Nimi: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Nimi means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Tamil. 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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata PuranaNimi (निमि):—One of the most prominent sons of Ikṣvāku (son of Śrāddhadeva or Vaivasvata Manu). (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.6.4)
A son called Janaka was born from the remains of his material body, during a sacrifice. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.13.13)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Nimi (निमि).—A famous emperor who was the son of Ikṣvāku. Genealogy. Descended from Viṣṇu thus: Brahmā—Marīci—Kaśyapa—Vivasvān—Vaivasvata Manu—Ikṣvāku—Nimi. (See full article at Story of Nimi from the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani)
2) Nimi (निमि).—Son of Dattātreyamuni of the Atri family. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 91, Verse 5).
3) Nimi (निमि).—Son of the King of Vidarbha. After giving his daughter in marriage to Agastya he attained heaven. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 137, Verse 11).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationNimi (निमि) refers to “closing the eyes”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.30. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“observing silence and remembering her lord with great respect, Satī the Goddess calmed down and sat on the ground in the northern wing. Having sipped water duly, covering up her body entirely with her cloth she closed her eyes (nimi) and remembered her lord. She then entered the yogic trance”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Nimi (निमि).—One of the elder sons of Ikṣvāku; solicited the service of Vasiṣṭha for performing a sacrifice; Vasiṣṭha asked Nimi to wait until he returned from Indra's sacrifice to which he had been invited earlier. But Nimi thinking of the mutability of things got it done with the help of other sages; finding that Nimi had finished his sacrifice the sage cursed ‘Let his body fall’. The king cursed the sage in his turn and cast off his body. After preserving the body in a balm for seven days the sages requested the gods to restore him to life; Nimi refused to enter again the bondage of the physical body; then the gods said, ‘let him live in the eyelids of all living beings’. But the sages were afraid of anarchy and churned the body of Nimi for a son and this was Janaka Vaideha;1 performed a satra at which the nine sages, the sons of Ṛṣabha were present. These enlightened the king on bhāgavata dharma.2 For a slightly different version of the incident regarding the curse see matsya.3
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 6. 4; 13. 1-13; X. 86. 36; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 63. 9; 64. 1; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 2. 12; 5. 1-23.
- 2) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XI. 2. 14; 25-26; chh. 3 to 5: Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 74. 244 and 248; Vāyu-purāṇa 1. 142.
- 3) Matsya-purāṇa 61. 32-5; 201. 1-20.
1b) A son of Daṇḍapāṇi and father of Kṣemaka.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 22. 44.
1c) A son of Bhajamāna.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 44. 50. Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 13. 2.
1d) A commander of Tāraka's army; had a chariot of elephants;1 found out the trick of the Sun God in making Asuras appear like Devas and causing their slaughter; he reported this to Kālanemi; threw darts on Janārdana;2 sent cakra against Viṣṇu;3 fight of, with Janārdana;4 fight with Dikpālakas and Kṛṣṇa and Indra; Indra wounded by Mudgara.5
- 1) Matsya-purāṇa 148. 42, 51.
- 2) Ib. 150. 161; 224.
- 3) Ib. 151. 12, 31.
- 4) Ib. 152. 33.
- 5) Ib. 153. 55, 62.
1e) The younger brother of Vikukṣi; established the city of Jayanta near Gautama's āśrama.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 89. 1-2.
1f) A son of Bāhyaka.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 96. 4.
1g) The father of six Ṛtus.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 13. 18.
Nimi (निमि) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. XIII.116.68, XIII.115) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Nimi) 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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Journal of the European Ayurvedic Society, Volume 4: Reviews and NoticesNimi (निमि) or Nimitantra is the name of a work related to Ayurveda and medicine referenced by the “cikitsa bidhane tantrasastra”—a Bengali work authored by ‘Krishna Chaitanya Thakur’ in three volumes dealing with the treatments for diseases and disorders collected from Tantric and Ayurvedic texts.—Eastern India is one of the major strongholds of Tantrism in South Asia, and this region, particularly Bengal, has played and still plays a prominent role in the development of Āyurveda. It is indeed a fact that much medically relevant material is to be found in [the Nimi-tantra, or other] Tantric texts. The “cikitsā bidhāne tantraśāstra” (by Kṛṣṇacaitanya Ṭhākur) contains wealth of medicines and remedies for a large variety of diseases and disorders, arranged according to the individual diseases or disorders. The material presented is culled from a variety of texts [e.g., nimi-tantra], [most of which] seem to be classed as Tantric, but some are quite obviously not so, though their material may be related to that to be found in Tantric texts.
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.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names1. Nimi
The Bodhisatta born as king of Mithila. See Nimi Jataka.
2. NimiA Pacceka Buddha. He was king, of Mithila. One day he saw a hawk, which was flying with some meat, attacked by vultures. The hawk dropped the meat, which was then taken up by another bird and he, in his turn, was attacked. This process continuing for some time, the king realized that possessions bring sorrow and suffering. He thereupon renounced his sixteen thousand women, and reflecting on his renunciation, became a Pacceka Buddha, and joined three others, who had also become Pacceka Buddhas: Karandu, Naggaji and Dummukha. J.iii.378f.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: BuddhismNimi (निमि) refers to one of the descendants of Māghadeva, son of Sāgaradeva: an ancient king from the Solar dynasty (sūryavaṃśa) and a descendant of Mahāsaṃmata, according to the Mahābuddhavaṃsa or Maha Buddhavamsa (the great chronicle of Buddhas) Anudīpanī chapter 1, compiled by Ven. Mingun Sayadaw. Sāgaradeva and Māghadeva and his descendants reigned in Mithilā until their number became eighty-four thousand. The last of these eighty-four thousand kings was named Nimi, the Bodhisatta. His son was named Kaḷārajanaka, whose son was named Samaṅkara, whose son was named Asoca (or Asoka). Their descendants totalling 84,003 again founded Bārāṇasī and reigned there. The last of these 84,003 kings was named Sīhappati.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNimi (निमि).—
1) Winking, twinkling (of the eyes).
