Niva, Nīvā, Nivā: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Niva means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, Tamil. 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.
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In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)Niva (निव) [?] [or Nisa, Nikusa, Nikuva ?] (in Chinese: Ni[Kiu]-so[p'o]) is the name of an ancient kingdom associated with Mṛgaśiras or Mṛgaśirasnakṣatra, as mentioned in chapter 18 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—Chapter 18 deals with geographical astrology and, in conversation with Brahmarāja and others, Buddha explains how he entrusts the Nakṣatras [e.g., Mṛgaśiras] with a group of kingdoms [e.g., Niva] for the sake of protection and prosperity.
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.
India history and geography
Source: Wisdom Library: India HistoryNiva (or, Nīvā) refers to one of the 84 castes (gaccha) in the Jain community according to Mr. P. D. Jain. The Jain caste and sub-caste system was a comparatively later development within their community, and it may have arisen from the ancient classification of Brāhmaṇa, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra. Before distinction of these classes (such as Niva), the society was not divided into distinct separate sections, but all were considered as different ways of life and utmost importance was attached to individual chartacter and mode of behaviour.
According to Dr. Vilas Adinath Sangava, “Jainism does not recognise castes (viz., Niva) as such and at the same time the Jaina books do not specifically obstruct the observance of caste rules by the members of the Jaina community. The attitude of Jainism towards caste is that it is one of the social practices, unconnected with religion, observed by people; and it was none of its business to regulate the working of the caste system” (source).
The legendary account of the origin of these 84 Jain castes (e.g., Niva) relate that once a rich Jain invited members of the Jain community in order to establish a vaiśya-mahāsabhā (i.e. Central Association of Traders). In response, 84 representatives came from different places, and they were later seen as the progenitors of these castes. Various sources however mention differences in the list.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarynīva (नीव).—m The name of a tree, and n its fruit. 2 n C & m R A side of a sloping roof.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishnīva (नीव).—m The name of a tree. and n its fruit. n m A side of a sloping roof.
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 dictionaryNīva (नीव).—A species of tree.
Derivable forms: nīvaḥ (नीवः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNīva (नीव).—[masculine] a kind of tree.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Niva (निव):—[gana] brāhmaṇādi, [Kāśikā-vṛtti]
2) Nīva (नीव):—m. a species of tree, [Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa]
[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.
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Ṇiva (णिव) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Nṛpa.
2) Ṇīva (णीव) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Nīpa.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusNīva (ನೀವ):—[noun] = ನೀವೆ [nive].
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 (+256): Nirvadamalli, Niva-pata, Nivaara, Nivac, Nivacam, Nivacana, Nivacane, Nivacanekri, Nivacati, Nivachane, Nivaci, Nivad, Nivada, Nivadana, Nivadanem, Nivadanga, Nivadani, Nivadanna, Nivadapatra, Nivadapovada.
Ends with: Amaniva, Aniva, Baniva, Dagdhagniva, Hivaniva, Janiva, Maniva, Mridyamaniva, Neniva, Nivaniva, Padibhaniva, Paniva, Pinniva, Raniva, Suniva, Univa.
Full-text (+6): Nivas, Naivya, Nivasa, Nivarana, Nripa, Nivam, Nipa, Niamsa, Niva-pata, Panya-nivas, Kadangi, Damoshnisha, Niv, Nivantalem, Purampu, Nisa, Nikuva, Nikusa, Nivata, Pratiprashrabdhi.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Niva, Nīvā, Nivā, Nīva, Ṇiva, Ṇīva; (plurals include: Nivas, Nīvās, Nivās, Nīvas, Ṇivas, Ṇīvas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.4.337 < [Chapter 4 - Descriptions of Śrī Acyutānanda’s Pastimes and the Worship of Śrī Mādhavendra]
Mudrarakshasa (literary study) (by Antara Chakravarty)
2.11. Use of Hariṇī metre < [Chapter 4 - Employment of Chandas in Mudrārākṣasa]
Early Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Temples in Melpadi < [Chapter IX - Temples of Rajaraja I’s Time]
Middle Chola Temples (by S. R. Balasubrahmanyam)
Temples in Melpadi < [Chapter II - Temples of Rajaraja I’s Time]
Gobhila-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 74 - Thirunelvayil Arathurai or Tirunelvayil Aratturai (Hymn 3) < [Volume 3.6 - Pilgrim’s progress: away from Otriyur and Cankili]
Introduction < [Volume 3.6 - Pilgrim’s progress: away from Otriyur and Cankili]
Chapter 1 - Nature Mysticism < [Volume 4.2.1 - Philosophy of Nature]