Nihshreni, Niḥśreṇi, Niḥśreṇī: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Nihshreni means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.
The Sanskrit terms Niḥśreṇi and Niḥśreṇī can be transliterated into English as Nihsreni or Nihshreni, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramNiḥśreṇi (निःश्रेणि) refers to the “lines” (of teachers), according to the Kulakaulinīmata and the Ṭīkā (commentary) on the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] Thus the Current of Teachers, which has as its convention the Flower beginning with the five and progressing down in accord with the lines (niḥśreṇi) (of teachers) and ending with Śrīnātha [iti pañcādi adho'dhaḥkrameṇa niḥśreṇyākāragatyā śrīnāthāntāvadhiḥ], has been explained”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Source: Wisdom Library: Baudhayana DharmasutraNiḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी) refers to the “ladder” (of the Gods), according to the Baudhāyana Dharmasūtra.—Accordingly, “[...] If during six months he subsists on barley-gruel, during four months on water and barley-flour, during two months on fruit, (and) during one month on water, or performs Kṛcchra penances of twelve days, he (obtains the power of) suddenly disappearing, and sanctifies seven descendants, seven ancestors, and himself as the fifteenth, and (any) company (of Brāhmaṇas) which he may enter. They call that the ladder (niḥśreṇī) of the gods. By means of that the gods reached their divine station and the sages the position of Ṛṣis. [...]”.
Note: Govinda explains Niḥśreṇī [niḥśreṇīm] “the ladder”, by [niḥśreyasahetum]—“a cause of supreme bliss”.
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: The Agni PuranaNiḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी) and Adhirohiṇī represent (words denoting) “steps made with wood etc. for ascending”, according to the Agnipurāṇa chapter 363 (“The words denoting earth, city, forest and herbs”).
Source: Wisdom Library: Padma-purana1) Niḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी) refers to the “ladder” (of Brahmā) (having four rungs), according to the Padmapurāṇa 1.15 (“Importance of Dwelling at a sacred place—Tīrtha”).—Accordingly:—“[...] He, who, without any desire or hatred, duly follows the religious precepts in a (particular) stage of life is honoured in the next world. Brahmā has set up here a ladder (niḥśreṇī) with four rungs. One resorting to this ladder (niḥśreṇī) is honoured in Brahmā’s world. He, who knows moral merit and worldly prosperity should live with a preceptor or his son for one-fourth (span) of his life and perform the worship of Brahmā. [...]”.
2) Niḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी) refers to the “flight of steps (to heaven)” and is associated with the river Sarasvatī, according to the Padmapurāṇa 1.18 (“The greatness of Nandā-Prācī”).—Accordingly:—“[...] For people on account of their bathing in and drinking the water of Sarasvatī, she becomes the flight of steps to heaven (svarga-niḥśreṇī). Those, who, being well composed take a bath there on the eighth day (of a month), being immortal and very attractive, having reached heaven, enjoy (there). [...]”.
3) Niḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी) refers to “ladder (for climbing to the heaven)” and is associated with the river Gaṅgā, according to the Padmapurāṇa 5.85 (“Greatness of Vaiśākha”).—Accordingly:—“[...] She (i.e. Gaṅgā) has sprung up from the water (flowing) from the feet of Viṣṇu; she came (down) from Brahmā’s heaven. She is not tired (though flowing) in three streams, and she purifies the three worlds. She is a ladder for climbing to the heaven (svargārohaṇa-niḥśreṇī); she always gives joy; she removes the streams of many sins; she helps to surmount a difficulty. [...]”.
Source: Wisdom Library: Skanda-puranaNiḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी) refers to a “ladder” (made of gold), according to the Skandapurāṇa 2.2.27 (“Installation of the Four Deities”).—Accordingly: “A ladder (niḥśreṇī) made of gold and set with gems was suspended from the sky. The top of it was fixed to the footrest of the Lotus-born Lord in the aerial chariot. The bottom of it touched the earth for facilitating the descent of Brahmā. Each one of the rungs was four Vyāmas (the distance between the tips of the middle fingers when both the arms are extended on either side) long and thick. The Lord appeared at once between the aerial chariot and the Mansion like a rainbow giving out rays (of light) (and was) looked at with wonder by the people. [...]”.
