The Sanskrit term Niśārdha can be transliterated into English as Nisardha or Nishardha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Niśārdha (निशार्ध) refers to “midnight”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 11), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “Padma Ketu is a comet white like the stem of the lotus. If it appears only for a night, there will be joy and happiness in the land for 7 years. Āvarta Ketu is a comet of red colour; it appears in the west at mid-night [i.e., niśārdha] with its tail pointing to the south and it is glossy. There will be happiness in the land for as many months as the number of kṣaṇas (four minutes) for which it continues to be visible”.

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Niśārdha (निशार्ध) refers to the “middle of the night”, according to 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, [while discussing the Hagiography of Siddha Bauddhadeva]: “[...] O Bhairava, (such was) the kingdom Mahīpāla (enjoyed) for a hundred years. O fair faced one, (the goddess) ordered (him) in the middle of the night (niśārdha): ‘O wise one, if you desire liberation, practice severe austerity’. Then the king woke up and the supreme thought came (to his mind). Having recollected the god with (his) blissful mind, (the king) went to the shore (of the nearby sea). [...]”.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Ardha, Nish, Nica.

Starts with: Nishardhakala.

Full-text: Nishardhakala, Ardhanisha.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Nishardha, Niśārdha, Niśā-ardha, Nisha-ardha, Nisardha, Nisa-ardha; (plurals include: Nishardhas, Niśārdhas, ardhas, Nisardhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Yavanajataka by Sphujidhvaja [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)

Verse 1.86 < [Chapter 1 - The Innate Nature of the Zodiac Signs and Planets]

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