Nishkala, Niṣkala, Niṣkalā, Nitkala: 23 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Shilpashastra
2. Shaivism
3. Purana
4. Kavya
5. Shaktism
6. Yoga
7. Pancaratra
8. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Nishkala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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.

The Sanskrit terms Niṣkala and Niṣkalā can be transliterated into English as Niskala or Nishkala, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Wisdom Library: Elements of Hindu Iconograpy

Niṣkalā (निष्कला):—In this state all created beings merge their bodies, which they had obtained for the purpose of the enjoyment of actions of the pure and impure kinds, in the primeval cause, and therein suppress all activities. In the niṣkalā state the Supreme Being has no beginning, no limit or boundary and is pervvading everywhere, is indestructible, incomparable, extremely subtle and supreme, and is unknowable by any mode of proof.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kubjikāmata-tantra

Niṣkalā (निष्कला):—Second of the eight Mātṛs born from the body of Ātmī, according to the Kubjikāmata-tantra. These eight sub-manifestations (mātṛ) symbolize the different kinds of souls, as well as the impurities by which these souls are bound (except for Niṣkala or Śiva). They are presided over by the Bhairava Caṇḍa and his consort Brāhmī. Ātmī is the second of the Eight Mahāmātṛs, residing within the Mātṛcakra (third of the five cakras) and represents the ātman.

Source: Archaeological Survey of India: Śaiva monuments at Paṭṭadakal (śaivism)

Niṣkala (निष्कल, “formless”).—According to the Vidyeśvarasaṃhitā of the Śivapurāṇa:—“Śiva alone is glorified as Niṣkala (nameless and formless) since He is identical with supreme Brahman. He is also Sakala as he has an embodied form. He is both Sakala and Niṣkala. It is in his Niṣkala aspect that the Liṅga is appropriate”. The text continues further: “Since He has the Sakala and Niṣkala aspects He is worshipped both in the form of Liṅga and in the embodied form by the people and is called the highest Brahman. Other deities, not being Brahman, have no Niṣkala aspect anywhere.” So according to the Śivapurāṇa a Liṅga installed in the sanctum is a representation of niṣkala, formless aspect of Śiva.

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

Niṣkala (निष्कल).—Śivatattva represents his Niṣkala form. It is identical with him. Śiva is eternal (nitya) higher than the highest (parātpara), omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, pure, uncomparable (anaupamya), the cause of the cause (kāraṇa-kāraṇa). For the benefit of the world Śiva conceives a spontaneous idea, which results in the manifestation of Śakti from his one- thousandth part. Then comes Parā, Ādi, Icchā and Kriyāśakti, each succeeding from the 1/1000 part of the preceeding one. All these Śaktis are Niṣkala. This is Śivasṛṣṭi.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Niṣkala (निष्कल) [=Niṣkalatā?] refers to the “Formless”, according to the Īśvarapratyabhijñāvimarśinī (KSTS vol. 65, 331).—Accordingly, “The state of turyātīta taught [above] with reference to that [blossoming of insight] is simply the [further] extension of the realization of the state called turya. But that state of turyātīta was taught there as a state of awareness in which Void etc. remain [as objective knowables], but is separated [from them]. This is the state referred to as ‘the pure Self,’ ‘the Formless,’ (niṣkalatā) and ‘pure Consciousness’ in the Saiddhāntika scriptures. It is taught with reference to those who know the Deity solely as [being] all-transcendent; so [Utpaladeva] indicates [in his Vivṛti]”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Niṣkala (निष्कल) refers to “without parts” and is used to describe Viṣṇu, 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 13.1-9, while describing the appearance and worship of Viṣṇu]—“Or, [the Mantrin] worships a very handsome, eight-armed, yellow Deva. [...] He remembers [Viṣṇu’s] many forms. Thus, he thinks [of him] with a collection of many faces, many weapons and [many] arms [i.e., the cosmic Viṣṇu], reclining, taking a wife, joined with Lakṣmī, alone, [as] Narasiṃha, Varāha, or Vāmana, Kapila, or an honorable man, unadorned, or even without parts (niṣkala—cāvyaktaḥ vāpi niṣkalaḥ). [...]”.

context information

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 Translation

Niṣkala (निष्कल) and Sakala both refer to epithets of Śiva, as explained in the Śivapurāṇa 1.5.—Accordingly, “Śiva alone is glorified as Niṣkala (nameless and formless) since He is identical with supreme Brahman. He is also Sakala as He has an embodied form. He is both Sakala and Niṣkala. It is in his Niṣkala aspect that the liṅga is appropriate. In the Sakala aspect the worship of his embodied form is appropriate. Since He has the Sakala and Niṣkala aspects He is worshipped both in the phallic and in the embodied form by the people and is called the highest Brahman. Other deities, not being Brahman, have no Niṣkala aspect anywhere”.

context information

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.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: archive.org: Naisadhacarita of Sriharsa

Niṣkala (निष्कल) refers to “inarticulate” (a musical term), and is mentioned in the Naiṣadha-carita 21.126.