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: WorldCat: Samarāṅgaṇa sūtradhāra of BhojadevaNiḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी) refers to a “wooden ladder”, according to the Samarāṅgaṇa Sūtradhāra chapter18 (“The nomenclature of Nagara or Town and the like”).—“[...] The upper roof of a house that is, that is called as Harmya. The path that constitutes its mounting process is called Sopāna a rundle or a staircase. Wherein by the faggots or wooden sticks the riding norm is created between two poles that is called a ladder (niḥśreṇī) having (structure) formed by stout stepped steppings. [...]”.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Bhagavad-gita-rahasyaNiḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी) refers to a “ladder with four steps” (in the shape of the four stages) which ultimately leads to the state of the Brahman.—Cf. Śukānupraśna in the Mahābhārata (Śāntiparvan 241.15).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: The MahavastuNiḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी) refers to a “ladder”, according to the Mahāvastu chapter III.42 (“Instructions on begging”).—Accordingly, as The Exalted One (Śākyamuni) said: “[...] A man is not a monk just because he begs alms from others. He is no monk as long as he harbours wrong states of mind. He who, living the brahma-life, regards pleasures of sense as evil, and has become a ladder (niḥśreṇī-bhūta), he, with his wisdom, is in truth said to be a monk. When he walks abroad, when he stands, when he sits, when he lies down, when he bends his body and when he straightens it, He should be restrained as he moves, restrained as he lies down. [...]”.
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Agama research group: Saṃyukta-āgama (Research)Niḥśreṇi (निःश्रेणि) (in Sanskrit; Pāli: nisseṇi) refers to a “ladder, flight of stairs”.—Cf. [... ahaṃ catuṣpadikāyā niḥśreṇyāḥi prathamaṃ niḥśreṇīpadam...]
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNiḥśreṇi (निःश्रेणि) or Niḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी).—f. A ladder, staircase; लब्ध्वापि मोक्षनिःश्रेणीं स नारोहति दुर्मतिः (labdhvāpi mokṣaniḥśreṇīṃ sa nārohati durmatiḥ) Bhāgavata 7.1.5; चक्रे त्रिदिवनिःश्रेणिः सरयूरनुयायिनाम् (cakre tridivaniḥśreṇiḥ sarayūranuyāyinām) R.15.1.
See also (synonyms): niḥśrayaṇī, niḥśrayiṇī.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryNiḥśreṇi (निःश्रेणि).—f. (-ṇiḥ-ṇī) 1. A ladder or staircase, a flight of steps. 2. The wild date tree. E. niḥ for nir implying certainty, and śreṇī a line also niśśreṇī.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNiḥśreṇi (निःश्रेणि).—and niḥśreṇī niḥ- śreṇī, i. e. nis-śri + nī, f. A ladder, Mahābhārata 12, 12058; 8838.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Niḥśreṇi (निःश्रेणि):—[=niḥ-śreṇi] [from niḥ] f(i or ī). = ni-śreṇī, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] the wild date tree, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryNiḥśreṇi (निःश्रेणि):—[niḥ-śreṇi] (ṇiḥ-ṇī) 2. 3. f. A ladder; a wild date tree.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Niḥśreṇī (निःश्रेणी) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ṇisseṇi, Ṇīseṇi.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusNiḥśrēṇi (ನಿಃಶ್ರೇಣಿ):—[noun] a device having several rungs arranged one above the other leaving convenient space in between, supported by two strong metal or wooden sidepieces, used for climbing up or down; a ladder.
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: Nihshrenibhuta, Nihshrenika, Nihshrenipushpaka.
Ends with: Kaivalyasaudhanihshreni, Svarganihshreni.
Full-text: Nishreni, Nisseni, Nihshrenipushpaka, Nihshrenika, Niseni, Adhirohini, Nihshrayini, Nihshrayani, Svargarohana, Vishrenibhuta, Vishrenikritva, Pada.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Nihshreni, Nih-shreni, Nih-sreni, Niḥ-śreṇi, Niḥ-śreṇī, Niḥśreṇi, Niḥśreṇī, Niḥśrēṇi, Nihsreni; (plurals include: Nihshrenis, shrenis, srenis, śreṇis, śreṇīs, Niḥśreṇis, Niḥśreṇīs, Niḥśrēṇis, Nihsrenis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Baudhayana Dharmasutra (by Georg Bühler)
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Bhagavad-gita-rahasya (or Karma-yoga Shastra) (by Bhalchandra Sitaram Sukthankar)