# न्यास (nyāsa)

Canonical page: https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/nyasa

न्यास (nyāsa) is a Sanskrit word meaning putting away, taking off, or laying aside, abandoning, resigning, depositing, intrusting, delivering, any deposit or pledge, written or literal text, lowering the voice. Its 26 recorded definitions are grouped into 10 contexts, among them Placing, Applying, or Writing (Action), A Deposit or Pledge (Object), Cross-reference or Etymological Note.

- **Root:** 2. अस् (2. as)
- **SLP1:** `nyAsa`  **IAST:** nyāsa  **Devanagari:** न्यास
- **Wikipedia:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyasa_%28ritual%29
- **Declensions:** 48 forms — https://sanskritlexicon.com/word/nyasa/declensions.md

## Meanings by context

### Placing, Applying, or Writing (Action) (7 definitions)
- putting down, placing, fixing, inserting, applying, impressing, drawing, painting, or writing down  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H2) [Printed book page 572,1] न्य् - आस (ny-āsa) a m. putting down or in, placing, fixing, inserting, applying, impressing, drawing, painting, writing down, Mahābhārata (Title); Kāvya literature (Literary category) &c. ( cf. अक्षर - (akṣara-), खुर - (khura-), चरण - (caraṇa-), नख - (nakha-), पद - (pada-)., पाद - (pāda-)., बीज - (bīja-), रेखा - (rekhā-) ) [ ID=112769 ]
- 1. Setting down, planting, or putting on. 2. Insertion or impact. 3. Applying, drawing, or commitment. 4. Writing down or inscribing. 5. A written text. 6. Renunciation or laying aside. 7. A deposit. 8. Bringing forward or adduction.  
  *Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 148-3 ] न्यास (nyāsa) ni‿āsa, m. setting down, planting ( the foot ); putting on; insertion, impact; applying, drawing, commitment; writing down, inscribing; written text; renunciation; laying aside; deposit; bringing forward, adduction: -dhāraka, m. depository. [ ID=10952 ]
- 1. Placing or depositing. 2. A deposit or pledge. 3. Entrusting or delivering. 4. Painting, writing down, or stamping. 5. Abandoning or relinquishing. 6. Bringing forward or adducing. 7. Seizing with claws. 8. Mental assignment of body parts to divinities with prayers and gestures.  
  *Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 400-15 ] न्यास (nyāsa) m. 1. Placing, putting on, planting, तस्याः खुरन्यास (nyāsa) पवित्रपांसुम् (tasyāḥ khuranyāsapavitrapāṃsum) R. ii.2, K.S. vi.50; 2. depositing; 3. a deposit, a pledge, काणेलीमातः वसंतसेना तव हस्ते (kāṇelīmātaḥ vasaṃtasenā tava haste) Mrich. viii., R. xii.18; 4. entrusting, committing, delivering; 5. painting, writing down, stamp, mark; 6. giving up, abandoning, relinquishing, Bg. xviii.2; 7. bringing forward, adducing; 8. seizing, (with the claws), अतिशस्त्रनखन्यास (nyāsa) ः शैलरुग्णमतंगजः (atiśastranakhanyāsaḥ śailarugṇamataṃgajaḥ) R. xii.73; 9. mental assignment of the various parts of the body to several divinities accompanied by prayers and jesticulations. [ ID=20529 ]
- 1. Planting. 2. Striking or seizing. 3. Seizing with claws. 4. Putting on. 5. Writing down. 6. Laying aside. 7. A deposit.  
  *Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 0496-b ] न्यास (nyāsa) nyāsa, i. e. ni- 2. as + a, m. 1. Planting (as the foot), Rām. 5, 31, 60. 2. Striking in, seizing with, Ragh. 12, 73. 3. Seizing with one's claws, MBh. 12, 552. 4. Putting on, Kathās. 8, 15. 5. Writing down, Böhtl. Ind. Spr. 170. 6. Laying aside, Vikr. 87, 2; Bhag. 18, 2. 7. A deposit, Yājñ. 2, 67. — Comp. Caraṇa-, m. trace of a foot, Megh. 56. [ ID=7909 ]
- 1. Putting down, placing, or settling. 2. Writing or painting. 3. Depositing a pledge. 4. Giving up, abandoning, or renunciation.  
  *Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 287 ] न्यास (nyāsa) m. putting in, placing, settling; putting down, writing, painting; depositing, deposit, pledge ( j. ); giving up, abandoning, renunciation. [ ID=17464 ]
- a putting down or commitment  
  *Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 184-b ] nyāsa, m. a putting down, commitment. [ √2as + ni, ‘throw down.’] [ ID=2396 ]
- 1. Putting down, placing, or stepping. 2. A deposit or pledge. 3. Delivering or intrusting. 4. Painting or applying color. 5. Writing down or impressing a mark. 6. Laying aside, abandoning, or deserting. 7. Lowering the tone of the voice. 8. Adducing or bringing forward. 9. Digging in or seizing with claws. 10. Mental assignment of body parts to deities with prayers and gestures. 11. Name of a commentary on the Kashika-vritti.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 0519-a ] Ny-āsa, as, m. putting down, placing, settling, planting or putting down (the feet), stepping, a step; depositing; a deposit, pledge; delivering, intrusting, committing, delivery; putting on colour &c., painting; writing down, writing, impress, stamp, mark; giving up, putting off or away, laying aside; deserting, abandoning; lowering the tone of the voice; bringing forward, adducing; striking or digging in (the claws &c.), seizing (with the claws); con- signing or intrusting anything to the mind; mental appropriation or assignment of various parts of the body to tutelary divinities (accompanied with certain prayers and gesticulations); N. of a commentary on the Kāśikā-vṛtti by Jinendra. —Nyāsa-dhārin, ī, m. the holder of a deposit, a mortgagee. —Nyāsā- pahnava (°sa-ap°), as, m. repudiation of a deposit. —Nyāsī-kṛ, cl. 8. P. A. -karoti, -kurute, -kar- tum, to make a deposit, deposit anything with a person. —Nyāsoddyota (°sa-ud°), as, m., N. of a grammatical work. [ ID=26599 ]

