| nãdi |
‘Conduit’.
Nerve or channel transmitting energy within the inner bodies of
a person and interconnecting the chakras. There are said to be
72,000 nãdis in all, of which three are major. The idã
nãdi, the pingalã nãdi and the sushumnã
nãdi.
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| Nãrad
Panchrãtra |
|
| narak |
Realm to which damned sinners are consigned and compelled to suffer
at the hands of Yam, the god of death, and his servants. Often
used in the plural to signify the various infernal regions. After
serving an appropriate amount of time, based on the extent of
the sin, the jiva eventually returns to the cycle of births and
deaths.
|
| nãstik |
1) ‘Non-believer’. Opposite of ãstik.
Person who does not believe in the existence of God, or more generally,
one who is not religiously inclined.
2) Can also describe people or scriptures that
do not accept the authority and authenticity of the Vedas.
3) Often refers specifically to the Jains, who
propound that all activities and events are direct results of
karmas, but who do not accept God as the all-doer or the giver
of the respective fruits of karmas {Vartal-6, 8; Gadhada I-48,
Gadhada II-18}.
4) One who proclaims as false the moral do’s
and don’ts prescribed by the scriptures {Gadhada I-42}.
5) One who does not trust the words of greats
such as Nãrad, the Sanakãdik, Vyãs, Vãlmiki,
etc. {Gadhada II 6}.
|
| nididhyãs |
‘Constant
contemplation’, derived from ‘ni’ + verb-root
‘dhyai’ – to thoroughly contemplate or ponder.
Constant, concentrated contemplation on a subject. Repeated deep
reflection {Sãrangpur-3; Loyã-15.13}.
|
| nimish |
‘Blink’.
Duration of time equaling approximately 2/5th of a seconds, traditionally
taken to be the time taken to blink.
|
| nimitta-pralay |
1)
‘Stimulated dissolution’. Destruction of the lower
10 realms of the 14-realm system of a brahmãnd including
swarg, Mrutyulok and pãtãl. This is stimulated by
the end of the 14-manvantar day of Virãt-Purush, i.e.,
when his equally long night falls {Gadhada I-12.29; Bhugol-Khagol.12}.
See also the other three types of dissolution: nitya-pralay,
prãkruti-pralay, ãtyantik-pralay.
2) Brahmã’s deep sleep state –
when all of ishwar’s adjuncts are absorbed – which
lasts as long as his day, equivalent to 4,320,000,000 human years
{Amdavad-2}.
|
| niranna-mukta |
Literally,
‘food-less mukta’. Refers to a liberated soul of Shwetdwip,
who performs severe austerities and is said to survive there without
any food.
|
| nirgun |
1)
‘Without gunas’. Not possessing any attributes of
the three gunas – sattvagun, rajogun and tamogun –
i.e., transcends all mãyik qualities. Divine.
2) Extremely subtle {Kãriyani-8}.
|
| nirvikalp |
‘Without
alternatives or doubts’. Adjective describing faith or state
of being in which one sees only God – but no doubts or distinctions
remain whatsoever, i.e., a state of perfect realisation {Gadhada
I-39; Gadhada II-14; Loyã-12}.
|
| nirvikalp
samãdhi |
1)
Highest state of realisation, in which one sees only
God – but no doubts or distinctions remain whatsoever, i.e.,
a state of perfect realisation {Gadhada II-14; Vartal-1}.
2) The eighth and final stage – and ultimate
goal – of ashtãng-yoga.
|
| nirvishesh |
Adjective describing
that which is without any adjuncts. This describes mãyã
in her causal state when she is devoid of all of the things that
may develop from her, i.e., pruthvi, jal, tej, etc.
|
| Nitishatak |
A 100-verse
poetical scripture expounding ethical values and morals. Composed
by Bhartuhari, the famous seventh century King-turned-sannyãsi.
|
| nitya-pralay |
1)
‘Constant dissolution’. The day-to-day dying of countless
individual demigods, demons, humans and others {Gadhada I-12.29;
Bhugol-Khagol.11}. See also the other three types of dissolution:
nimitta-pralay,
prãkruti-pralay
and ãtyantik-pralay.
2) The jiva’s state of deep sleep –
when all of jiva’s adjuncts are absorbed {Amdavad-2}.
|
| nivrutti |
1)
‘Inactivity’. State of quietness and passivity, i.e.,
retirement from social duties and affairs. In this sense, often
used to refer to the path of renunciation.
2) Can also encompass retirement from all forms
of activities and responsibilities – including even religious
activities such as serving in the mandir, attending to devotees
of God, etc. – i.e., emphasizing contemplation and meditation
at the expense of devotion and service.
|
| nivrutti
dharma |
‘Dharma
characterised by nivrutti’. Path of renunciation or path
of inactivity from worldly pursuits. See:
nivrutti.
|
| niyam |
1)
Moral and spiritual disciplines, and religious codes of conduct
prescribed by God, the Satpurush, or the scriptures to protect
a devotee on the path to God. Niyams may relate to either the
observance of dharma or the observance of bhakti {Gadhada III-34.4}.
Observance of niyams keeps the devotee fit to travel closer to
God and ultimately earns the grace of God. Transgressing niyams
causes the devotee to fall from the path of God. Bhagwãn
Swãminãrãyan has outlined the basic niyams
for all of His followers in the Shikshãpatri. See
also: Shikshãpatri.
2) Second step of ashtãng-yoga, entailing
observance of religious practices and code of dharma for the control
and refinement of the mind.
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