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Niṣkalā (निष्कला) refers to “she who is without parts”, according to the commentary on the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—The Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā stresses that the fifth sacred seat [i.e., Mātaṅga] is unmanifest and hence pervasive. Present in the other seats, it has no specific location of its own. The aspect the goddess assumes here is her undifferentiated form ‘without parts’ (niṣkalā). The Kubjikāmatatantra says that it is the source of the universe. As the universal, primal cause is commonly considered to be the ‘unmanifest’, the two sources implicitly agree.

2) Niṣkala (निष्कल) refers to one of the eight Bhairavas (bhairavāṣṭaka) associated with Oṃkārapīṭha (also called Oḍḍiyāna, Ādipīṭha or Uḍapīṭha), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight Bhairavas (bhairavāṣṭaka): Niṣkala, Asitāṅga, Saṃvarta, Ānandabhairava, Niṣtaraṅga, Karāla, Amogha, Khecara.

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.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

1) Niṣkala (निष्कल) refers to “that which has no aspects”, and is used to describe Samādhi and Paratattva (highest reality), according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise which deals absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—The Amanaska referred to (or qualified) Samādhi with several terms, which are all negative; [e.g., it has no aspects (niṣkala);] [...] The fact that such terminology is found in the Amanaska indicates that descriptions of Śiva and the void-like meditative states in Mantramargic Śaivism, were the basis of the descriptions of Samādhi and Paratattva (the highest reality) in this treatise. The Amanaska Yoga was consistent with the Pātañjala Yogaśāstra’s definition of Yoga, yet it described Samādhi in terms different to those of Pātañjalayoga; such as Niṣkala—“that which has no aspects”.

2) Niṣkalā (निष्कला) refers to an “aspectless” (state), according to the Brahmayāmala-tantra (or Picumata), an early 6th century Śaiva text consisting of twelve-thousand verses.—Accordingly, while describing meditation (dhyāna) and samādhi: “[...] Therefore, [the Yogin] should perform meditation on the region in his heart, the navel, †[...]† [and] Bindu, [then] withdraw his mind into Śakti. In that way, an absorption [arises] in that no-mind, aspectless (niṣkalā) and highest state. He meditates in [that no-mind] state until impartiality [arises] in regard to the object of meditation. O goddess, when his [higher] faculty of discernment has become impartial to all the Tattvas, it is here called samādhi, distinguished by absorption in those [Tattvas]”.

context information

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).

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

1a) Niṣkala (निष्कल) refers to a subdivision of the Vānaprastha group of initiates, as discussed in chapter 5 of the Brahmarātra section of the Sanatkumārasaṃhitā: an encyclopedic Sanskrit text written in over 3500 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as yoga, temple-building, consecration ceremonies, initiation and dhanurveda (martial arts).—Description of the chapter [varṇa-ācāra-vidhi]: Sanatkumāra says that only five groups [Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas and Śūdras and Sūtas] are eligible for dīkṣā-initiation. Those who were initiated by cakramaṇḍala means are further generally distinguished according to one or another of the āśrama-stages. The initiates who are known as Vānaprasthas has four subdivisions, namely Vaikhānasas, Tantrins, Gurus, and Niṣkalas .

1b) Niṣkala (निष्कल) refers to a class of persons for whom their “behavior” is discussed in the fourth chapter of the Kapiñjalasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra work consisting of 1550 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as worship in a temple, choosing an Ācārya, architecture, town-planning and iconography.—Description of the chapter [samayācāra-vidhi]:—For each of the four castes and for pratilomakas and sūtakas as well as for any of the four āśramas certain modes of behavior are expected; further, all of these persons are eligible for saṃskāras (1-4). [...] Such terms as [e.g., niṣkala] [...] are defined (5-21a). The remainder of the chapter deals with general principles of conduct common to all these persons—prāṇāhuti, japa, etc. (21b-24a).

