Nikshepa (निक्षेप) in Jainism primarily means "aspects" or "placements/representations" of something. It is a technical term used to describe how an object or person can be understood in four ways.

The four nikshepa (aspects) are:

• Nama: by name (the mere name or label of the object, without prescribing its qualities)
• Sthapana: by representation or image (the symbol or form that stands for the object)
• Dravya: by substance (the actual essence or substance of the object, e.g., the soul)
• Bhava: by present existence or status (the current existence or state of the object)

These four aspects are used in Jain logic to analyze and define things, and they also relate to how we understand spiritual beings (like Tirthankaras) in different ways. Different Jain texts explain nikshepa in slightly varied ways, but the core idea is this fourfold framing: name, representation, substance, and present state.