Nimba, aka: Nīmbā; 14 Definition(s)

Introduction

Nimba means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, 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

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Nimba (निम्ब) is a Sanskrit word, identified with Azadirachta indica (neem) by various scholars in their translation of the Śukranīti. This tree is mentioned as bearing good fruits. The King should plant such domestic plants in and near villages. He should nourish them by stoole of goats, sheep and cows, water as well as meat.

The following is an ancient Indian recipe for such nourishment of trees:

According to Śukranīti 4.4.105-109: “The trees (such as nimba) are to be watered in the morning and evening in summer, every alternate day in winter, in the fifth part of the day (i.e., afternoon) in spring, never in the rainy season. If trees have their fruits destroyed, the pouring of cold water after being cooked together with Kulutha, Māṣa (seeds), Mudga (pulse), Yava (barley) and Tila (oil seed) would lead to the growth of flowers and fruits. Growth of trees can be helped by the application of water with which fishes are washed and cleansed.”

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Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Nimba (निम्ब) is a Sanskrit word referring to Azadirachta indica (neem), from the Meliaceae family. Certain plant parts of Nimba are eaten as a vegetable (śāka), according to Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Āyurvedic work. The plant is therefore part of the Śākavarga group of medicinal plants, referring to the “group of vegetables/pot-herbs”. It is also known as Prabhadra. Other commonly used English names include “nimtree” and “Indian lilac”. It is native to India and grows in tropical and semi-tropical regions.

The plant Nimba is also mentioned as a medicine used for the treatment of all major fevers, as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) which forms the first chapter of the Sanskrit work called Mādhavacikitsā. In this work, the plant has the synonym Ariṣṭa. In this work, the plant is mentioned being part of the Nimbayugma group of medicinal drugs.

Nimba (निम्ब) is the name of a tree (Neem tree) that is associated with the Nakṣatra (celestial star) named Uttara-Bhādrapadā, according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). Accordingly, “these [trees] are propounded in Śāstras, the secret scriptures (śāstrāgama). These pious trees [viz, Nimba], if grown and protected, promote long life”. These twenty-seven trees related to the twenty-seven Nakṣatras are supposed to be Deva-vṛkṣas or Nakṣatra-vṛkṣas.

Nimba (निम्ब).—The Sanskrit name for an important Āyurvedic drug.—It is the best among bitters and pacifies kapha and pitta. It alleviates fever, kuṣṭha, prameha, worms, blood disorders and wounds.

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Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Nimba (निम्ब) refers to “neem” and represents a type of vegetables fit for use in oblation offerings, according to verse 25.121b-125 of the Īśvarasaṃhitā.

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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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Nimba is a herb used in Ayurveda medicine commonly known as Azadirachta indica.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Nimba (निम्ब) refers to a kind of tree (vṛkṣa) commonly found in the forests (vaṇa) of ancient India, mentioned in the Jñātādharmakathāṅga-sūtra. Forests have been a significant part of the Indian economy since ancient days. They have been considered essential for economic development in as much as, besides bestowing many geographical advantages, they provide basic materials for building, furniture and various industries. The most important forest products are wood and timber which have been used by the mankind to fulfil his various needs—domestic, agricultural and industrial.

Different kinds of trees (eg., the Nimba tree) provided firewood and timber. The latter was used for furniture, building materials, enclosures, staircases, pillars, agricultural purposes, e. g. for making ploughs, transportation e. g. for making carts, chariots, boats, ships, and for various industrial needs. Vaṇa-kamma was an occupation dealing in wood and in various otherforest products. Iṅgāla-kamma was another occupation which was concerned with preparing charcoal from firewood.

