In Hinduism

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: eScholarship: Chapters 1-14 of the Hayasirsa Pancaratra

Niḥsattva (निःसत्त्व) refers to “one who is wanting in power”, representing an undesirable characteristic of an Ācārya, according to the 9th-century Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra Ādikāṇḍa chapter 3.—The Lord said:—“I will tell you about the Sthāpakas endowed with perverse qualities. He should not construct a temple with those who are avoided in this Tantra. [...] He should not be one who is lacking means or location, nor harsh or focused on meanness, nor pitiless or wanting in power (niḥsattva), nor be one who is completely lacking skills. [...] A god enshrined by any of these named above (viz., niḥsattva), is in no manner a giver of fruit. If a building for Viṣṇu is made anywhere by these excluded types (viz., niḥsattva) then that temple will not give rise to enjoyment and liberation and will yield no reward, of this there is no doubt”.

context information

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śāktism

Niḥsattva (निःसत्त्व) means “without essence” and represents one of the sixty defects of mantras, according to the 11th century Kulārṇava-tantra: an important scripture of the Kaula school of Śāktism traditionally stated to have consisted of 125.000 Sanskrit verses.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Śrī Devī: “For those who do japa without knowing these defects [e.g., niḥsattva—without essence], there is no realization even with millions and billions of japa. [...] Oh My Beloved! there are ten processes for eradicating defects in Mantras as described. [...]”.

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Niḥsattva (निःसत्त्व) refers to “those who are without goodness”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “It should not be given to anybody who has no deity, fire, or teacher, to Tāntrikas who are most sinful, cruel, without goodness (niḥsattva) and devoid of devotion”.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Niḥsattva (निःसत्त्व).—a.

1) Unsubstantial.

2) Weak, impotent.

3) Wretched, miserable.

4) Insignificant, mean, low.

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

Niḥsattva (निःसत्त्व).—adj. 1. deprived of living beings, [Pañcatantra] 55, 8. 2. deprived of strength, [Hitopadeśa] i. [distich] 133, M. M. (niḥ-sattva + tā, f. misery, [Mālatīmādhava, (ed. Calc.)] 79, 12).

Niḥsattva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nis and sattva (सत्त्व).

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

Niḥsattva (निःसत्त्व).—[adjective] unreal, [abstract] tva [neuter]; wanting courage or strength, weak, cowardly, [abstract] tā [feminine]

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

1) Niḥsattva (निःसत्त्व):—[=niḥ-sattva] [from niḥ] mfn. without existence, unsubstantial (-tva n.), [Vajracchedikā]

2) [v.s. ...] unenergetic, weak, impotent, wretched, miserable (-tā f.), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] deprived of living beings, [Pañcatantra]

4) [v.s. ...] insignificant, mean, low, [Horace H. Wilson]

5) [v.s. ...] n. want of power or energy, insignificance

6) [v.s. ...] non-existence, [Horace H. Wilson]

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

Niḥsattva (निःसत्त्व) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ṇissatta, Ṇīsatta.

[Sanskrit to German]

Nihsattva 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Nih, Sattva, Nish.

Starts with: Nihsattvata, Nihsattvatva.

Full-text: Nissatta, Nihsattvata, Nihsattvatva, Nishatta, Nissanna, Anupalambha, Bata.

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Search found 3 books and stories containing Nihsattva, Nih-sattva, Niḥ-sattva, Niḥsattva, Nis-sattva; (plurals include: Nihsattvas, sattvas, Niḥsattvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)

Verse 2.3.89 < [Part 3 - Involuntary Ecstatic Expressions (sattvika-bhāva)]

Verse 2.3.83 < [Part 3 - Involuntary Ecstatic Expressions (sattvika-bhāva)]

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The Tattvasangraha [with commentary] (by Ganganatha Jha)

Verse 1787-1790 < [Chapter 21 - Examination of the doctrine of ‘Traikālya’]

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The Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)

Chapter 4 - Arrival of Nārada < [Book 1 - First Skandha]

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