Nava¹

(num.) number nine. gen
■ dat. navannaṃ (Snp.p.87) instr
■ abl. navahi (Vv-a.76), loc. navasu.

Meaning and Application: The primitive-Aryan importance of the “mystic” nine is not found in Buddhism and can only be traced in Pali in folkloristic undercurrents (as fairy tales) & stereotype traditions in which 9 appears as a number implying a higher trinity = 3²

1. navabhūmaka pāsāda (a palace 9 stories high more freq. satta˚, 7) Ja.i.58; nava-hiraññakoṭīhi (w. 9 koṭis of gold) Vv-a.188; nava yojana Dhp-a.ii.65.
2. navangabuddhasāsana “the 9 fold teaching of Buddha,” i.e. the 9 divisions of the Buddh. Scriptures according to their form or style, viz. suttaṃ geyyaṃ veyyākaraṇaṃ gāthā udānaṃ itivuttakaṃ jātakaṃ abbhutadhammaṃ vedallaṃ MN.i.133; AN.ii.103, AN.ii.178; AN.iii.86 sq., AN.iii.177 sq.; Pp.43; Mil.344; Dpvs.iv.15; Pv-a.2. Cp. chaḷanga
   ■ nava sattāvāsā “9 abodes of beings” Kp iv. (in exemplifying No. 9), viz. (see DN.iii.263 = Kp-a.86, Kp-a.87 cp. also AN.iv.39 sq.) 1 manussā, devā, vinipātikā; 2 Brahmakāyikā devā; 3 Ābhassarā; 4 Subhakiṇhā; 5 Asaññasattā; 6 Ākāsanañcâyatana-upagā; 7 Viññāṇanañcâyatana˚; 8 Ākiñcaññāyatana˚; 9 Nevasaññâsaññâyatana˚-nava sotā (Snp.197) or nava dvārā (Vv-a.76; variant reading mukhā), 9 openings of the body, viz (Snp-a.248), 2 eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, anus & urethra (cp.; S.B.E. 39, 180; 40, 259 sq.)
   ■ nava vitakkā 9 thoughts Cnd.269 (q.v.).
3. a trace of the week of 9 days is to be found in the expression “navuti-vassasatasahass-āyukā” giving the age of a divinity as 9 million years (= a divine week) Vv-a.345
   ■ Cp navuti.

Ved. navan, Idg. *neṷn̊, cp. Lat. novem (*noven), Gr. ἐννέα, Goth. niun, Oir. nōin, E. nine Connection with nava² likely because in counting by tetrads (octo = 8 is a dual!) a new series begins with No. 9

Nava²

adjective

1. new, fresh; unsoiled, clean of late, lately acquired or practised (opp. pubba purāṇa). Often syn. with taruṇa. Snp.28, Snp.235 (opp purāṇaṃ), Snp.944 (id.), Snp.913 (opp. pubba); Pv.i.9#2 (of clothes = costly); Ja.iv.201 (opp. purāṇa); Mil.132 (salila fresh water).
2. young, unexperienced, newly initiated; a novice Vin.i.47 (navā bhikkhū the younger bhs., opp. therā); SN.i.9 (+ acira-pabbajita); SN.ii.218 Snp.p.93 (Gotamo navo pabbajjāya “a novice in the Wanderer’s life”); Dhp-a.i.92 (bhikkhu).

• -kamma building new, making repairs, “doing up, mending Vin.ii.119, Vin.ii.159; Vin.iii.81; Ja.i.92; Ja.iv.378; Cnd.385;
• -kammika an expert in making repairs or in building, a builder (cp. vaḍḍhaki) Vin.ii.15; Vin.iv.211;
• -ghata fresh ghee Ja.ii.433 (variant reading ˚sappi).

Ved. nava, Idg. *neṷn̊ (cp. nava¹) = Lat. novus, Gr. νέος (*νέvος), Lith. navas; Goth. niujis etc. = E. new; also Sk. navya = Gr. νεϊος, Lat. Novius May be related to na³