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 alsoHINDUJAGARAN.)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 ŸAIVITEpoet-saints, who
flourished between 700 and 1000 CEin
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 jätïsin Kerala (for example
Panikkar and Menon), who are consid-
ered ŸÜDRAS. They do not receive
upanayana (initiation) and must stay
seven feet away from a NAMBÜDRIbrah-
min. They held various service positions
with Nambüdris.Nayäyikas
Followers of the NYÄYAschool of phil-
osophy.netherworlds
SeePÄTÄLA.neti-neti
A contracted form of na iti, na iti,‘not
so, not so’, an Upani•adic expression
used to indicate the total otherness ofthe reality of brahmanas compared to
any object.nidhi (‘treasure’)
Abode, receptacle, the ocean; an epithet
of VIÆŒU.nidi-dhyäsana (‘contemplation’)
Third stage of process of meditation,
after ÿravaæaand manana.nidrä (‘sleep’)
Personified as the female form of
BRAHMÄ; as Mahänidrä, ‘great sleep’, it
marks the period between two cre-
ations, when everything is resting and
hidden inside VIÆŒU.nigama
The VEDAor a Vedic text; any authori-
tative 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 dark-
ened after drinking the poison
HALÄHALÄ; symbol of Ÿiva’s compas-
sion for the world.Nïmavat(s)
Followers of NIMBÄRKA, members of the
Haƒsa saƒpradäya, with major centres
in Braja, Bengal and Rajasthan.127 Nïmavat(s)Encyclo - Letter N 10/2/03 9:52 am Page 127