Nirvikalpa, Nir-vikalpa: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Nirvikalpa 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 Nirvikalp.
In Hinduism
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प) or Nirvikalpasamādhi refers to “undifferentiated trance”, “ecstacy (samādhi) with out form or seed”.—The realization of the Self, Paraśiva, a state of oneness beyond all change or diversity; beyond time, form and space.
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प) refers to the “unimaginable” (attribute) (of the realm of one’s own Self), according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Aṣṭavakra says to Janaka]: “[...] The realm of one's own self is not far away, and nor can it be achieved by the addition of limitations to its nature. It is unimaginable (nirvikalpa), effortless (nirāyāsa), unchanging (nirvikāra) and spotless (nirañjana). By the simple elimination of delusion and the recognition of one's true nature, those whose vision is unclouded live free from sorrow. [...]”.
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प) refers to “(that which is) free of thought”, according to the Māṇḍūkyopaniṣatkārikā 3.37.—Accordingly, while discussing the no-mind state: “The mode of [this no-mind] mind which is restrained, free of thought (nirvikalpa) and intelligent should be known. The other [mode of mind] in deep sleep is not the same as that”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प) refers to “that which is free of thought”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—A true teacher is one who is as free of thought (niṣprapañca) as he is of desire. The practitioner (sādhaka) should emulate him. Living the life of the renouncer, his food is what he has begged and, free of desire and cultivating the requisite moral qualities, he is ‘devoted to the transmission that is free of thought (nirvikalpa-krama)’. The Yoginī, his female counterpart, is similarly ‘girt with the aspect of consciousness that is free of thought’ and so, equanimous, is free of sorrow and false joy. [...]
Nirvikalpā (निर्विकल्पा) refers to “those (female practitioners) who are free of discriminative thoughts”, according to the Brahmayāmala (or Picumata): a 7th century goddess-oriented (Śākta) Tantra writtin in 12,000 metrical verses.—Accordingly, “Obtained by the command of the Guru, lovely, possessing the marks of auspiciousness, who has mastered the sitting postures, possessing great spirit, purified by the true essence of the Tantras, devoted to the Guru, the deity, and her husband, unfatigued by hunger and thirst, ever steeped in non-duality, free of discriminative thoughts (nirvikalpā) and lust [nirvikalpā hyalolupā], well-versed in trance, Yoga, and scriptural wisdom, steadfast in the observances: after obtaining [a woman like] her, a man of great wisdom should practice what is taught in his ritual manual”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प) refers to “(that which is) free of thought”, according to the Sarvajñānottara verse 20.34-39.—Accordingly, while discussing the culmination of detachment (for the process of attaining the no-mind state): “[...] Having made the mind supportless, he constantly meditates on the inconceivable. Know that the ultimate, incomparable bliss is that bliss, free of thought (nirvikalpa), inconceivable, transcending anything that might prove or exemplify [its existence], which he experiences when his self has transcended [all] the Tattvas and has become devoid of [all] aspects”.
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).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प) refers to “(one who is) free from though-constructions”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] The Bodhisattva Gaganagañja then sustained the jewel-canopy of ten thousand yojanas high over the Lord’s lion throne in the sky, joined the palms of his hands, saluted, and praised the Lord with these suitable verses: ‘[...] (3) You never make though-constructions (nirvikalpa) connected to words or sentences. Having known the essential character of sentence cannot be grasped because it is like an echo, also having known [the essential character of] words and letters (akṣara) cannot be grasped because they are not eternal (anitya), O Friendly One, you promulgate the teachings of the Victorious One by great compassion. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प).—a (S) Of unchanging purpose; being "without variableness or shadow of turning"--the Deity. 2 Not admitting of difference or otherness (betwixt one's own spirit and the divine essence).
nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प).—a Of unchanging purpose. Not admitting of difference.
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
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प).—a.
1) not admitting an alternative.
2) being without determination or resolution.
3) not capable of mutual relation.
4) conditioned.
5) undeliberative.
6) recognizing no such distinction as that of subject and object, or of the knower and the known; as applied to समाधि (samādhi) or contemplation, it is 'an exclusive concentration upon the one entity without distinct and separate consciousness of the knower, the known, and the knowing, and without even self-consciousness'; निर्विकल्पकः ज्ञातृज्ञानादिविकल्पभेद- लयापेक्षः (nirvikalpakaḥ jñātṛjñānādivikalpabheda- layāpekṣaḥ); नो चेत् चेतः प्रविश सहसा निर्विकल्पे समाधौ (no cet cetaḥ praviśa sahasā nirvikalpe samādhau) Bhartṛhari 3.61; आत्मारामा विहितरतयो निर्विकल्पे समाधौ (ātmārāmā vihitaratayo nirvikalpe samādhau) Ve.1.23.
7) (in phil.) not arising from the relation of the qualifier and the qualified, (viśeṣaṇaviśeṣyasaṃbandhānavagāhi pratyakṣaṃ jñānam) said of knowledge not derived from the senses, as घटत्व (ghaṭatva).
-lpam ind. without hesitation or wavering.
Nirvikalpa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nir and vikalpa (विकल्प). See also (synonyms): nirvikalpaka.
