Nikharva: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Nikharva means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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)
Nikharva (निखर्व).—Ten thousand crores.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 101. 96.
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.
Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)
Nikharva (निखर्व) refers to a “hundred billion” (100,000,000,000) in various lists of numeral denominations, according to gaṇita (“science of calculation”) and Gaṇita-śāstra, ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy.—We can definitely say that from the very earliest known times, ten has formed the basis of numeration in India. While the Greeks had no terminology for denominations above the myriad (104), and the Romans above the milk (103), the ancient Hindus dealt freely with no less than eighteen denominations [e.g., nikharva]. Cf. Yajurveda-saṃhitā (Vājasanyī) XVII.2; Taittirīya-saṃhitā IV.40.11, VII.2.20.1; Maitrāyaṇī-saṃhitā II.8.14; Kāṭhaka-saṃhitā XVII.10, XXXIX.6; Anuyogadvāra-sūtra 142; Āryabhaṭīya II.2; Triśatikā R.2-3; Gaṇitasārasaṃgraha I.63-68.
Ganita (गणित) or Ganitashastra refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
nikharva (निखर्व).—n S A hundred thousand millions.
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
Nikharva (निखर्व).—a. Dwarfish.
-rvam A billion (abja); तत्राङ्गुष्ठेन राजेन्द्र निखर्वमपरं ततः (tatrāṅguṣṭhena rājendra nikharvamaparaṃ tataḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.258.24.
Nikharva (निखर्व) or Nikharvva.—mfn.
(-rvaḥ-rvā-rvaṃ) Dwarfish, a dwarf. n.
(-rvaṃ) A billion. E. ni certainly, verily kharva short &c.
1) Nikharva (निखर्व):—[=ni-kharva] mfn. dwarfish, a dwarf, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] n. a billion, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] (or, 100 billion, See kharva)
Nikharva (निखर्व):—[ni-kharva] (rvvaḥ-rvvā-rvvaṃ) a. Dwarfish; a dwarf. n. A billion.
Nikharva (निखर्व):——
1) *Adj. klein von Wuchs , zwerghaft. —
2) n. eine best. hohe Zahl.
Nikharva (निखर्व) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇikhavva.
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
Nikharva (ನಿಖರ್ವ):—[adjective] short in stature; being smaller in height than the usual one of the same species.
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Nikharva (ನಿಖರ್ವ):—[noun] the cardinal number one hundred crores; a billion.
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)
Partial matches (+0): Kharva, Mi, Ni.
Starts with (+0): Nikharvada, Nikharvaka, Nikharvata.
Full-text (+0): Nikharvata, Mahashankha, Nikharvaka, Nikharvada, Nikhadga, Nikhavva, Nikharvva, Makanikarpam, Padati, Nikharba, Mahapadma.
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Nikharva, Ni-kharva; (plurals include: Nikharvas, kharvas). 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)
Physical Deformities < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects]
Education (9): Knowledge in Mathematics < [Chapter 4 - Cultural Aspects]
Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 142 - Greatness of the Trio of Gaṇapatis < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 32 - Tāraka is Slain < [Section 2 - Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa]
Ganitatilaka (Sanskrit text and English introduction) (by H. R. Kapadia)
Page 83 < [Sanskrit Text of the Ganitatilaka]
Part 23 - Outlines of Ganitatilaka < [Introduction]
Studies in Indian Literary History (by P. K. Gode)
58. References to a lost Work on the Patiganita of Shridharacarya < [Volume 1 (1945)]
Brahma Purana (critical study) (by Surabhi H. Trivedi)
20. Measurements of time < [Social and Economic Life]
Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)
Chapter III - Measure of Time < [Book VI]