Nadi Kashyapa (Nadī Kāśyapa) A disciple of Shakyamuni and one of the Kashyapa brothers.
Narayana (Nārāyaṇa) Another name for the god Vishnu (Viṣṇu) in Indian mythology. Incorporated into Buddhism as a protective deity, he is represented in Buddhist scriptures as possessing great physical strength.
nayuta A numerical unit, defined differently in different texts but clearly indicating an extremely large number.
nine devices Also nine divisions of the scriptures. The totality of Shakyamuni’s teachings classified according to style and content. See also twelve divisions of the sutra.
nirvana (nirvāṇa) The word, which means “becoming extinguished” or “blown out,” indicates the state in which one has escaped from the cycle of birth and death. In Mahayana Buddhism, it is taken to mean awakening to the true nature of phenomena, or the perfection of buddha wisdom. In Hinayana teaching there are two types of nirvana. First is that of the arhat who has eliminated all illusions and will no longer be reborn in the six paths, but still possesses a body. This is called the nirvana of remainder. Second is that which the arhat achieves at death, when both body and mind are extinguished. This is called the nirvana of no remainder or complete nirvana.
non-returner (Skt anāgāmin) One of the four kinds of voice-hearers. A non-returner is a voice-hearer who no longer has to return to the world of human beings. See also four-stage enlightenment.