Nau, Ṅau, Ñau, Ṉau, Nāu: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Nau means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, Hindi, biology, Tamil. 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 EncyclopediaṄau (ङौ).—A mountain in front of the forest Saindhava inhabited by Manīṣipuruṣās. (Śloka 16, Chapter 125, Vana Parva, Mahābhārata).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Nau (नौ).—The boat in the Ocean; in the river;1 illustrative of the earth floating on waters.2
1b) (Mahīmayī) the divine boat given to Manu (Vaivasvata) by Viṣṇu in the shape of a fish to be tied to its horn;1 in the deluge it rescued the sun, moon, Brahmā, Narmadā, sage Mārkaṇḍeya, Śiva, the Vedas, Purāṇas and other Vidyas from ruin;2 Druhyu to ply the ocean with.3
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraNau (नौ) refers to a “boat”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 4), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If the two horns of the moon should appear but slightly raised and far from each other presenting the appearance of a boat [i.e., nau-saṃsthāna], she brings trouble on the sailors but prosperity on mankind at large. If the northern horn of the moon should be higher than the other by one-half, the moon appearing like a plough, ploughmen will then suffer. They and their prince will be friendly and there will be prosperity in the land. If the southern horn should be higher than the other by one half, the appearance of the moon is also said to be plough like but of evil consequences. The ruler of Southern India will die and his army will engage in war”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Nau (नौ) is another name for Goddess Nityā, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] O mother! Even the kings of gods bow to the feet of those men who have acquired a drop of the grace of seeing you. [...] Mindful men call you Kledanī, Kulakuṇḍalinī, Kā, Nityā, Nīti, Nau, Nāvikā, Vidyā, Saṃvid, Vīśvamayī, Umā, Kāmeśvarī, and Kamalā”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchNau (नौ) refers to a “ship”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] As long as the highest reality is not known, the mind is unrestrainable. However, when the highest reality is known, the mind becomes [still] like a crow [perched] on the mast of a ship (nau-stambha-kākavat). [...]”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraNau (नौ) refers to a “ship”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 46.—Accordingly, “Morality is the root of bliss for all beings. It is like a great treasure bringing pearls and jewels. Morality is a great protector that suppresses fears. It is like a great army that destroys thieves. Morality is an ornament to be worn like a necklace. Morality is a great ship (mahā-nau) capable of crossing the great ocean of saṃsāra. Morality is a great vehicle capable of transporting heavy jewels to the city of nirvāṇa. [...]”.
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāNau (नौ) refers to the “vessel (of the dharma)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Then on that occasion the Lord uttered these verses: [...] (113) Not being attached to this side nor that side, sailing the vessel of the dharma (dharma-nau), and liberating living beings without any idea of them, that is called the sameness of the Bodhisattva (114) He who knows that the three realms are just like a wilderness which is void and unchangeable, but who still liberates living beings according to regular order, he is a caravan leader who guides the way to ambrosia. [...]”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Nau in India is the name of a plant defined with Enicostema axillare in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Hippion hyssopifolium (Willd.) Spreng. (among others).
2) Nau in Togo is also identified with Anchomanes difformis It has the synonym Sauromatum ferox Linden ex Engl. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Companion to the Botanical Magazine (1836)
· Genera Aroidearum exposita (1858)
· Adansonia (1969)
· Archiv für die Botanik (1796)
· Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis (1845)
· Rumphia (1837)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Nau, for example chemical composition, pregnancy safety, health benefits, diet and recipes, extract dosage, side effects, 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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarynaū (नऊ).—a (Better nava) Nine.
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nāū (नाऊ).—n (Or nāhū) A barber.
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nau (नौ).—a (nava S) Nine.
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nau (नौ) [or नौका, naukā].—f (S) A boat.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishnaū (नऊ).—a Nine.
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nāū (नाऊ).—n barber.
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nau (नौ).—a Nine
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nau (नौ) [or naukā, or नौका].—f A boat.
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 dictionaryNau (नौ).—f.
1) A ship, boat, vessel; महता पुण्यपण्येन क्रीतेयं कायनौस्त्वया (mahatā puṇyapaṇyena krīteyaṃ kāyanaustvayā) Śānti.3.1.
2) Name of a constellation.
3) Time; नौः काले तरणावपि (nauḥ kāle taraṇāvapi) Nm.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNau (नौ).—f.
(-nauḥ) A boat, a vessel in general. E. nud to send, Unadi aff. ḍau.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNau (नौ).—I. see asmad. Ii. probably snā + va, f. A ship, a boat.
— Cf. [Latin] navis; [Old High German.] naco, [Anglo-Saxon.] naca.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNau (नौ).—1. [accusative], [dative], & [genetive] [dual] of [pronoun] of 1st [person or personal]
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Nau (नौ).—2. [feminine] ship, boat, vessel.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nau (नौ):—1 encl. [accusative] [dative case] [genitive case] [dual number] of 1st [person] [pronoun] (cf. [Pāṇini 8-1, 20]), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc. ([Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā] also ṇau; cf. [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā-prātiśākhya iii, 85]).
