Nitya - Innate
Nitya: Innate, native, one’s own, continual, perpetual, eternal, constantly dwelling or engaged in, intent upon, devoted or used to, ordinary, usual, invariable, fixed, necessary, obligatory, the sea, ocean.
For years in the 70’s, I thought
nitya was this boring word meaning “eternal.” That’s how everyone translated it. Therefore
Nityananda meant “eternal happiness.” (eternal bliss). Yawn.
But the real meaning of the word is much more interesting. It is vast and oceanic.
Look at this immense semantic range.
Nitya - innate, native, one's own, continual, perpetual, eternal, constantly dwelling or engaged in, intent upon, devoted or used to, ordinary,usual, invariable, fixed, necessary, obligatory, the sea, ocean. And also a name of Durga.
here is the selection from the
Monier-Williams:
nitya
| (H1) | nítya [p= 547,2] [L=108337]
mf |
(ā)n. (fr. ni ; cf. ni-ja) innate , native MBh. iii , 13941
| [L=108338] |
one's own ( |
opp. to araṇa) RV.
| [L=108339] |
continual , perpetual , eternal |
RV. &c
| [L=108340] |
mfn. |
ifc. constantly dwelling or engaged in , intent upon , devoted or used to (cf. tapo-n° , dharma-n° , dhyāna-n° , śastra-n°) Mn. MBh. &c
| [L=108341] |
ordinary , usual , invariable , fixed , necessary , obligatory ( |
opp. to kāmya , naimittika &c ) Br. ?? S3rS. Mn. &c (with samāsa m. a compound the meaning of which is not expressed by its members when not compounded Pa1n2. 2-1 , 3 Sch. ; with svarita m. = jātya , the independent svarita TPra1t. ii , 8)
| (H1B) | nítya [L=108342]
m. |
the sea , ocean L.
| (H1B) | nítya [L=108344]
m. |
N. of durgā BrahmaP.
| (H1B) | nítya [L=108345]
m. |
of a śakti Tantras.
| (H1B) | nítya [L=108346]
m. |
of the goddess manasā L.
(H1B) nítya [L=108347]
n. constant and indispensable rite or act W.
nityaśas
| (H3) | nítya--śas [p= 547,3] [L=108406]
ind. |
always , constantly , eternally Mn. MBh. &c