2) Niṣkala (निष्कल) refers to the “formless state” of the Lord (Śrī-Bhagavān), as discussed in the fourth chapter of the Jayākhyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra Āgama text composed of 4500 verses in 33 chapters dealing with topics such as mantra (formulas), japa (repetitions), dhyāna (meditations), mudrā (gesticulations), nyāsa (concentrations) etc.—Description of the chapter [śuddhasarga-brahmatattva-ākhyāna]:—[...] Nārada asks further how Vāsudeva performs His threefold activities. Śrībhagavān replies that by His own powers of concentration He allows His bhaktas to achieve emancipation through mantras. These mantras He has given, mantras pointing both to His formless state [niṣkala] and to His manifested forms [sakala]. The latter [kind of mantras [sakala] give enjoyment; the former kind of mantras [niṣkala] give mokṣa (release) (26b-33). Nārada asks to know more about mantras and their practice by virtue [vīrya] of which one is led to emancipation. [...]

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: A History of Indian Philosophy

According to the Vatula-tantra, Śiva is called niṣkala when all His kalās, that is parts or organs or functions, are concentrated in a unity within Him. In further defining the nature of niṣkalatva, the author says that when the pure and impure elements that contribute to experience are collected together and merged in the original cause, and remain there as the budding cause of all powers that are to develop the universe, we have the niṣkala stage. The commentator supports this idea by quotations from many texts.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

niṣkaḷa (निष्कळ).—a unc Destitute of kaḷā, wanting lustre, splendor, sprightliness, freshness, vigor.

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

Niṣkala (निष्कल).—a. inarticulate (a musical term); N.21.126.

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

Niṣkala (निष्कल).—mfn.

(-laḥ-lā-laṃ) 1. Waned, diminished. 2. Impotent, seedless, barren. m.

(-laḥ) 1. Pudendum muliebre. 2. A name of Bramha. 3. A fancied personification of Bramha, for religious cere monies. f. (-lā or -lī) A woman past child bearing, in whom menstruation has ceased. E. nir gone, lost, kala a part &c.

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

Niṣkalā (निष्कला).—adj., f. lā, 1. undivided, Mahābhārata 13, 1044. 2. maimed, infirm, Mahābhārata 3, 13851. Sa-kala, adj. f. lā, 1. whole, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 95. 2. all, [Pañcatantra] 53, 21; 55, 12.

Niṣkalā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nis and kalā (कला).

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

Niṣkala (निष्कल).—[adjective] without parts, undivided; maimed, impotent, barren.

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

1) Niṣkala (निष्कल):—[=niṣ-kala] [from niṣ > niḥ] mfn. without parts, undivided, [Upaniṣad; Mahābhārata] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] waned, diminished, decayed, infirm, [Mahābhārata; Daśakumāra-carita]

3) [v.s. ...] seedless, impotent, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) [v.s. ...] m. an old man, [Horace H. Wilson]

5) [v.s. ...] Name of Śiva, [Śivagītā, ascribed to the padma-purāṇa]

6) [v.s. ...] a receptacle, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

7) [v.s. ...] pudendum muliebre, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) [v.s. ...] f(ā or ī). ([gana] gaurādi) a woman past childbearing or menstruation, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

Niṣkala (निष्कल):—[ni-ṣkala] (laḥ-lā-laṃ) a. Waned; impotent; full, without parts (God). m. Pudendum muliebre; Brahmā. f. A woman past child-bearing.

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

Niṣkala (निष्कल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ṇikkala.

[Sanskrit to German]

Nishkala 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Niṣkala (ನಿಷ್ಕಲ):—[adjective] complete; whole; perfect.

--- OR ---

Niṣkala (ನಿಷ್ಕಲ):—

1) [noun] the Absolute Being; the God.

2) [noun] that which has lost its strength and has become weak.

3) [noun] a producing very subtle sound on vīṇe, the Indian lute.

4) [noun] (mus.) one of the quarter-tones of ಸ(ಷಡ್ಜ [shadja]), the first note (corresponding to C in Western system).

--- OR ---

Niṣkaḷa (ನಿಷ್ಕಳ):—[adjective] = ನಿಷ್ಕಲ [nishkala]1.

--- OR ---

Niṣkaḷa (ನಿಷ್ಕಳ):—[noun] = ನಿಷ್ಕಲ [nishkala]2.

context information

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

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Search found 60 books and stories containing Nishkala, Ni-shkala, Ni-ṣkala, Ni-skala, Nis-kala, Nis-kalā, Niṣ-kala, Nish-kala, Niṣkaḷa, Niskala, Niṣkala, Niṣkalā, Nitkala, Niṭkala; (plurals include: Nishkalas, shkalas, ṣkalas, skalas, kalas, kalās, Niṣkaḷas, Niskalas, Niṣkalas, Niṣkalās, Nitkalas, Niṭkalas). 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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