Nirmala, Nirmalā: 19 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Hindi
4. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Nirmala means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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 Nirmal.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)

Nirmala (निर्मल) refers to “devoid of dirt”, mentioned in verse 3.52-53 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—Accordingly, “[...] when hungry, one shall turn to bitter, sweet, astringent, and light food, [...]; to water [...] devoid of dirt [viz., nirmala], (and) destructive of dirt [...] (and that is) neither causative of effusions nor rough, (but) nectar-like among the beverages etc.; (and)—beautifully adorned) with sandal, cuscus, camphor, pearls, garlands, and (fine) clothes— [...]”.

Note: As nirmala (“devoid of dirt”) and malajit (“destructive of dirt”) in 52d, so abhiṣyandin (“causative of effusions”), rūkṣa (“rough”), and amṛtopama (“nectar-like”) have been put verbally: ’brag (for ’brub)—“causing effusions”, rtsub-pa yin-pa—“being
rough”, and bdud-rtsir mthsuṅs (“resembling nectar”).

context information

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Nirmala (निर्मल) refers to “pure (i.e., a pure state)”, according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “By the practice of the Yoga of Stillness [i.e., nirācārayoga], one obtains the fruit. She whose nature is movement (cara) moves, (and her movement is) divided into (downward) motion (cāra) and upward motion (uccāra). That should be known as Stillness (nirācāra). Stillness is not other (than this). (This is) where actions (cāra) cease along with the activities (karman) of speech, mind, and body. When a pure (nirmala) state arises, that is said to be Stillness”.

2) Nirmala (निर्मल) refers to “stainless” (viz., stainless as pure crystal) and is used to describe Ardhanarīśvara, according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, as Bhadrakālī said to Śrīkaṇṭha: “[...] (You are) he, the Siddha who has been pierced (by the power of the Command) and, made of universal bliss, is accompanied by Yogeśvarī. He is Śaṃkara’s lord; supreme, he has five faces, three eyes, holds a spear and, adorned with matted hair and crown, (his) divine body is covered with ashes. He is the pervasive lord Ardhanarīśvara. Beautiful he is, stainless as pure crystal [i.e., śuddhasphaṭika-nirmala]. (He is) the Lord (īśvara), supreme Śambhu, who bears a divine form and is auspicious. O Mahādeva, the three-eyed one, who, self-generated, is such as was repeatedly praised with greatly divine and mental hymns”.

context information

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.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Nirmala (निर्मल) refers to “purity”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 12), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “When star Canopus reappears after its conjunction with the Sun, waters muddled by their contact with the earth will resume their original clearness just in the same way as the minds of the Sādhus naturally recover their original purity [i.e., nirmala] after contact with the wicked. The autumn is attended by the Cakravāka on both its sides (i.e., beginning and end); in it is heard the music of the swan; and its opening is marked by the beautiful red sky; in all these respects the season resembles a woman with a rising bosom, sounding jewels and betel-coloured mouth”.

context information

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

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

Nirmalā (निर्मला) is the name of Vidyārājñī (i.e., “wisdom queen”) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Nirmalā).

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)

Nirmalā (निर्मला) refers to the “(that devotion which is) without blemish” according to Vāgīśvarakīrti’s Tattvaratnāvalokavivaraṇa.—Accordingly, “This is the work to dispel all opposed opinions of Vāgīśvara [Vāgīśvarakīrti], whose dedication to the glorious Samāja [Guhyasamāja] is supreme and whose devotion is without blemish (nirmalā)”.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

nirmala (निर्मल).—a (S) pop. nirmaḷa a Void of dirt or impurity, lit. fig., clean, clear, pure, unsullied, guileless: also unadulterated, unalloyed &c.

--- OR ---

nirmaḷā (निर्मळा).—m A tree, Strychnos potatorum. Rox.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

nirmala (निर्मल).—a nirmaḷa a Void of dirt or impu- rity; clean, clear, pure. Unadulte- rated.

context information

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 dictionary

Nirmala (निर्मल).—a.

1) free from dirt or impurities, clear, pure, stainless, unsullied (fig. also); नीरान्निर्मलतो जनिः (nīrānnirmalato janiḥ) Bv.1.63.

2) resplendent, bright; Bh.1.56.

3) sinless, virtuous; निर्मलाः स्वर्गमायान्ति सन्तः सुकृतिनो यथा (nirmalāḥ svargamāyānti santaḥ sukṛtino yathā) Ms.8.318. (-lam) 1 talc.

2) the remainings of an offering made to a deity. °उपलः (upalaḥ) a crystal.

Nirmala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nir and mala (मल).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Nirmala (निर्मल).—(1) name of a future Pratyekabuddha: Avadāna-śataka i.162.5; (2) name of a Buddha: Śikṣāsamuccaya 169.9.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Nirmala (निर्मल) or Nirmmala.—mfn.

(-laḥ-lā-laṃ) 1. Clear, clean, free from dirt or impurities, (literally or figuratively.) 2. Bright n.

(-laṃ) 1. The remains of an offering made to a deity. 2. Talc. E. nir priv. and nala dirt.

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

Nirmala (निर्मल).—adj., f. lā. 1. stainless, [Hitopadeśa] i. [distich] 47, M. M. 2. pure, [Hitopadeśa] ii. [distich] 134; clear, [Pañcatantra] 248, 5. 3. bright, [Johnson's Selections from the Mahābhārata.] 12, 33.

Nirmala is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nis and mala (मल).

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

Nirmala (निर्मल).—[adjective] stainless, clean, pure; [abstract] tā [feminine], tva [neuter]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Nirmala (निर्मल):—[=nir-mala] [from nir > niḥ] mf(ā)n. spotless, unsullied, clean, pure, shining, resplendent, bright, [Upaniṣad; Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] sinless, virtuous, [Manu-smṛti viii, 318]

3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of Skanda, [Atharva-veda.Pariś.]

4) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] Name of a sect, [Horace H. Wilson]

5) [v.s. ...] n. talc, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) [v.s. ...] = nir-mālya n., [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

Nirmala (निर्मल):—[nir-mala] (laṃ) 1. n. Remains of an offering; talc. a. Pure, clean.

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

Nirmala (निर्मल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇimmala.

[Sanskrit to German]

Nirmala 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Nirmala (निर्मल) [Also spelled nirmal]:—(a) clean; clear; pure; unsullied, spotless, stainless; ~[tā] cleanness; clearness; purity; stainlessness.

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Nirmala (ನಿರ್ಮಲ):—

1) [adjective] free from any adulterant; unmixed.

2) [adjective] free from anything that taints, impairs, infects, etc.; clear; pure.

3) [adjective] spiritually perfect or pure; untainted by evil or sin; sinless; saintly.

--- OR ---

Nirmala (ನಿರ್ಮಲ):—

1) [noun] the quality of being free from adulterant.

2) [noun] the quality of being unstained, unimpaired, uninfected; purity.

3) [noun] spiritual purity or perfection; sinlessness; saintliness.

4) [noun] absence of mental agitation, fear, apprehension, etc.

5) [noun] great splendor.

6) [noun] a sinless, spotless, saintly man.

--- OR ---

Nirmaḷa (ನಿರ್ಮಳ):—[adjective] = ನಿರ್ಮಲ [nirmala]1.

--- OR ---

Nirmaḷa (ನಿರ್ಮಳ):—[noun] = ನಿರ್ಮಲ [nirmala]2 - 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.

context information

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

Relevant text

Search found 18 books and stories containing Nirmala, Nirmalā, Nirmaḷā, Nirmaḷa; (plurals include: Nirmalas, Nirmalās, Nirmaḷās, Nirmaḷas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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