 The name Neminatha consists of two Sanskrit words, "Nemi" which means "rim, felly of a wheel" or alternatively "thunderbolt", and "natha" which means "lord, patron, protector".According to the Jain text "Uttarapurana", as well as the explanation of Hemachandra, it was the ancient Indian deity Indra who named the 22nd "tirthankara" as Neminatha, because he viewed the "Jina" as the "rim of the wheel of dharma".In "Svetambara" Jain texts, his name "Aristanemi" came from a dream his mother during pregnency, where she saw a "wheel of "Arista" jewels".