Nipa, Nīpa, Nipā: 24 definitions
Introduction:
Nipa means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, biology. 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyNīpa (नीप) is another name (synonym) for Dhārākadamba: one of the three varieties of Kadamba, which is a Sanskrit name for the plant Neolamarckia cadamba (burflower-tree). This synonym was identified by Narahari in his 13th-century Rājanighaṇṭu (verse 9.97), which is an Ayurvedic medicinal thesaurus.
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsNipa [ನೀಪಾ] in the Kannada language is the name of a plant identified with Quassia indica (Gaertn.) Noot. from the Simaroubaceae (Quassia) family having the following synonyms: Samadera indica, Samadera madagascariensis. For the possible medicinal usage of nipa, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Nipa [நீபா] in the Tamil language, ibid. previous identification.
Nipa in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Barringtonia racemosa (L.) Spreng. from the Lecythidaceae (Brazilnut) family having the following synonyms: Eugenia racemosa.

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.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstraNīpa (नीप) is a Sanskrit word, identified with Ixora bandhucca (a species of aśoka) 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 nīpa) 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.”

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: Wisdom Library: Bhagavata Purana1) Nīpa (नीप):—Son of Pāra (son of Rucirāśva). He had one hundred sons. One of his sons was called Brahmadatta, whom he begot through the womb of his wife, Kṛtvī (daughter of Śuka). (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.21.24-25)
2) Nīpa (नीप):—Son of Kṛtī (son of Sannatimān). He had a son called Udgrāyudha. (see Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.21.28-29)
Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia1) Nīpa (नीप).—A famous King of the Pūru dynasty. A son called Brahmadatta was born to the King by his wife Kṛti alias Kīrtimatī. Brahmadatta begot hundred sons like Kīrtivardhana and all of them became famous by the name Nīpas. (Bhāgavata, 9th Skandha).
2) Nīpa (नीप).—An ancient kingdom in India. The King of this place participated in Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya. (Sabhā Parva, Chapter 51, Verse 24).
3) Nīpa (नीप).—A Kṣatriya dynasty. King Janamejaya belonged to this dynasty. (Udyoga Parva, Chapter 74, Verse 13).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Nīpa (नीप).—A son of Pāra (Paura, Matsya-purāṇa) wife kṛtvī; father of 100 sons, Nīpās; Aṇuhasatyaka? was the eldest; among the others were Srīmān who was well known and was destroyed by Ugrasena (Ugrāyudha, Vāyu-purāṇa) for the sake of Janamejaya; Brahmadatta was another son.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 21. 24-25; Matsya-purāṇa 49. 52, 59; Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 174-5.
1b) The son of Kṛtin and father of Ugrāyudha.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 21. 29.
1c) 100 sons of Nīpa, among whom Srīmān was the most celebrated; destroyed by Ugrāyudha for the sake of Janamejaya;1 a tribe.2

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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: VedaBase: Śrīmad BhāgavatamNīpa (नीप) refers to the “dust kadamba”:—According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the nīpa, though not a very prominent tree, bears large flowers (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.30.9). Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī gives the following information about Vṛndāvana’s trees: The nīpa is “the dust kadamba” and it has large flowers.

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraNīpa (नीप) refers to a country belonging to “Madhyadeśa (central division)” classified under the constellations of Kṛttikā, Rohiṇī and Mṛgaśīrṣa, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Kṛttikā, Rohiṇī and Mṛgaśīrṣa represent the Madhyadeśa or central division consisting of the countries of [i.e., Nīpa] [...]”.

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)Nipa (निप) [?] (in Chinese: Ni-p'o) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Rohiṇī or Rohiṇīnakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Rohiṇī] with a group of kingdoms [e.g., Nipa] for the sake of protection and prosperity.

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Economic Life In Ancient India (as depicted in Jain canonical literature)Nipa (निप) refers to a kind of tree (vṛkṣa) commonly found in the forests (vaṇa) of ancient India, mentioned in the 1st century Uvavāiya-sutta (sanksrit: Aupapātika-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 (e.g., the Nipa 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.

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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Nipa in Chile is the name of a plant defined with Escallonia illinita in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Escallonia poeppigiana DC. var. longifolia DC., nom. nud. (among others).
2) Nipa in India is also identified with Barringtonia racemosa It has the synonym Butonica caffra Miers (etc.).
3) Nipa is also identified with Haldina cordifolia It has the synonym Nauclea sterculiifolia A. Rich. ex DC.) (Adina Salisb., from the Greek adinos ‘clustered, plentiful, crowded’, referring to the clustered flowers. (etc.).
4) Nipa is also identified with Quassia indica It has the synonym Samadera madagascariensis A. Juss. (etc.).
5) Nipa in Philippines is also identified with Nypa fruticans It has the synonym Nipa arborescens Wurmb ex H. Wendl. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Species Plantarum
· Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis (1828)
· Reliquiae Haenkeanae (1831)
· Hortus Bengalensis (1814)
· Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis (DC.) (1830)
· Encyclopédie Méthodique, Botanique (1785)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Nipa, for example extract dosage, side effects, health benefits, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, have a look at these references.