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प) or Nirvvikalpa or Nirvvikalka or Nirvikalka.—n.
(-kaṃ) Knowledge, not depending upon or derived from the senses. E. nir neg. vikalpa alternative, kan added.
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प).—adj. allowing no alternative, Bhā- ṣāp. 57. ºpam, adv. without hesitation, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 59.
Nirvikalpa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nis and vikalpa (विकल्प).
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प).—[adjective] having or offering no alternative, free from difference or doubt; [neuter] lpam without hesitation or reflection.
1) Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प):—[=nir-vikalpa] [from nir > niḥ] mfn. (or pana, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]) not admitting an alternative, free from change or differences, [Tejobindu-upaniṣad; Vedāntasāra]
2) [v.s. ...] admitting no doubt, not wavering, [Bhartṛhari]
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प):—(nis + vi) adj. keine Alternative habend, zulassend [Vyutpatti oder Mahāvyutpatti 172.] kalpo smi [Oxforder Handschriften 80,b,18.] samādhi [Spr. 23.] recognising no such distinctions as that of subject and object [?(BALLANT.) Vedāntasāra(Allah.) No. 124] (kalpaka v. l.) [Bālabodhanī 27.] [Dhūrtasamāgama 88, 1.] jñānaṃ yannirvikalpākhyaṃ tadatīndriyamiṣyate a knowledge which is without determination [?(RÖER) Bhāṣāpariccheda 57.] kalpam adv. ohne zu schwanken, ohne sich zu bedenken [Pañcatantra I, 59.]
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Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प):—keinen Zweifel habend, nicht schwankend: cetas [Kathāsaritsāgara 72, 175.] Die von [BALLANTYNE] und [RÖER] gegebenen Bedeutungen sind als falsch zu streichen.
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Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प):—adj. (f. ā) in der in den Nachträgen angegebenen Bed. auch [Spr. (II) 6873.]
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प):—Adj. (f. ā) —
1) keine Alternative zulassend , wechsellos , nicht differenzirt [Tejobindūpaniṣad 6.] —
2) keine Zweifel habend , nicht schwankend. m Adv. ohne zu schwanken , ohne sich zu bedenken.
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ṇirvvikappa, Ṇivvigappa.
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
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प) [Also spelled nirvikalp]:—(a) resolute, unwavering, concentrated, having no alternative.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Nirvikalpa (ನಿರ್ವಿಕಲ್ಪ):—
1) [adjective] not having an alternative.
2) [adjective] concentrating on a single object.
3) [adjective] a not changing; immutable.
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Nirvikalpa (ನಿರ್ವಿಕಲ್ಪ):—
1) [noun] the quality of being unchangeable; immutability.
2) [noun] perfect identity (between two or more things, persons, etc.).
3) [noun] deep, unqualified, single-minded meditation.
4) [noun] a man who never changes (in attitude, conviction, form, etc.).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Nirvikalpa (निर्विकल्प):—adj. 1. having no alternative; not allowing for distinction/difference; 2. fixed; determined;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Nir, Vikalpa, Nish, Nikaya.
Starts with (+2): Nirvikalpacara, Nirvikalpagagana, Nirvikalpaikacitta, Nirvikalpajnana, Nirvikalpaka, Nirvikalpakajnana, Nirvikalpakapratyaksha, Nirvikalpakata, Nirvikalpakavada, Nirvikalpakavicara, Nirvikalpam, Nirvikalpana, Nirvikalpane, Nirvikalpasamadhi, Nirvikalpasvabhava, Nirvikalpata, Nirvikalpatva, Nirvikalpavad, Nirvikalpavada, Nirvikalpavashita.
Full-text (+65): Nirvikalpam, Nirvikalpavada, Nirvikalpavicara, Nirvikalpaka, Nishpava, Nirvikalp, Nirvikalpasamadhi, Wu fen bie, Nirvikalpagagana, Vibuddhana, Nirvikalpavashita, Nirvikalpajnana, Niruvikarpam, Nirvikalpana, Nimittanirvikalpa, Nirvikara, Ekacitta, Nirvikalpaikacitta, Nirvvikappa, Nivvigappa.
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Search found 93 books and stories containing Nirvikalpa, Nir-vikalpa, Nir-vikalpā, Nirvikalpā, Nis-vikalpa; (plurals include: Nirvikalpas, vikalpas, vikalpās, Nirvikalpās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 181 < [Hindi-English-Nepali (1 volume)]
Page 115 < [Hindi-Marathi-English Volume 2]
Page 99 < [Hindi-Kashmiri-English Volume 2]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Vivekachudamani (by Shankara)
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 4.8.68 < [Part 8 - Compatible & Incompatible Mellows (maitrī-vaira-sthiti)]
Verse 3.1.37 < [Part 1 - Neutral Love of God (śānta-rasa)]
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 140 [Ṣaṭcakra Mānasa Sthiti] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Part 11 - Vākcatuṣṭaya (four forms of speech) < [Philosophy of Kashmir Tantric System]
Verse 172 [Mūlatattva] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Advayavajra-samgraha (Sanskrit text and English introduction) (by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri)
Chapter 12 - Apratisthana-prakasha < [Sanskrit texts of the Advayavajra-samgraha]