Niva, Nīvā, Nivā: 13 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.
Images (photo gallery)
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
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
Niva (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.
Niva-bahal refers to one of the various Bahals (“monasteries” = Vihāras) found in Bhaktapur, situated in the Nepal Mandala (lit. “circle or country of Nepal”), the ancient name for the Kathmandu Valley. A Bahal is a type of ‘enclosed courtyard’ or ‘sacred monastery’ constructed according to traditional Newari Architecture and hence found primarily in Nepal amongst Newar communities. These buildings play a big role in maintaining the norms of their society and lifestyle. There is a common list of eighteen major such Temples (bahals) found in Bhaktapur. For example Niva-bahal.
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
nīva (नीव).—m The name of a tree, and n its fruit. 2 n C & m R A side of a sloping roof.
nīva (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
Nīva (नीव).—A species of tree.
Derivable forms: nīvaḥ (नीवः).
Nīva (नीव).—[masculine] a kind of tree.
1) Niva (निव):—[gana] brāhmaṇādi, [Kāśikā-vṛtti]
2) Nīva (नीव):—m. a species of tree, [Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa]
Nīva (नीव):—m. ein best. Baum [Gorresio 1, 5, 17.] — Vgl. nīpa .
Niva (निव):—gaṇa brāhmaṇādi in der [Kāśikā]
--- OR ---
Nīva (नीव):—m. ein best. Baum [Gobhila's Gṛyasūtra 1,7,15.]
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
1) 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
Nīva (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.
Tamil dictionary
Niva (நிவ) [nivattal] 12 intransitive verb [Old Kanarese negapu.]
1. To rise; to be elevated; to become high; உயர்தல். மாக்கட னிவந்தெழுதருஞ் செஞ்ஞாயிற்றுக் கவினை [uyarthal. makkada nivanthezhutharugn sejnayirrug kavinai] (புறநானூறு [purananuru] 4).
2. To grow; வளர்தல். ஊர்க்கால் நிவந்த பொதும்பருள் [valarthal. urkkal nivantha pothumbarul] (கலித்தொகை [kalithogai] 56).
3. To spread; படர்தல். பைங்கறி நிவந்த பலவி னீழல் [padarthal. paingari nivantha palavi nizhal] (பத்துப்பாட்டு [pathuppattu] 43).
4. To be exalted, distinguished; மேலாதல். நிலமகள் கணவன் வேந் தர் குழாத்திடை நிவந்திருந்தான் [melathal. nilamagal kanavan ven thar kuzhathidai nivanthirunthan] (சீவகசிந்தாமணி [sivagasindamani] 2566).
5. To swell, overflow, inundate; மேல்வழிதல். நிவந்தது நீத்தம் [melvazhithal. nivanthathu nitham] (பரிபாடல் [paripadal] 12, 34).
6. To appear, occur, arise; தோன்றுதல். உண்ணிவந்த கருத்து முணர்ந்தனன் [thonruthal. unnivantha karuthu munarnthanan] (கம்பராமாயணம் நகர்நீங்கு. [kambaramayanam nagarningu.] 229).
--- OR ---
Nivā (நிவா) noun A river in naṭunāṭu; நடு நாட்டிற் செல்லும் ஒரு நதி. பெருநீர் நிவாவுந்தி [nadu nattir sellum oru nathi. perunir nivavunthi] (நாலாயிர திவ்யப்பிரபந்தம் பெரியதி. [nalayira thivyappirapandam periyathi.] 3, 2, 9).
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+19): Nirvadamalli, Niva-pata, Nivaara, Nivac, Nivacam, Nivacana, Nivacanam, Nivacane, Nivacanekri, Nivacati, Nivad, Nivada, Nivadana, Nivadanem, Nivadanga, Nivadani, Nivadanna, Nivadapatra, Nivadapovada, Nivadati.
Full-text (+23): Nivas, Nivasasthana, Micchadassananivarana, Nivah, Nilavatthanivasita, Nivasa, Naivya, Niva-pata, Micchagahananivarana, Nivarana, Nivam, Swaabhaavik-nivas, Svabhavika-nivasa, Swasthya-nivas, Panya-nivas, Svasthya-nivasa, Niamsa, Panya-nivasa, Kadangi, Nripa.
Relevant text
Search found 40 books and stories containing Niva, Nīvā, Nīva, Ṇiva, Ṇīva, Nivā, Nivaa; (plurals include: Nivas, Nīvās, Nīvas, Ṇivas, Ṇīvas, Nivās, Nivaas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 371 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Page 572 < [English-Urdu-Hindi (1 volume)]
Page 932 < [English-Urdu-Hindi (1 volume)]
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]
Inscriptions of Orissa (Rajaguru) (by Shri Satyanarayana Rajguru)
Part 4 - Vrihatproshtha Grant of Umavarman < [Section 1 - South-Orissa—The Matharas and the Sri Rama-Kasyapas]
Part 24 - Patiakella plate of Sivaraja < [Section 3 - North-Orissa—The Vigrahas, Maudgalas and other Families]
Part 55 - Kama-Nalinakshapur plates of Jayavarman < [Section 2 - The Gangas of Svetaka]
Gobhila-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)