Nihantri, Nihantṛ, Nihantrī: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Nihantri means something in 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 term Nihantṛ can be transliterated into English as Nihantr or Nihantri, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)Nihantrī (निहन्त्री) refers to “she who destroys (darkness)”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] Sages address you as the destroyer of darkness (nihantrī—munayas tamaso nihantrīm), the bestower of delight, yielding the immortal nectar to all those who remember you. They address you as the ever-risen one with no possibility of rising and setting, as the underlying digit of the moon never suspected to have a stain”.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationNihantṛ (निहन्तृ) refers to “one who slays” (his enemies), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.9 (“Boasting of Tāraka”).—Accordingly, as Tāraka-Asura fought with the Gods: “[...] Within a moment, the powerful Vīrabhadra, the slayer (nihantṛ) of enemies, got up lifting his trident aloft, that had the lustre of lightning and was blazing forth. The trident had a halo around, like that of the sun, the moon and the fire. It illuminated the quarters by means of its brilliance; caused terror even in the hearts of the brave. It had a deadly splendour and blazed well. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNihantṛ (निहन्तृ).—a.
1) A killer.
2) Destructive, murderous.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNihantṛ (निहन्तृ).—mfn. (-ntā-ntrī-ntṛ) Murderous, who or what kills. E. ni before, han to kill, tṛc aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNihantṛ (निहन्तृ).—[ni-han + tṛ], m. 1. A killer, Mah. 5, 51. 2. One who removes, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 48. 3. One who prevents, [Suśruta] 1, 308, 12.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNihantṛ (निहन्तृ).—[masculine] killer, destroyer.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nihantṛ (निहन्तृ):—[=ni-hantṛ] [from ni-han] m. a killer, destroyer, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] one who removes or expels or hinders, [Vikramorvaśī; Suśruta]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of Śiva, [Mahābhārata]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNihantṛ (निहन्तृ):—[ni-hantṛ] (ntā-ntrī-ntṛ) a. Idem.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text: Madhunihantri, Nih.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Nihantri, Ni-hantṛ, Ni-hantri, Ni-hantrī, Nihantṛ, Nihantrī; (plurals include: Nihantris, hantṛs, hantris, hantrīs, Nihantṛs, Nihantrīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 123 < [Volume 10 (1890)]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 98 < [Volume 21 (1918)]
Rama-caritabdhi-ratna of Nityananda Shastri (by Satya Vrat Shastri)