nivasa

Nivāsa (IAST: nivāsa) is a Sanskrit noun meaning abode, dwelling, or residence. It is formed from the verb vas, “to dwell,” with the prefix ni- and a nominal suffix, yielding the sense of a place where someone or something resides.

In Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Sanskrit literature, nivāsa is used to denote the dwelling place of beings—such as the abode of gods, sages, or heroes—and more generally any place where one resides. The term often appears in descriptions of temples, palaces, or sacred centers as the divine or revered figure’s nivāsa, or residence.

In modern usage, nivāsa appears as a personal name and in toponymy. Variants without diacritics include nivasa or nivāsa. The concept remains a general linguistic reference to residence and is sometimes encountered in architectural and urban planning contexts, where it may be used metaphorically to indicate the “home” or center of a community.