### A Deposit or Pledge (Object) (4 definitions)
- any deposit or pledge  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > any deposit or pledge, Manu-smṛti (Title); Yājñavalkya (Author); Mahābhārata (Title) &c. [ ID=112773 ]
- 1. A deposit or pledge. 2. Deserting or abandoning. 3. Delivering or presenting. 4. Consigning something to the mind. 5. Mental assignment of body parts to deities with prayers and gestures.  
  *Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 489 ] न्यास (nyāsa) m. ( - सः (-saḥ) ) 1 A deposit, a pledge. 2 Deserting, abandoning. 3 Delivering, presenting. 4 Mental delivering, consigning or entrusting any thing to the mind. 5 Mental appropriation or assignment of various parts of the body to tutelary divinities, accompanied with certain prayers and gesticulations. E. नि (ni) before अस (asa) to throw or cast away, aff. घञ् (ghañ). [ ID=22690 ]
- 1. A deposit or pledge. 2. A deserting. 3. Delivering to another or to memory.  
  *Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 436-b ] न्यास (nyāsa) ( सः ) ((saḥ)) 1. m. A deposit or pledge; a deserting; a delivering to another or to memory. [ ID=22163 ]
- 1. A deposit or pledge. 2. Deserting or abandoning. 3. Delivering or presenting. 4. Mental entrusting to the mind. 5. Mental assignment of body parts to deities with prayers and gestures. 6. Painting, stamp, or mark. 7. Bringing forward. 8. Seizing with claws.  
  *Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 409-b ] न्यास (nyāsa) m. ( - सः (-saḥ) ) 1. A deposit, a pledge. 2. Deserting, abandoning. 3. Delivering, presenting. 4. Mental delivering, consigning or entrusting any thing to the mind. 5. Mental appropriation or assignment of various parts of the body to tutelary divinities. accompanied with certain prayers and gesticulations. 6. Painting, stamp, mark. 7. Bringing forward. 8. Seizing. (with the claws.) E. नि (ni) before, अस् (as) to throw or cast away, aff. कर्मणि, भावे वा घञ् (karmaṇi, bhāve vā ghañ). [ ID=22675 ]

