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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Temple management in the Āgamas

Nityotsava (नित्योत्सव) refers to the “ritual procession around the temple” and represents one of the various upacāras (offerings), in pūjā (ritual worship), as defined in the Śaivāgamas.—Pūjā consists of offering hospitality, in the form of water to wash the feet, to drink, water for ablutions, offering a bath, new clothes, fragrant unguents, fragrant flowers and ornaments, food and so on. Each step in the pūjā process is called “saṃskāra” and each offering is called “upacāra” [viz., Nityotsava].

Nityotsava is to be performed during pūjā (ritualistic worship), according to the Arcanāvidhipaṭala of Kāmikāgama.—[After Prārthanā], then the Ācārya goes to the homamandira. It is recommended to perform the agnikārya in the īśāna corner of the pākaśālā (temple kitchen). Then the Ācārya performs nityotsava, taking the utsavamūrti out on procession around the temple prākāra to the accompaniment of vādyaghoṣa. This is followed by tāṇḍavotsava. The Ācārya then offers gandha, puṣpa once again to the śivaliṅga and gives parāṅmukhaarghya with mahāmudra. He also directs all the deities invoked in the liṅga to go back to their original positions. The Ācārya then meditates that he is one with the Lord who assumed a form and who has now left that form and is nīṣkala again.

Source: eScholarship: The descent of scripture: a history of the Kamikagama

Nityotsava (नित्योत्सव) refers to the “daily festival” (following the regular daily worship), according to the Kāmikāgama: an ancient Śaiva Āgama scripture in 12,000 Sanskrit verses dating to at least the 5th century and represented as an encyclopedic account of ritual instructions (kriyāpāda).—In modern print editions, the Kāmika-āgama is structured in two major parts. The Uttarabhāga consists of 98 chapters (paṭalas) [...] Chapters 5 to 18 present a thematic focus on festivals and other occasional rites. The section begins in Chapter 5 with a treatment of the daily festival (nityotsava) that is to follow regular daily worship.

Source: Cracow Indological Studies: Paḷḷivēṭṭa, or the ‘Royal Hunt’, in Prescriptive Literature and in Present-day Practice in Kerala

Nityotsava (नित्योत्सव) refers to “daily festivals” according to the Āgama literature.—Festivals (utsava) are an important feature of Indian temple culture. It is said the virtue of a temple depends on five different aspects: the religious austerity of the Ācārya (tapas), recitation of the Vedas (japa), following the rules as instructed in the scriptures (niyama), festivals (utsava), and the giving of food (annadāna). [...] In the ritual manuals that are produced in different regions of India, we find descriptions of various types of festival [including daily (nityotsava)].

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Nityotsava (नित्योत्सव) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—Oppert. 3801.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Nityotsava (नित्योत्सव):—[from nitya] m. ([in the beginning of a compound]) constant or regular festivals, [Rāmāyaṇa]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of [work] (also -vidhi, m.)

[Sanskrit to German]

Nityotsava in German

context information

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: Nitya, Utsava.

Starts with: Nityotsavanibandha, Nityotsavavidhi.

Full-text (+3): Nityotsavavidhi, Mauravika, Gayaka, Vamshika, Mardaka, Shuddhapuja, Mishra, Samkirna, Mishrapuja, Sankirnapuja, Shuddha, Nartaka, Paricaraka, Nityagnikarya, Pashupatamurti, Agnikaryabalipradanavidhi, Rudrakanya, Pacanalaya, Balibimba, Utsava.

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Search found 3 books and stories containing Nityotsava, Nitya-utsava; (plurals include: Nityotsavas, utsavas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Bhajana-Rahasya (by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya)

Text 18 < [Chapter 6 - Ṣaṣṭha-yāma-sādhana (Sāyaṃ-kālīya-bhajana–bhāva)]

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Manasara (English translation) (by Prasanna Kumar Acharya)

Chapter 45 - The thrones (siṃhāsana-lakṣaṇa)

Part 5 - General survey (summary of contents) < [Preface]

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Varahi Tantra (English Study) (by Roberta Pamio)

Śākta Tantras (Introduction)

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