanātha-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:—“[...] The Vidyādharas, Jvalanajaṭin and others, mounted their chariots like lions a mountain-plateau. Then drawn by merit, the Gods gave Tripṛṣṭha a divine bow named Śārṅga, a club Kaumodakī, a conch Pāñcajanya, and a jewel named Kaustubha, a sword Nandaka, and a garland Vanamālā. They gave Balabhadra a plough named Saṃvartaka, a pestle named Saumanda, and a club named Candrikā. [...]”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Nandaka in India is the name of a plant defined with Toona ciliata in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Cedrela yunnanensis C. DC. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Der Gesellsschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin, neue Schriften (1803)
· Kaiserliche Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien. MathematischNaturwissenschaftliche Klasse. (1920)
· Monographiae Phanerogamarum (1878)
· Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae (Mueller) (1858)
· Familiarum Naturalium Regni Vegetabilis Monographicae (1846)
· Die Natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien (1897)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Nandaka, for example pregnancy safety, side effects, diet and recipes, health benefits, chemical composition, extract dosage, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarynandaka : (adj.) rejoicing.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryNandaka, (adj.) (Sk. nandikā) giving pleasure, pleasing, full of joy; f. nandikā J. IV, 396 (+khiḍḍā), either as adj. or f. abstr. pleasure, rejoicing (=abhindandanā Com.). (Page 346)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNandaka (नन्दक).—a. [nand-ṇvul]
1) Rejoicing, making happy, gladdening.
2) Delighting or rejoicing in.
3) Gladdening a family.
-kaḥ 1 A frog.
2) Name of the sword of Viṣṇu; नित्यानन्दाय भूयान्मधुमथनमनोनन्दको नन्दको नः । विष्णु- पादादिकेशान्तवर्णनस्तोत्रम् (nityānandāya bhūyānmadhumathanamanonandako nandako naḥ | viṣṇu- pādādikeśāntavarṇanastotram) 4.
3) A sword in general.
4) Happiness.
5) Nanda, the foster-father of Kṛṣṇa.
6) Name of a gem. Kau. A.2.11.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryNandaka (नन्दक).—(= Pali id., 1 or 2 in Malalasekara (Dictionary of Pali Proper Names)), name of one (or more?) disciple(s) of the Buddha: Mahāvyutpatti 1042 = Tibetan dgaḥ byed, making joyous, whereas Nanda in 1041 is dgaḥ bo, joyous, and Nandika in 1043 is dgaḥ yod, being joyous; Avadāna-śataka i.267.6 ff.; Karmavibhaṅga (and Karmavibhaṅgopadeśa) 161.5 (= Sundara-nanda? so Lévi).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNandaka (नन्दक).—mfn.
(-kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) 1. Rejoicing, making happy or delighted. 2. Cherishing or rearing a family. m.
(-kaḥ) 1. Happiness, pleasure. 2. The sword of Krishna. 3. The foster father of Krishna. 4. A frog. E. nadi to make happy, affix ṇvul .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNandaka (नन्दक).—[nand + aka], I. adj. in devatā -stava-, Gladdening the deities by praises, Mahābhārata 13, 7662. Ii. m. 1. The name of Kṛṣṇa’s sword, Mahābhārata 5, 4427. 2. A proper name, 1, 6983.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNandaka (नन्दक).—[adjective] delighting in (—°); [masculine] [Name] of Kṛṣṇa’s sword, a serpent-demon, etc.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nandaka (नन्दक):—[from nand] mfn. delighting in ([compound]), [Mahābhārata]
2) [v.s. ...] rejoicing, gladdening, making happy ([especially] a family), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] m. joy, delight, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] a frog, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] Name of Kṛṣṇa’s sword, [Mahābhārata]
6) [v.s. ...] (kin m. its possessor id est. Kṛṣṇa, [ib.])
7) [v.s. ...] m. of a bull, [Pañcatantra]
8) [v.s. ...] of a village, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] (cf. also under nanda, m.)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNandaka (नन्दक):—[(kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) a.] Rejoicing; cherishing. m. Delight; sword of Krishna; his foster father; a frog.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Nandaka (नन्दक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇaṃdagaṃ.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusNaṃdaka (ನಂದಕ):—
1) [noun] the act of giving great joy or pleasure to another.
2) [noun] delight; happiness; joy.
3) [noun] a weapon with a long blade for cutting or thrusting; a sword.
4) [noun] the sword of Viṣṇu.
5) [noun] a frog.
6) [noun] a kind of meter.
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)
Starts with: Nandakamantra, Nandakamukha.
Ends with: Anandaka, Bhuvanandaka, Cullanandaka, Sanandaka, Saunamdaka, Sunandaka, Upanandaka, Vasunandaka.
Full-text (+26): Nandakin, Nandika, Shrideva, Licchavi Sutta, Namdagam, Sanandaka, Sunandaka, Vasunandaka, Upanandaka, Anandaka, Nantakam, Nandakovada Sutta, Vrikadevi, Pulinacankamiya, Titila, Astra, Akshatabala, Mushika, Krodhin, Devatrasa.
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Search found 45 books and stories containing Nandaka, Ṇandaka, Namdaka, Naṃdaka; (plurals include: Nandakas, Ṇandakas, Namdakas, Naṃdakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 10.206 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Text 5.11 < [Chapter 5 - Second-rate Poetry]
Text 10.227 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.12.157 < [Chapter 12 - The Lord’s Wandering Throughout Navadvīpa]
List of Mahabharata tribes (by Laxman Burdak)
The Great Chronicle of Buddhas (by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw)
Biography (36): Nandaka Mahāthera < [Chapter 43 - Forty-one Arahat-Mahatheras and their Respective Etadagga titles]
Letters from Nina (by Nina van Gorkom)
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verses 6.7.25-26 < [Chapter 7 - The Marriage of Śrī Rukmiṇī]
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