2) 2. nau f. a ship, boat, vessel, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
3) (in [astrology]) Name of a [particular] appearance of the moon or of a constellation, [Varāha-mihira]
4) = vāc, [Nirukta, by Yāska i, 11] (either because prayer is a vessel leading to heaven or [from] √nu4, ‘to praise’).
5) cf. 2. nāva and 7. nu; [Greek] ναῦς, ναύ-της, etc.; [Latin] nāvis, nau-ta, nau-fragus etc.; [Icelandic] nór; (?) [German] Nachen.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNau (नौ):—(nauḥ) 4. f. A boat, a vessel.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Nau (नौ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇāvā.
[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 dictionaryNau (नौ):—(a) nine; new, fresh; (nm) the number nine; a boat ship; -[adhikaraṇa] the admiralty; ~[karṇa] a rudder; ~[ghāṭa] ferry; ~[cālana] navigation, shipping; ~[javāna] a youngman, in the prime of youth; ~[javānī] prime of youth, young age; ~[nihāla] the growing/rising generation, youth; child; ~[parivahana] navigation, shipping; ~[bahāra] spring; new bloom; ~[beḍā] navy, naval fleet; ~[roja] the new year’s day (according to the Parsi: system) a day of festivity; ~[rohaṇa] embarkation; shipment; ~[lakhā] costing nine lacs of rupees; very precious; ~[vahana] shipping; ~[vidhi] naval law; ~[sikhiyā] greenhorn; a novice, learner, fresher; ~[senā] navy, naval force; ~[senādhyakṣa] naval chief; ~[sainyavāda] navalism; ~[sevā] navy, naval service; —[dina cale aḍhāī kosa] to be very slow in movement, to make a movement that is as good as no movement; —[nagada na teraha udhāra] a bird in hand is better than two in the bush; —[do gyāraha honā] to turn tails, to make good one’s escape, to show a clean pair of heels.
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Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryṆāu (णाउ) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Jñātṛ.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusNau (ನೌ):—[noun] = ನೌಕೆ [nauke].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil LexiconÑau (ஞௌ) . The compound of ஞ் [gn] and ஔ. [au.]
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Ṇau (ணௌ) . The compound of ண் [n] and ஔ. [au.]
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Nau (நௌ) . The compound of ந் [n] and ஔ. [au.]
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Nau (நௌ) noun < nau. Boat; ship; மரக்கலம். (சூடாமணிநிகண்டு) [marakkalam. (sudamaninigandu)]
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Ṉau (னௌ) . The compound of ன் [n] and ஔ. [au.]
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+162): Naaun-kadhnu, Naaun-na-gounko, Nau-ban, Nau-nuar, Naua, Nauamga, Nauawimuhrui, Naubada, Naubala, Naubala-hasty-ashva-go-mahisha-aja-avika-adi-vyaprita, Naubaladhipati, Nauban-hlo sen, Nauban-hlo var, Naubandhana, Naubandhanamahatmya, Naubat, Naubata, Naubatabai, Naubataghai, Naubatakhana.
Ends with (+47): Agnivarunau, Ahnau, Alinau, Alokaparishishtam tattvacintamanau, Anau, Apanau, Ashvinau, Atinau, Balinaunau, Banibanau, Bhanau, Bhinnanau, Bnau, Brahmanau, Bugnau, Chanachanau, Chunaau, Cunau, Dekhanau, Dharmanau.
Full-text (+193): Atinau, Nautarya, Nauyana, Nauvyasana, Naukarnadhara, Nauvaha, Naudanda, Naukarman, Nava, Naujivika, Pranapana, Janav, Nauka, Naubandhana, Navi, Naranarayana, Naukrama, Navy, Naukarni, Naushecana.
Relevant text
Search found 42 books and stories containing Nau, Gnau, Naū, Nāū, Ṅau, Ṇau, Ṇāu, Ñau, Ṉau, Nāu; (plurals include: Naus, Gnaus, Naūs, Nāūs, Ṅaus, Ṇaus, Ṇāus, Ñaus, Ṉaus, Nāus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
Economics (5): Means of Transportation < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]
Flora (1): Habitat < [Chapter 5 - Aspects of Nature]
Politics and Administration (1): The State requisites of regal administration < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]
The Sacrifices of Rajasuya, Vajapeya and Ashvamedha (study) (by Aparna Dhar)
Meaning and importance of the Vedic sacrifices < [Chapter 2 - Vedic Sacrifices described in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Chapter 352 - Narration of the finished forms of the substantives in the feminine
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 8.21 < [Chapter 8 - Literary Qualities]
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