Naciketa, Nāciketa, Naciketā: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Naciketa means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Nachiketa.
In Hinduism
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: YogaNaciketa is one of the eighty-four Siddhas associated with eighty-four Yogic postures (āsanas), according to popular tradition in Jodhpur, Rājasthān. These posture-performing Siddhas are drawn from illustrative sources known as the Nava-nātha-caurāsī-siddha from Vȧrāṇasī and the Nava-nātha-caruāsī-siddha-bālāsundarī-yogamāyā from Puṇe. They bear some similarity between the eighty-four Siddhas painted on the walls of the sanctum of the temple in Mahāmandir.
The names of these Siddhas (e.g., Naciketa) to 19th-century inscription on a painting from Jodhpur, which is labelled as “Maharaja Mansing and eighty-four Yogis”. The association of Siddhas with yogis reveals the tradition of seeing Matsyendra and his disciple Gorakṣa as the founders of haṭhayoga.
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).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaNāciketa (नाचिकेत).—(naciketa) A sage of olden days. Son of Uddālaki, he lived for a long time in the āśrama serving his father, who devoted his time to performing yajñas. Naciketa, who was once sent into the forest for flowers etc. did not find them anywhere there, and he returned to the āśrama without them. Angry at this his father cursed him to be taken to Yamaloka. Accordingly he went to Yamaloka. He waited at the gates for a long time to see Yama, who appeared at last when he sang the praises of Yama. The advice then given by Yama to Naciketa forms the Kaṭhopaniṣad. After studying the advice he returned to his father, who was pleased to find him a great scholar. (Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 71).
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.
India history and geography
Source: Wisdom Library: Teachers, Saints and SagesNaciketā (नचिकेता) refers to one of the eighty-four Siddhas (Siddhācāryas) mentioned in various sources as being representative teachers of Sahajiya Tantrism, Alchemy, Nath Sampradaya and other traditions having influence in the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayas.—Many of these Mahāsiddhas [e.g., Naciketā] were historical figures whose lives and mystical powers were the subject of legends. They are often associated with teachings belonging to Hinduism, Buddhism, Ajivikism and Jainism and are evident of a caste-less interreligious spiritual society.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNāciketa (नाचिकेत).—1 Fire; ततो मया नाचिकेतश्चितोऽग्निरनित्यैर्द्रव्यैः (tato mayā nāciketaścito'gniranityairdravyaiḥ) Kaṭha 1.2.1.
-tam Name of an उपाख्यान (upākhyāna); नाचिकेतमुपाख्यानं मृत्युप्रोक्तं सनातनम् । उक्त्वा श्रुत्वा च मेधावी ब्रह्मलोके महीयते (nāciketamupākhyānaṃ mṛtyuproktaṃ sanātanam | uktvā śrutvā ca medhāvī brahmaloke mahīyate) || Kaṭh.1.3.16.
Derivable forms: nāciketaḥ (नाचिकेतः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNaciketa (नचिकेत).—[masculine] [Name] of a man.
--- OR ---
Nāciketa (नाचिकेत).—[adjective] pertaining to Naciketa; [masculine] (±agni) a cert. sacred fire.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Naciketa (नचिकेत):—[=na-ciketa] [from na] a (metric.) (na-) m. (√4. cit) Name of a man, [Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa; Kaṭha-upaniṣad]
2) [=na-ciketa] b na-cira etc. See under 2. na, p.523.
3) Nāciketa (नाचिकेत):—mf(ī)n. relating to Naciketa or Na-ciketas, [Kaṭha-upaniṣad; Taittirīya-āraṇyaka]
4) m. (with agni) a [particular] fire, [ib.]
5) (sc. agni) any fire, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] ([wrong reading] nācikstu, or nācchiketa)
6) Name of an ancient sage (son of Uddālaki), [Mahābhārata] (cf. tri-ṇāciketa).
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Na.
Starts with: Naciketan, Naciketaprayoga, Naciketas.
Query error!
Full-text: Naciketas, Trinaciketa, Naciketaprayoga, Naciketu, Kathopanishad, Upasmriti, Ciketas, Naciketopakhyana, Vajashravas, Naciketan, Sak, Srinka, Uddalaka, Deva.
Relevant text
Search found 43 books and stories containing Naciketa, Nāciketa, Naciketā, Na-ciketa; (plurals include: Naciketas, Nāciketas, Naciketās, ciketas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Naciketa-Upakhyana as the source of the Nasiketopakhyana < [Purana, Volume 6, Part 2 (1964)]
Kathopanishad (Madhva commentary) (by Srisa Chandra Vasu)
Brahma Sutras (Ramanuja) (by George Thibaut)
Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 15 - The Test for a Brāhmaṇa deserving for Śrāddha invitation < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]
Narada Purana (English translation) (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 28 - The Description of the Rite of Śrāddha < [Part 1 - Prathama-pāda]
Chapter 3 - The Description of the Sphere of the Earth and of Bhārata < [Part 1 - Prathama-pāda]
Brahma Sutras (Nimbarka commentary) (by Roma Bose)
Brahma-Sūtra 1.4.6 < [Adhikaraṇa 1 - Sūtras 1-7]
Brahma-Sūtra 1.2.11 < [Adhikaraṇa 3 - Sūtras 11-12]
Brahma-Sūtra 3.4.50 < [Adhikaraṇa 14 - Sūtra 50]
Related products
