nirvana etymology

Etymology

  • Sanskrit: निर्वाण (nirvāṇa)

Meaning

  • "Extinguishment, cessation"
  • "Enlightenment, liberation"

Origin

The concept of nirvana originated in ancient India as part of the Buddhist and Jain religions. In both religions, nirvana refers to a state of liberation from suffering, the cycle of rebirth, and the limitations of the material world.

Buddhism

In Buddhism, nirvana is the ultimate goal of the spiritual path. It is described as a state beyond suffering, desire, and ignorance. It is achieved through the practice of the Eightfold Path, which includes right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

Jainism

In Jainism, nirvana is known as moksha and is achieved through the practice of non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), chastity (brahmacharya), and non-possessiveness (aparigraha). Nirvana in Jainism is a state of complete purity and liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

Hinduism

In Hinduism, the term nirvana is sometimes used to refer to a state of liberation similar to the Buddhist concept. However, in Hinduism, liberation is often associated with merging with the divine or Brahman, rather than with the cessation of existence.

Western Usage

The term nirvana has been adopted into the English language to refer to a state of great peace, bliss, or contentment. It is often used in a metaphorical sense to describe a state of perfect happiness or fulfillment.

nirvana relate terms

  • nirvana

    Etymology Sanskrit न र्व ण nirvāṇa Meaning Extinguishment cess

  • vent

    Etymology The word vent has Old French Latin and ultimately Proto Indo European roots

  • ventilate

    Etymology Late Latin ventilare from Latin ventus wind Proto Indo European h₂weh

  • weather

    Etymology The word weather comes from the Old English word weder which means cond

  • wind

    Etymology of Wind The English word wind originates from the Old English word wind

  • window

    Etymology Old English windōge from Proto Germanic windaugaz derived from wi

  • wing

    Etymology The word wing comes from the Old English word weng which likely originate

  • enlightenment

    Etymology The word enlightenment originates from the Middle English word enlighten w

  • paradise

    Etymology The word paradise comes from the Old Persian word pairidaēza which means

  • heaven

    Etymology The English word heaven originates from the Old English word heofon which

  • rapt

    Etymology The word rapt comes from the Latin word rapere meaning to seize or to c

  • part

    Part Etymology Middle English in the sense portion portion of a whole from Old

  • trap

    Etymology The word trap has origins in several languages Old English træppe Midd

  • ignore

    Noun cat dog tree car book Verb run jump walk talk eat Adjective big small red

  • region

    Etymology The word region derives from the Latin word regiō meaning district ter

  • beatitude

    Etymology The term beatitude comes from the Latin word beatitudo which in turn is de

  • need

    Etymology The word etymology is derived from the Greek words étymon meaning true m