A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

127 Nïmavat(s)
of them affiliated with the RÄÆfiRÏYA
SVAYAMSEVAK SANGH, and Hindu
political parties have been pressing for a
long time for the establishment of a
Hindu rä•flra, claiming that HINDUTVA,
Hindu-ness, is the very essence of India’s
identity. (See also HINDU JAGARAN.)
navarätrï (‘nine nights’)
The main feast in honour of ŸIVA, when
a nightlong vigil is kept before the
LI¢GA (3).
Näyaæ(m)är(s) (‘teachers’)
A group of 63 ŸAIVITE poet-saints, who
flourished between 700 and 1000 CE in
South India, whose Tamil works,
known as Tirumurai, are recited in Ÿiva
temples. The Näyaæmärs disregarded
distinctions of sex, caste or creed and
among them were brahmins, oil sellers,
toddy collectors, kings and princesses.
(See also APPAR, MANIKKAVACAKAR,
TIRUMULAR.)
Näyar, also Näir, Näyyar
A group of jätïs in Kerala (for example
Panikkar and Menon), who are considered
ŸÜDRAS. They do not receive
upanayana (initiation) and must stay
seven feet away from a NAMBÜDRI brahmin.
They held various service positions
with Nambüdris.
Nayäyikas
Followers of the NYÄYA school of philosophy.
netherworlds
See PÄTÄLA.
the reality of brahman as compared to
any object.
nidhi
(‘treasure’)
Abode, receptacle, the ocean; an epithet
of VIÆŒU.
nidi-dhyäsana (‘contemplation’)
Third stage of process of meditation,
after ÿravaæa and manana.
nidrä (‘sleep’)
Personified as the female form of
BRAHMÄ; as Mahänidrä, ‘great sleep’, it
marks the period between two creations,
when everything is resting and
hidden inside VIÆŒU.
nigama
The VEDA or a Vedic text; any authoritative
scripture.
Nighaæflu
Part of the NIRUKTA, one of the Vedäögas;
a glossary of obsolete and obscure Vedic
words, attributed to Yäska.
Nïla
(‘blue’)
A range of mountains north of Mount
MERU.
Nïla-kaæflha, also Nïla-grïva
(‘blue-necked’ or ‘blue-throated’)
An epithet of ŸIVA, whose throat darkened
after drinking the poison
HALÄHALÄ; symbol of Ÿiva’s compassion
for the world.
neti-neti
A contracted form of na iti, na iti, ‘not
so, not so’, an Upani•adic expression
used to indicate the total otherness of
Nïmavat(s)
Followers of NIMBÄRKA, members of the
Haƒsa saƒpradäya, with major centres
in Braja, Bengal and Rajasthan.