Nimitta

By Swami Harshananda

Nimitta literally means ‘sign,’ ‘indication’.

In the most general sense, it means a ‘cause’. In the Vedānta, the two terms normally used are ‘upādāna-kāraṇa’^[1] and ‘nimitta-kāraṇa’.^[2] In the paranormal sciences, the two words commonly used are ‘nimitta’ and ‘utpāta’. Though both indicate portents, the latter stands for the evil ones whereas the former stands for both good and evil. Throbbing of a person’s limbs like eye-brows or shoulders is an example usually cited.

References[edit]

↑ Upādāna-kāraṇa means the material cause, like clay for the pot.
↑ Nimitta-kāraṇa means the efficient cause like the potter.

The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

By Swami Harshananda

Nimittakārana literally means ‘efficient cause’.

References[edit]

The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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[1] Upādāna-kāraṇa means the material cause, like clay for the pot.

[2] Nimitta-kāraṇa means the efficient cause like the potter.

[1]

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