Nimba (निम्ब) in both Sanskrit and Prakrit to margosa (Melia azadirachta Linn.), the shoots (aṅkura) of which are classifed as ananta-kāya, or “plants that are inhabited by an infinite number of living organisms”, and therefore are abhakṣya (forbidden to consume) according to Nemicandra (in his Pravacana-sāroddhāra v245-246). Those plants which are classifiedas ananta-kāyas (eg., nimba) seem to be chosen because of certain morphological peculiarities such as the possession of bulbs or rhizomes orthe habit of periodically shedding their leaves; and in general theyare characterized by possibilities of vegetative reproduction.

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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.

India history and geogprahy

Nīmbā (नीम्बा) is the name of a village mentioned as lying on the northern boundary of Ki-icchitā, according to the “Prince of wales museum plates of Mummuṇirāja”. Accordingly, “... the village Ki-icchitā comprised in the viṣaya of Mandaraja, together with all hamlets and together with orchards, areca-nut trees and minerals, and with examption from taxes,—the boundaries of which are as follows: On the east, the boundary of (the village) Pāṇīvāḍa of the Śrīnera hill ; on the north, the boundary of the village Nīmbā; on the west, the boundary of the village Mātara; on the south, the boundary of the Sāmbina river”.

These copper plates (mentioing Nīmbā) were handed over to the Curator (Archaeological Section, Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay) by one Hasan Razak. Its object is to record the grant, by Mammuṇirāja, of the village Ki-icchitā (Mandaraja-viṣaya) to twelve Brāhmaṇas residing in the agrahāra of Brahmapurī. The grant was made on the occasion of a lunar eclipse which occurred on the fifteenth tithi of the bright fortnight of Bhādrapada in the Śaka year 971, the cyclic year being Virodhin.

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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

nimba : (m.) the margosa tree, Azadirachta Iindica.

Nimba, (Sk. nimba, non-Aryan) the Nimb tree (Azadirachta Indica), bearing a bitter leaf, & noted for its hard wood Vin. I, 152 (°kosa), 284 (id.), 201 (°kasāva); A. I, 32; V, 212; Vv 33³⁶ (°muṭṭhi, a handful of N. leaves); J. II, 105, 106; DhA. I, 52 (°kosa); DhsA. 320 (°paṇṇa, the leaf of the N. as example of tittaka, bitter taste); VvA. 142 (°palāsa); PvA. 220 (°rukkhassa daṇḍena katasūla). (Page 367)

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Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

nimba (निंब).—m (S) The Nimb or Neem-tree. There are three common species, kaḍhīnimba, kaḍūnimba or bāḷanta- nimba, & bakāṇanimba Azadirachta Indica, Grah., Melia &c. Rox. nimba nēsaṇēṃ To wear the Nimb. A practice of women. They cover their nudity with Nimbbranches and sprigs, and proceed to the idol to which some vow has been made, and there receive clothing from their friends. nimba lāvaṇēṃ-ṭhēvaṇēṃ-dēṇēṃ To attach a stigma or stain: also nimba lāgaṇēṃ-yēṇēṃ in. con. To get a stigma &c.

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nimbā (निंबा).—a P ( H) Unmarried;--used of an adult or person of attained puberty.

nimba (निंब).—m The Nimb or Neem-tree. nimba lāvaṇēṃ- ṭhēvaṇēṃ-dēṇēṃ To attach a stigma or stain. nimba lāgaṇēṃ-yēṇēṃ To get a stigma.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Nimba (निम्ब).—

1) A tree with bitter fruits; आम्रं छित्वा कुठारेण निम्बं परिचरेत्तु यः यश्चैनं पयसा सिञ्चेन्नैवास्य मधुरो भवेत् (āmraṃ chitvā kuṭhāreṇa nimbaṃ paricarettu yaḥ yaścainaṃ payasā siñcennaivāsya madhuro bhavet) || Rām.

2) Name of a tree, Pāribhadra; निम्बस्तु पिचुमन्दे च पारिभद्र- तरावपि (nimbastu picumande ca pāribhadra- tarāvapi)

Derivable forms: nimbaḥ (निम्बः).

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