Nirjana, Nir-jana: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Nirjana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Nirjan.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramNirjana (निर्जन) refers to “that place where there are no people”, according to the Jayadrathayāmala verse 2.19.27-29.—Accordingly, “Having gone to a place where there are no people [i.e., nirjana], a mountain peak, the bank of a river, a frightening cremation ground, a beautiful deserted forest or a secluded part of the house at night or wherever (else) one pleases, or having reached (that) great place which is a sacred seat of Yoginīs and levelled the ground, extract the Vidyā”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraNirjana (निर्जन) refers to a “solitary place”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 19.110-113, while describing the king’s consecration]—“[The mantrin] who is free from doubt should consecrate [the king] in a solitary place (nirjana) at night and on a day of auspicious protection. With auspicious cries like "victory!" and the sounds of the auspicious Veda, he should consecrate [the king] with water and make oblations of white mustard seeds [while he] proclaims the name [of the king] [...]”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationNirjana (निर्जन) refers to an “isolated place (in the penance-grove)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.34 (“The Story of Anaraṇya”).—Accordingly, as Vasiṣṭha said to Himavat (Himācala): “[...] In the meantime the sage Pippalāda eagerly hastening back to his hermitage saw a certain Gandharva in an isolated place (nirjana) in the penance-grove. The Gandharva was an expert in the science of erotics. He was in the company of a woman. He was therefore completely submerged in the ocean of pleasure, sexual dalliance and was lusty. On seeing him the great sage became very lustful. He lost interest in penance and began to think of acquiring a wife. [...]”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchNirjana (निर्जन) refers to “solitary (places)”, according to the Gorakṣaśataka.—The Amanaska’s description of the ideal place in which to practise Yoga is based on four standard characteristics; it should be isolated, solitary, clean and beautiful. Similar descriptions are found in Tantric traditions. [...] The themes of isolation, solitude, cleanliness and beauty are also found in many yoga texts which postdate the Amanaska’s second chapter. For example, the original Gorakṣaśataka 32 (Cf. Śārṅgadharapaddhati 4375): “[The Yogin should practise breath retention] in a clean and solitary (nirjana) place [pavitre nirjane deśe], free from [insects] such as mosquitoes, its boundaries [measuring] the length of a bow and [it should be] free from [excessive] cold, fire and water”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarynirjana (निर्जन).—a (S) Uninhabited. 2 Lonely, solitary, unfrequented--a place.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishnirjana (निर्जन).—a Uninhabited. Lonely.
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 dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNirjana (निर्जन).—a.
1) tenantless, uninhabited, unfrequented, lonely, desolate.
2) without any retinue or attendants; भूयश्चैवाभिरक्षन्तु निर्धनान्निर्जना इव (bhūyaścaivābhirakṣantu nirdhanānnirjanā iva) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 12.151.7.
-nam a desert, solitude, lonely place.
Nirjana is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nir and jana (जन).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNirjana (निर्जन).—[adjective] unpeopled, lonely, [substantive] solitude, desert; [abstract] tā [feminine], tva [neuter]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nirjana (निर्जन):—[=nir-jana] [from nir > niḥ] mf(ā)n. unpeopled, lonely, desolate, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]
2) [v.s. ...] m. or n. solitude, desert, [Rāmāyaṇa; Rājataraṅgiṇī]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNirjana (निर्जन):—[nir-jana] (naḥ-nā-naṃ) a. Lonely, unpeopled, desolate, void.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Nirjana (निर्जन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇijjaṇa.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryNirjana (निर्जन) [Also spelled nirjan]:—(a) lonely, solitary; desolate, deserted; uninhabited; ~[tā] loneliness, desolation; the state of being deserted or uninhabited.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusNirjana (ನಿರ್ಜನ):—[adjective] deprived or destitute of human beings; not inhabited by human beings; desolate.
--- OR ---
Nirjana (ನಿರ್ಜನ):—[noun] a place, region that is deprived of human inhabitation.
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: Nirjanadesha, Nirjanasthana, Nirjanatva, Nirjanavana.
Ends with: Atinirjana.
Full-text: Nijjana, Nirjanatva, Nirjanavana, Apratidvandva, Nicanakam, Nicanam, Nirjan, Nirjanasthana, Adhishtha, Jangala, Shukta.
Relevant text
Search found 6 books and stories containing Nirjana, Nir-jana; (plurals include: Nirjanas, janas). 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 1.15.50 < [Chapter 15 - Revelation of the Universal Form to Nanda’s Wife]
Verses 2.15.26-27 < [Chapter 15 - Description of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s Falling in Love]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.11.21 < [Chapter 11 - Meeting with Śrī Īśvara Purī]
Verse 1.16.154 < [Chapter 16 - The Glories of Śrī Haridāsa Ṭhākura]
Verse 1.11.57 < [Chapter 11 - Meeting with Śrī Īśvara Purī]
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 7.6 - The observances for the vow of non-stealing (acaurya) < [Chapter 7 - The Five Vows]
Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)
Text 13 < [Chapter 6 - Ṣaṣṭha-yāma-sādhana (Sāyaṃ-kālīya-bhajana–bhāva)]
Shri Gaudiya Kanthahara (by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati)
Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara (Study) (by Debabrata Barai)
Part 6.1b - Anyayoni (1): Pratibimbakalpa < [Chapter 5 - Analyasis and Interpretations of the Kāvyamīmāṃsā]