Nimesha, Nimesa, Nimeṣa: 14 definitions
Introduction
Nimesha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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.
The Sanskrit term Nimeṣa can be transliterated into English as Nimesa or Nimesha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Google Books: Manusmṛti with the ManubhāṣyaNimeṣa (निमेष) is the natural winking of the Eye-lashes, which accompanies every opening of the eye. Other people have declared that ‘Nimēṣa’ is that time which is taken in the distinct utterance of one letter-sound.
Eighteen ‘Nimeṣas’ go to make that measure of time which is known as ‘Kāṣṭhā’; thirty ‘Kāṣṭhās’ make one ‘Kalā’; thirty ‘Kalās’ make one ‘Muhūrta,’ and thirty ‘Muhurtas’ make one ‘Ahorātra’ (Day and Night).
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Nimeṣa (निमेष).—A son of Garuḍa. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 104, Verse 10).
2) Nimeṣa (निमेष).—See under Kālamāna.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Nimeṣa (निमेष).—A small unit of time measured by the wink of the eye;1 from Nimi: 15 of them equal a Kāṣṭḥa2 the same mātra for laghvakṣara such as {#a, Dha, u#} some equal to a laghvakṣara.3
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 21. 116, 126; 29. 6; 24. 143.
- 2) Matsya-purāṇa 61. 35; 142. 3; 201. 19; Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 179; Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 3. 8; VI. 3. 6.
- 3) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 13. 16 and 111; Vāyu-purāṇa 31. 24; 30. 13; 53. 115; 57. 6; 100. 213; 104. 33.
1b) (Vaiṣṇava)—equal to 100 Śaiva years; when Viṣṇu wakes up, the world is active and when he sleeps the world is sleepy.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 290. 21-2.
Nimeṣa (निमेष) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.28.19) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Nimeṣa) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
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.
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraNimeṣa (निमेष, “closing”) refers to a specific gesture (āṅgika) made with the eyelids (puṭa), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 8. These gestures of the eyelids (puṭa) are supposed to follow the corresponding movements of the eyeballs (tārā). These gestures form a part of the histrionic representation (abhinaya).
Source: archive.org: Natya ShastraNimeṣa (निमेष, “closing”).—A type of gesture (āṅgika) made with the eyelids (puṭa);—Instructions: bringing together the eyelids. Uses: in anger (krodha).
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarynimesa : (m.) winking; a wink.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryNimesa, (=nimisa, cp. Vedic nimesa) winking Miln. 194. (Page 367)
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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarynimēṣa (निमेष).—m (S) See nimiṣa.
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-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNimeṣa (निमेष).—Twinkling of the eye, a moment &c.; see निमिष (nimiṣa); हरति निमेषात् कालः सर्वम् (harati nimeṣāt kālaḥ sarvam) Moha M.4.; अनिमेषेण चक्षुषा (animeṣeṇa cakṣuṣā) 'with a steadfast or fixed look'; R.2.19;3.43,61; Bri. Up.3.8.9.
Derivable forms: nimeṣaḥ (निमेषः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNimeṣa (निमेष).—m.
(-ṣaḥ) 1. Twinkling of the eye. 2. A momentary space of time, a twinkling of the eye considered as measure of time: see nimiṣa ni + miṣa bhāve ghañ .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNimeṣa (निमेष).—i. e. ni-miṣ + a, m. 1. Twinkling of the eye, [Nala] 5, 26. 2. A moment, [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 36, 19. 3. A proper name, Mahābhārata 1, 1489.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNimeṣa (निमेष).—[masculine] = nimiṣa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nimeṣa (निमेष):—[=ni-meṣa] [from ni-miṣ] a m. shutting the eye, twinkling, winking, [Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Manu-smṛti; Yājñavalkya; Mahābhārata] etc. (also as a measure of time id est. a moment; ṣād iva, in a m°, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.; ṣaṃ nimeṣam, every m°, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]; as a disease, [Suśruta])
2) [v.s. ...] Name of a Yakṣa, [Mahābhārata]
3) [=ni-meṣa] b See under 1. ni-miṣ.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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)
Starts with: Nimeshadyut, Nimeshaka, Nimeshakrit, Nimeshana, Nimeshantara, Nimeshardhat, Nimesharuc, Nimesharuch, Nimeshatas.
Ends with: Akshinimesha, Animesha, Nirnimesha, Sanimesha, Vinimesha.
Full-text (+1): Nimisa, Nimeshakrit, Nimeshadyut, Nimesharuc, Nirnimesha, Animesha, Nimeshatas, Nimeshardhat, Truti, Akshinimesha, Animeshata, Unmesha, Sukshmamana, Nimeshantara, Kalavastha, Laukikamana, Kashtha, Tamracuda, Puta, Upacar.
Relevant text
Search found 27 books and stories containing Nimesha, Nimesa, Nimeṣa, Nimēṣa, Ni-mesha, Ni-meṣa, Ni-mesa; (plurals include: Nimeshas, Nimesas, Nimeṣas, Nimēṣas, meshas, meṣas, mesas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 1.64 < [Section XXXVII - Measures of Time]
The Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)
Chapter III - Measure of time, Moments of Kashthas, etc. < [Book I]
Chapter VIII - Origin of Rudra: his becoming eight Rudras < [Book I]
Chapter VIII - Description of the sun (his chariot; its two axles; his horses) < [Book II]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 8 - The span of life of the trinity < [Section 7.1 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (1)]
Chapter 7 - The glory of Time (kāla) < [Section 7.1 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (1)]
Chapter 8 - The detailed description of the chariot etc. < [Section 2.5 - Rudra-saṃhitā (5): Yuddha-khaṇḍa]
Sushruta Samhita, volume 1: Sutrasthana (by Kaviraj Kunja Lal Bhishagratna)
The Bhagavata Purana (by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada)
Chapter 11 - Calculation of Time, from the Atom < [Canto III - The Status Quo]
Chapter 6 - Maharaja Pariksit Passes Away < [Canto XII - The Age of Deterioration]