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarynīpa : (m.) the tree Nauclea Cadamba.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryNīpa, (adj.) (Vedic nīpa, contr. fr. ni+āpa “low water”) lit. lying low, deep, N. of the tree Nauclea cadamba, a species of Asoka tree J. I, 13 (v. 61)=Bu II. 51; J. V, 6 (so read for nipa). (Page 375)
— or —
Nipa, at J. V, 6 read as nīpa. (Page 359)

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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNipa (निप).—A water-jar.
-paḥ The Kadamba tree.
Derivable forms: nipaḥ (निपः), nipam (निपम्).
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Nipā (निपा).—2 P.
1) To drink or suck in, imbibe.
2) To absorb, dry up.
3) To drink, kiss; अत एव निपीयतेऽधरः (ata eva nipīyate'dharaḥ) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.189; दन्तच्छदं प्रियतमेन निपीतसारम् (dantacchadaṃ priyatamena nipītasāram) Ṛtusaṃhāra 4.13.
4) To feast on (with the eyes or ears).
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Nīpa (नीप).—a. Situated low, deep.
-paḥ 1 The foot of a mountain.
2) A kind of कदम्ब (kadamba) (said to blossom in the rainy season; Adina Cordifolia Hook). The tree is known as हेडु (heḍu) or हेडकदम्ब (heḍakadamba) in Marāthī. It is the same as हरिद्रकदम्बक (haridrakadambaka) or हरिद्रक (haridraka). The wood of the tree is yellow and is still found employed in old buildings. नीपः प्रदी- पायते (nīpaḥ pradī- pāyate) Mṛcchakaṭika 5.14; सीमन्ते च त्वदुपगमजं यत्र नीपं वधूनाम् (sīmante ca tvadupagamajaṃ yatra nīpaṃ vadhūnām) Meghadūta 67; नवनीपाङ्कुरनन्दनीयशोभा (navanīpāṅkuranandanīyaśobhā) Bhār. Ch.
3) A species of Aśoka; a kind of plant (Mar. dupārī); कदम्बवेतसनलनीपवञ्जुलकैर्वृतम् (kadambavetasanalanīpavañjulakairvṛtam) (payaḥ) Bhāgavata 8.2.17.
4) Name of a family of kings; नीपान्वयः पार्थिव एष यज्वा (nīpānvayaḥ pārthiva eṣa yajvā) R.6.46.
-pam The flower of the Kadamba tree; नीपं दृष्ट्वा हरितकपिशं कैसरैरर्धरूढैः (nīpaṃ dṛṣṭvā haritakapiśaṃ kaisarairardharūḍhaiḥ) Me. 21; R.19.37.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNipa (निप).—mn.
(-paḥ-paṃ) A water jar. m.
(-paḥ) The Kadamba tree, (Nauclea cadamba.) E. ni continuative Particle, pā to drink, affix karaṇe ghañarthe ka .
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Nīpa (नीप).—m.
(-paḥ) 1. The Kadamba tree, (Nauclea Kadamba.) 2. A species of Ixora, (I. bandhuca, Rox.) 3. A sort of Aśoca or Nil Aśoka. 4. The foot of a mountain. E. nī to obtain, (pleasure.) and pa Unadi aff.; kicca .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNīpa (नीप).—i. e. ni-apa + a, I. adj. Deep, [Kathāsaritsāgara, (ed. Brockhaus.)] 27, 8. Ii. m. 1. The Cadamba tree (Nauclea Cadamba). 2. A prcper name, Mahābhārata 2, 333.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNipa (निप).—1. [masculine] chief, master.
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Nipa (निप).—2. [masculine] water-jar.
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Nīpa (नीप).—[adjective] situated low, deep. —[masculine] [Name] of a tree, [neuter] its blossom & fruit; [masculine] [plural] [Name] of a princely race.
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Nipā (निपा).—drink in, imbibe, absorb.
Nipā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ni and pā (पा).
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Nipā (निपा).—protect, shelter from ([ablative]), watch, observe, keep.
Nipā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ni and pā (पा).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nipa (निप):—[=ni-pa] a See under ni-pā below.
2) Nipā (निपा):—[=ni-pā] a. ni-√1. pā [Parasmaipada] -pibati, to drink or suck in, kiss, [Kāvya literature];
2) —to absorb, dry up, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa] :—[Causal] -pāyayati, cause to imbibe or suck in [ib. 1.]
3) Nipa (निप):—[=ni-pa] [from ni-pā] b m. a water-jar, Nauclea Cadamba, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc. 1.]
