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nigaṇṭho

nigaṇṭha

masc nom sg of nigaṇṭha (noun)

1. Jain; naked ascetic; lit. free from ties
2. epithet of Mahāvīra; lit. free from ties

Built from

• ni — prefix · down, negation
  Prefix of removal and negation, here denying or removing bonds. Cognates: English nether, German nieder.
• gaṇṭha — root · bound, tied
  Root denoting binding or constraint. Related to Sanskrit granthi (knot); possibly from Indo-European *gwher- (bind, grasp).

Analysis. ni- (down, into; negation) + gaṇṭha (tied, bound). The word expresses the state of being bound or constrained, with ni- intensifying the sense of complete freedom from bonds—a name for those who have shed all external restraints.

Etymology. From ni- (negation/removal) + gaṇṭha (bound, tied), akin to Sanskrit granthi (knot, tie). The prefix ni- here carries its sense of removal or negation. The root likely connects to Indo-European *gwher- (to bind, grasp), cognate with English 'gnarl' and Greek 'charax' (pointed stake, fence). The Jains adopted this self-designation to emphasize their rejection of worldly bonds.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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