Nihnava: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Nihnava means something in Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismNihnava (निह्नव, “concealment”) refers to “concealment of true knowledge” and it is one of the causes leading to the influx (āsrana) of karmas which obscure knowledge and perception.
Nihnava is a Sanskrit technical term defined in the Tattvārthasūtra (ancient authorative Jain scripture) from the 2nd century, which contains aphorisms dealing with philosophy and the nature of reality.
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 6: Influx of karmasNihnava (निह्नव).—What is meant by ‘concealment (nihnava) of knowledge’? Not responding to a query i.e. does not reply saying I dont know by a learned person despite knowing fully the answer is concealment of knowledge (nihnava).

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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNihnava (निह्नव).—
1) Denial, concealment of knowledge; कार्यः स्वमतिनिह्नवः (kāryaḥ svamatinihnavaḥ) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 1.12; Chandr.5.27.
2) Secrecy, concealment in general; निह्नवे याचितो दद्याद्धनं राज्ञे च तत्समम् (nihnave yācito dadyāddhanaṃ rājñe ca tatsamam) Y.2.11,267.
3) A secret.
4) Mistrust; doubt, suspicion.
5) Wickedness.
6) Atonement, expiation; तस्यैष व्यभिचारस्य निह्नवः सम्यगुच्यते (tasyaiṣa vyabhicārasya nihnavaḥ samyagucyate) Manusmṛti 9.21.
7) Contradiction.
8) Obscuring, surpassing.
9) Excuse, exculpation.
Derivable forms: nihnavaḥ (निह्नवः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNihnava (निह्नव).—m.
(-vaḥ) 1. Denial or concealment of knowledge, dissimulation, secrecy. 2. Concealment in general. 3. Mistrust, doubt, suspicion. 4. Wickedness. 5. A secret. 6. Excuse. E. ni before, hnu to hide or secrete aff. ap.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNihnava (निह्नव).—i. e. ni-hnu + a, m. 1. Denial, [Yājñavalkya, (ed. Stenzler.)] 2, 11. 2. Concealment, 267. 3. Secrecy, Mahābhārata 9376. 4. Distrust, 5, 1362. 5. Expiation, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 21.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNihnava (निह्नव).—[masculine] denial, concealment, contradiction, excuse, expiation.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nihnava (निह्नव):—[=ni-hnava] [from ni-hnu] m. begging pardon, making amends or reparation (a kind of ceremony at which the Ṛtvij lay their hands upon the Prastara and recite, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā v, 7]), [Sāyaṇa on Aitareya-brāhmaṇa i, 26] (also hnavana, [Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa])
2) [v.s. ...] atonement, expiation, amends for ([genitive case]), [Manu-smṛti ix, 21]
3) [v.s. ...] denial, concealment, secrecy, mistrust, suspicion, [Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature]
4) [v.s. ...] contradiction, [Mahābhārata]
5) [v.s. ...] eclipsing, obscuring, surpassing, [Kāvyādarśa]
6) [v.s. ...] wickedness, [Horace H. Wilson]
7) [v.s. ...] Name of a Sāman, [Ārṣeya-brāhmaṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNihnava (निह्नव):—[ni-hnava] (vaḥ) 1. m. Denial or concealment of knowledge; doubt; a secret; wickedness.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Nihnava (निह्नव) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ṇiṇhaga, Ṇiṇhaya, Ṇiṇhava.
[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 corpusNihnava (ನಿಹ್ನವ):—
1) [noun] the act of concealing or rejecting the real knowledge.
2) [noun] something that is or is kept secret, hidden or concealed; a secret.
3) [noun] lack of trust, belief, confidence, etc.
4) [noun] the act or an instance of cheating.
5) [noun] a making amends or reparation for wrongdoing, guilt, sin, etc; expiation; atonement.
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: Nihnavaka, Nihnavana, Nihnavavadin, Nihnavottara.
Full-text: Nihnavavadin, Nihnavottara, Abhinihnava, Nihnuvana, Nihava, Nihnuti, Ninhaga, Ninhaya, Bhutanihnava, Ninhava, Nikriti.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Nihnava, Ni-hnava; (plurals include: Nihnavas, hnavas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 6.10 - The nature of Knowledge-obscuring and Perception-obscuring Karmas < [Chapter 6 - Influx of Karmas]
Verse 6.27 - The nature of Obstructive-karmas < [Chapter 6 - Influx of Karmas]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 9.21 < [Section I - Husband and Wife]
The Agnistoma Somayaga in the Shukla Yajurveda (by Madan Haloi)
Part 2.4: Rite of hospitality in honour of Soma (ātithyeṣṭi) < [Chapter 4 - The Agniṣṭoma Ritual]
Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra (by C. G. Kashikar)
Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)