4) Nipā (निपा):—[=ni-pā] b. ni-√2. pā [Parasmaipada] -pāti, to guard or protect from ([ablative]);
—to observe, watch over, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda] :
—[Causal] -pālayati, to protect, guard, govern, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary 2.]
5) Nipa (निप):—[=ni-pa] [from ni-pā] c mfn. protecting (cf. āke-n), [Ṛg-veda]
6) [v.s. ...] m. a lord, chief, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) Nīpa (नीप):—mfn. ([from] ni+ap; cf. dvīpa and, [Pāṇini 6-3, 97 [Scholiast or Commentator]]) situated low, deep, [Kāṭhaka]
8) m. the foot of a mountain, [Mahīdhara]
9) Nauclea Cadamba (n. its fruit and flower, [Meghadūta])
10) Ixora Bandhucca or a species of Aśoka, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) Name of a son of Kṛtin and father of Ugrāyudha, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
12) [plural] of a regal family descended from Nīpa (son of Pāra), [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa] etc.
13) Nīpā (नीपा):—[from nīpa] f. Name of a river, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nipa (निप):—[ni-pa] (paḥ-paṃ) 1. m. n. A water-jar. m. The kadamba tree.
2) Nīpa (नीप):—[nī-pa] (paḥ) 1. m. Kadamba tree; a kind of Ixora; Nil Asoca.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Nipā (निपा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ṇipā, Ṇīma, Ṇīva.
[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 dictionaryṆipā (णिपा) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Nipā.
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 corpusNipa (ನಿಪ):—[noun] a water jar.
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Nīpa (ನೀಪ):—[adjective] situated low; lying at a lower place.
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Nīpa (ನೀಪ):—
1) [noun] the foot of a mountain.
2) [noun] the tree Anthocephalus indicus (= A. cadamba, = Nauclea cadamba) of Rubiaceae family; the cadamba tree.
3) [noun] its flower.
4) [noun] the tree Samadera indica of Simaroubaceae family.
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)
Starts with (+102): Nipa palm, Nipacc-akara, Nipacca, Nipacca-vadin, Nipaccakara, Nipacchita, Nipaceta, Nipachchhita, Nipad, Nipada, Nipadamase, Nipadasa, Nipadiya, Nipah, Nipai, Nipaja, Nipajanem, Nipajata, Nipajja, Nipajjana.
Ends with (+2): Agnipa, Akenipa, Anipa, Anyavanipa, Avanipa, Bhunipa, Dakshayanipa, Dakshayinipa, Dharanipa, Farahinipa, Genipa, Janipa, Kenipa, Kunipa, Kuthitakunipa, Mahanipa, Medinipa, Minipa, Munipa, Sanipa.
Full-text (+64): Niparaja, Kritvi, Nipya, Naipya, Bhunipa, Niva, Naipa, Nipatithi, Nipaka, Nipanikri, Nipa palm, Unipam, Nipiyamana, Nipita, Nalipa, Nidhapati, Nidhanapati, Nidhipalita, Brahmadatta, Nipiti.
Relevant text
Search found 42 books and stories containing Nipa, Nīpa, Nipā, Ni-pa, Ni-pā, Nīpā, Nī-pa, Ṇipā; (plurals include: Nipas, Nīpas, Nipās, pas, pās, Nīpās, Ṇipās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 3.7.22 < [Chapter 7 - The Holy Places of Śrī Girirāja]
Verses 2.10.11-13 < [Chapter 10 - Description of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s Herding the Cows]
Verse 2.12.4 < [Chapter 12 - Subduing Kāliya and Drinking the Forest Fire]
The Matsya Purana (critical study) (by Kushal Kalita)
Part 2.1m - The Paurava Dynasty < [Chapter 3 - Historical aspects in the Matsyapurāṇa]
The Markandeya Purana (by Frederick Eden Pargiter)
Canto CXIV - Nābhāga’s exploits (continued)
Canto LVIII - The description of the Earth (continued)
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 3.4.71 < [Part 4 - Parenthood (vātsalya-rasa)]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.1.91 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
The Vishnu Purana (by Horace Hayman Wilson)
Chapter XIX - Dynasty of Puru < [Book IV]
Topographical Lists from the Mahābhārata < [Book II]