2) Name of one of the descendants of Ikṣvāku, and ancestor of the line of kings who ruled in Mithilā.
Derivable forms: nimiḥ (निमिः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryNimi (निमि).—(1) (= Pali id., also Nemi, q.v.) name of a king, former incarnation of Śākyamuni; the hero of the Pali Nimi Jātaka (Pali) (541): Lalitavistara 170.16 (Tibetan mu khyud, rim, suggesting Nemi); Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya i.112.18 ff.; (2) name of a former Buddha: Sukhāvatīvyūha 6.9.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNimi (निमि).—m.
(-miḥ) 1. Twinkling. 2. A son of Ikshwaku condemned to reside in the twinkle of the eye.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNimi (निमि).—m. A proper name, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 7, 41.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNimi (निमि).—[masculine] [Name] of [several] kings.
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Nimi (निमि).—dig in, fix, build, construct.
Nimi is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ni and mi (मि).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nimi (निमि):—1. nimi m. Name of sub voce kings of Videha, [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) of a son of Dattátreya, [Mahābhārata]
3) of a son of Ikṣvāku, [Purāṇa] (having lost his body through the curse of Vasiṣṭha he occupied the eyes of all living beings, hence the opening and shutting of men’s eyelids; cf. ni-miṣa and See, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa iv, 5])
4) of 21st Jaina Arhat of present Ava-sarpiṇī (identified with the former Nimi), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) of a son of Bhajamāna, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
6) of a son of Daṇḍa-pāṇi, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
7) of a Dānava, [Harivaṃśa] ([varia lectio] ḍimbha)
8) the closing or winking of the eyes, twinkling, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa ix, 24, 64.]
9) Name of a Tathāgata, [Sukhāvatī-vyūha i].
10) [=ni-mi] 2. ni-√1. mi [Parasmaipada] -minoti ([perfect tense] -mimāya [Passive voice] -mīyate), to fix or dig in, erect, raise, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Brāhmaṇa] etc.;
—to perceive, notice, understand (?), [Atharva-veda iv, 16, 5. 2.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNimi (निमि):—(miḥ) 2. m. Son of Ikshwāku.
[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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryṆimi (णिमि) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Niyuj.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusNimi (ನಿಮಿ):—[noun] a blinking of the eye-lid.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil LexiconNimi (நிமி) [nimital] 4 intransitive verb To twitch, as the lips of a child in crying; வாய்நெளிதல். நிமியும் வாயொடு கண்கணீர் மல்க [vaynelithal. nimiyum vayodu kankanir malka] (நாலாயிர திவ்யப்பிரபந்தம் திருவாய்மொழி [nalayira thivyappirapandam thiruvaymozhi] 6, 5, 2).
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Nimi (நிமி) noun < Nimi. A king of the Solar race; சூரியவமிசத்துச் சக்கரவர்த்திகளில் ஒரு வன். நிமித்திருமரபுளான் [suriyavamisathus sakkaravarthigalil oru van. nimithirumarapulan] (கம்பராமாயணம் திருவவதா. [kambaramayanam thiruvavatha.] 91).
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+160): Nimeshashunya, Nimi lahara, Nimia, Nimicchati, Nimiccura, Nimih, Nimikalami, Nimiketu, Nimil, Nimila, Nimilai, Nimilaiccattumuli, Nimilaka, Nimilan, Nimilana, Nimilanamakshi, Nimilat, Nimilesi, Nimileti, Nimiletva.
Ends with: Dyutapaurnimi, Ganimi, Karuhunnime, Munimi, Nimanimi, Pauranimi, Paurnimi.
Full-text (+69): Nimish, Nimimdhara, Nimih, Animish, Mithi, Nemi, Nimishvara, Nimisati, Videha, Vahyaka, Janaka, Karandu, Nimminati, Nimi lahara, Devamidha, Nimiti, Nimisutra, Kalarajanaka, Niyuj, Makhadeva Sutta.
Relevant text
Search found 71 books and stories containing Nimi, Ni-mi, Ṇimi, Ṇīmī; (plurals include: Nimis, mis, Ṇimis, Ṇīmīs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Yasastilaka and Indian culture (Study) (by Krishna Kanta Jandiqui)
Part 7 - Medical authorities mentioned in the Yasastilaka < [Chapter 18 - Quotations nad References]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Nimi < [Fourth Section]
Vishnu Purana (Taylor) (by McComas Taylor)
Chapter 5 - The legend of Nimi: Why we blink < [Book Four: The Royal Dynasties]
Chapter 7 - Keśidhvaja instructs Khāṇḍikya in yoga < [Book Six: Dissolution]
13. The six books of the Viṣṇu Purāṇa < [Introduction]
Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 13 - The Description of the Race of Nimi < [Book 9 - Ninth Skandha]
Chapter 2 - Bhāgavata Dharma: Nārada’s Narration of King Nimi’s Dialogue < [Book 11 - Eleventh Skandha]
Chapter 5 - Yuga-wise Methods of Worshipping the Lord < [Book 11 - Eleventh Skandha]
Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)
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