### Cross-reference or Etymological Note (3 definitions)
- See under ny-as  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (H1) [Printed book page 573,1] न्य् - आस (ny-āsa) b &c. See under न्य् - अस् (ny-as). [ ID=112963 ]
- See under nyas.  
  *Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 0653-c ] न्यास (nyāsa), न्यास (nyāsa) िन् (nyāsa, nyāsin) &c. See under न्यस् (nyas). [ ID=17523 ]
- See under nyas.  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872)*
  > [Printed book page 0519-c ] न्यास (nyāsa) ny-āsa. See under ny-as, col. 1. [ ID=26611 ]

### Abandoning, Renouncing, or Laying Aside (2 definitions)
- putting away, taking off, or laying aside  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > putting away, taking off, laying aside, Mahābhārata (Title); Harivaṃśa (Title); Daśakumāra-carita (Title); Bhāgavata-purāṇa (Title) ( cf. देह - (deha-), शरीर - (śarīra-), शस्त्र - (śastra-) ) [ ID=112770 ]
- abandoning, resigning  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > abandoning, resigning, Upaniṣad (Literary category); Bhagavad-gītā (Title); Bhāgavata-purāṇa (Title) [ ID=112771 ]

### Depositing, Entrusting, or Delivering (Act) (2 definitions)
- depositing, intrusting, delivering  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > depositing, intrusting, delivering [ ID=112772 ]
- consigning or intrusting anything to the mind  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > consigning or intrusting anything to the mind, Horace H. Wilson, author of first Sanskrit-English dictionary in 1819 (Author) [ ID=112778 ]

### Proper Name (Work, Person, etc.) (2 definitions)
- Name of several works, especially a commentary on the Kashika-vritti  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > N. of sev. works., ( esp. ) of a Comm. on Kāśikā-vṛtti (Title) [ ID=112780 ]
- a Saimhikeya  
  *The Purana Index*
  > Nyāsa — a Saimhikeya. Vā. 68. 18. [ ID=7393 ]

### Ritualistic Assignment or Consecration (2 definitions)
- mental appropriation or assignment of various parts of the body to tutelary deities  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > mental appropriation or assignment of various parts of the body to tutelary deities, Religious Thought and Life in India, also called ’Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ by Sir M. Monier-Williams (Title) 205 &c. [ ID=112779 ]
- in connection with the installation of an image  
  *The Purana Index*
  > न्यास (nyāsa) [Printed book page 2-269 ] Nyāsa(mantra) — in connection with the installation of an image; eg. Ratnanyāsa for the eight directions: diamond, pearl, vaiḍūrya, conch, spaṭika, puṣparāga, indranīla and nīla; pastes of eight kinds: tālaka, śilāvajra, collyrium, śyāma, kañji, kāśi, mākṣikam, and gairikam; grains of eight kinds: wheat, barley, seasamum, mudga, nīvāra, śyāmaka, sarṣapa, and vrīhirice, scents like sandal, red sandal, agaru, añjanam, uśīram, vaiṣṇavī sahadevī, and Lakṣmaṇa; metals of eight kinds: gold, vidruma, copper, bronze, ārakūṭaka, silver, puṣpam and iron. Then the worship of the Lokhapālas with Nyāsamantras. M. 266. 9-29. [ ID=7392 ]

### Technical Usage (Voice, Music) (2 definitions)
- lowering the voice  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > lowering (the voice), Ṛg-veda-prātiśākhya (Title) [ ID=112775 ]
- the final tone  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > (in music) the final tone [ ID=112776 ]

### Introducing or Presenting (Argument/Topic) (1 definition)
- bringing forward, introducing  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > bringing forward, introducing ( cf. अर्था (arthā) न्तर (ntara).) [ ID=112777 ]

### Written Text or Literal Inscription (1 definition)
- written or literal text  
  *Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899)*
  > written or literal text ( cf. यथा - न्यासम् (yathā-nyāsam) ), Patañjali (Author) [ ID=112774 ]

## Sources

Definitions from Apte Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Lanman's Sanskrit Reader Vocabulary; Macdonell Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1872); Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary (1899); Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary; The Purana Index; Vaidya Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Wilson Sanskrit-English Dictionary; Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary.
Text from the Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon, University of Cologne.

The Sanskrit Lexicon app for iPhone, iPad and Mac: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sanskrit-lexicon-dictionary/id6746787546