Four Nikshepas (nyāsas) are recognized in Jain philosophy as the primary ways to interpret a term or thing. They are:

• Nam Nikshep (name): the meaning given by the name itself.
• Sthapana Nikshep (representation): the thing that stands as a stand-in or picture for the real, e.g., a statue or image.
• Dravya Nikshep (substance/causation): the aspect of the thing that relates to its cause or possible form in past/future.
• Bhav Nikshep (actual state/essence): the present, intrinsic meaning or reality of the thing.

These four cover how we understand words, symbols, past/future potentialities, and current actual states. In general Jain texts present these as the four basic nikshepas; sometimes discussions note that more nuanced uses can appear, but the standard framework is these four.