Nimi: 19 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 Purana

Nimi (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 Encyclopedia

1) 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 Translation

Nimi (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 Index

1a) 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.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

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.

Purana book cover
context information

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.

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In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Nimi

The Bodhisatta born as king of Mithila. See Nimi Jataka.

2. Nimi

A 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.

context information

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).

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General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Buddhism

Nimi (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 dictionary

Nimi (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 Dictionary

Nimi (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 Dictionary

Nimi (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 Dictionary

Nimi (निमि).—m. A proper name, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 7, 41.

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

Nimi (निमि).—[masculine] [Name] of [several] kings.

--- OR ---

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 Dictionary

1) 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 Dictionary

Nimi (निमि):—(miḥ) 2. m. Son of Ikshwāku.

[Sanskrit to German]

Nimi 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.

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Prakrit-English dictionary

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

Ṇimi (णिमि) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Niyuj.

context information

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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Nimi (ನಿಮಿ):—[noun] a blinking of the eye-lid.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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Tamil dictionary

Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil Lexicon

Nimi (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).

context information

Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.

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