Nikāya
Nikāya,[Sk.nikāya,ni+kāya] collection (“body”) assemblage,class,group; 1.generally (always --°):eka° one class of beings DhsA.66; tiracchāna° the animal kingdom S.III,152; deva° the assembly of the gods,the gods D.II,261 (60); M.I,102; S.IV,180; A.III,249; IV,461; PvA.136; satta° the world of beings,the animate creation,a class of living beings S.II,2,42,44; M.I,49 (tesaṁ tesaṁ sattānaṁ tamhi tamhi s.-nikāye of all beings in each class); Vbh.137; PvA.134.-- 2.especially the coll.of Buddhist Suttas,as the 5 sections of the Suttanta Piṭaka,viz.Dīgha°,Majjhima°,Saṁyutta°,Aṅguttara° (referred to as D.M.S.A.in Dictionaryquotations),Khuddaka°; enumd PvA.2; Anvs p.35; DhA.II,95 (dhammāsanaṁ āruyha pañcahi nikāyehi atthañ ca kāraṇañ ca ākaḍḍhitvā).The five Nikāyas are enumd also at Vism.711; one is referred to at SnA 195 (pariyāpuṇāti master by heart).See further details under piṭaka.Cp.nekāyika.(Page 352)