Nila Devi

2021-08-13T15:18:48Z

2409:4072:649D:D61F:2DCD:8EA7:4B58:4FB2:

{{Short description|regional Hindu goddess, a consort of Vishnu}}
{{Infobox deity 
| type = Hindu
| image = File:Sholingar (1).JPG
| caption = Festival image of Nila (left to the image of Vishnu) in [[Thirukkadigai]]
| alt = painting
| name = Nila Devi
| other_names = Nappinnai, Nagnajiti
| children =
| siblings =
| affiliation = [[Devi]]
| deity_of =
| abode = [[Vaikuntha]]
| mantra =
| consort = [[Vishnu]]
| mount =
| festivals =
| member_of =
| equivalent1_type =
| equivalent1 =
}}
{{Vaishnavism}}

'''Nila Devi''', also spelt as '''Niladevi''' and '''Neela devi''' or '''Nila''' is a regional [[Hindu goddess]] and the third consort of the god [[Vishnu]], along with [[Sridevi]] ([[Lakshmi]]) and [[Bhudevi]] (Lakshmi).<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Journal of South Asian Literature|issue=2|volume=24|last=M.|first=Ramanan|title=Āndāl's "Tirupāvai"|year=1989|pages=51–64|jstor=40873090|via=JSTOR|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/40873090|access-date=11 January 2021}}</ref> Nila Devi becomes the consort of Vishnu in his [[avatar]] as [[Krishna]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Dalal, Roshen, 1952-|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/664683680|title=Hinduism : an alphabetical guide|date=2010|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0-14-341421-6|location=New Delhi|pages=272, 282|oclc=664683680}}</ref> She is also a Avatar of Lakshmi. She is popular in South India, particular in [[Tamil culture]] as a consort of Vishnu.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=album; painting {{!}} British Museum|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1962-1231-0-13-7|access-date=2021-01-10|website=The British Museum|language=en}}</ref>

Nila Devi took the incarnation of Nagnajiti, a wife of Krishna. She is also called Nappinnai (Pinnai, a favourite [[Gopi]] of Krishna in Tamil tradition).<ref name="Chandra 1998 p.">{{cite book|last=Chandra|first=S.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mfTE6kpz6XEC|title=Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses|publisher=Sarup & Sons|year=1998|isbn=978-81-7625-039-9|page=238|access-date=2021-01-10}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

Niladevi appears in the ''[[Vaikhanasas|Vaikhanasa]] [[Agama (Hinduism)|Agama]] text.<ref name="Chandra 1998 p." /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last1=Museum|first1=British|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L4lHAQAAIAAJ&q=nila+visnu+consort|title=South Indian Paintings: A Catalogue of the British Museum Collection|last2=Dallapiccola|first2=Anna Libera|date=2010|publisher=British Museum Press|isbn=978-0-7141-2424-7|location=|pages=49, 76|language=en}}</ref>''<ref name=":1" /> Some texts mention that Vishnu's ''[[Iccha-shakti|Iccha shakti]]'' takes three forms: Shridevi, Bhudevi and Niladevi, representing the three [[Guṇa|''guna''s]]; The ''[[Sita Upanishad]]'' mentions that these three forms as those of goddess [[Sita]]; Niladevi is associated with ''[[Tamas (philosophy)|tamas]].''<ref name=":0" /> Niladevi besides tamas, is associated with the sun, the moon and fire.''<ref name=":0" />'' She appears as Krishna's [[Gopi]] in [[Cherusseri Namboothiri]]'s ''[[Krishnagatha]].''<ref name=":0" />

According to a ''dhyana [[mantra]]'' of Vishnu, in his ''Param'' aspect, he is depicted seated on the serpent [[Shesha]] with Lakshmi on his right and Bhudevi and Niladevi on his left.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|last=Srinivasan|first=T. N.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KGPqAAAAMAAJ&q=niladevi|title=A Hand Book of South Indian Images: An Introduction to the Study of Hindu Iconography|date=1982|publisher=Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanams|isbn=|location=|pages=96, 115|language=en}}</ref> Niladevi may be also depicted standing behind Vishnu with his two co-wives.<ref name=":2" /> In a depiction in the British Museum, Vishnu as Vaikuntha-Natha ("Lord of Vaikuntha") is seated on Sheshathri between Lakshmi and Bhudevi, while his foot is supported by Niladevi.<ref name=":2" />

The saint-poetess [[Andal]] is sometimes considered by the [[Sri Vaishnavism|Sri Vaishnava]] sect as an aspect of Niladevi.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite book|last=Bryant|first=Edwin F.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2n4VDAAAQBAJ&q=nila&pg=PA189|title=Krishna: A Sourcebook|date=2007-06-18|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-972431-4|location=|pages=189|language=en}}</ref>

==Nappinnai==
Nappinnai – Krishna cult is mainly limited to the Tamil-speaking world. The name Nappinnai is found in [[Divya Prabandha]] of Alvars and [[Silappadikaram]].<ref name=Andal>{{cite book|title=Krishna Krishna|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uGbTP3NMPTkC&q=nappinnai+silapathikaram&pg=PA33|page=33|publisher=Kizhakku|year=2005|first= Indira |last=Parthasarathy|isbn=9788183680806|language=ta}}</ref> [[Andal]] (one of the [[Alvars]]) wanted to perform devotion to her Krishna like Gopikas did in [[Dvapara Yuga]]. She in her ''[[Tiruppavai]]'', wakes up Nappinai before waking up Krishna. As per [[Srivaishnavism]], complete surrender to the Lord is performed through his consort and in case of Krishna specifically, it is performed through Nappinai.<ref name=Andal/>

Nila devi took incarnation as Nagnajiti, daughter of Kumbagan (brother of [[Yashoda]]) and Krishna won her hand after conquering the seven ferocious bulls of her father. Nappinnai's brother is Sudama. [[Parasara Bhattar]] describes Krishna, intoxicated by her beauty, as "Neela thunga sthana giri thati suptham".

Velukkudi Swamy, a proponent of [[Vishishtadvaita]] Philosophy says that Andal, singing Nachiar Tirumozhi as the daughter of [[Periyalvar]], mentions about [[Rukmini]]. But singing as a Gopika in [[Thiruppavai]] she mentions only Nappinnai. Alvar mentions the three nachiars (consorts) as Pon mangai (Sri devi), nila mangai (Bhudevi) and pula mangai (Neela Devi) the consort of senses. It is Neela devi who keeps Bhagavan under control by her bhogam. [[Vedanta Desika]] says in Daya satakam - "nisAmayatu mAm nIla yat bhOga patalai: druvam". Krishna was a [[Yadava]] kshatriya varna by birth, thus he married Rukmini according to that. He was brought up as a [[Yadava]] vaishya by varna ([[gopa]]), hence he married Nappinnai according to that. Neela suuktam also says - ghruNAhi - ghrutavai - payasvati, etc., mentioning the characteristics of a gopika.


==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Hindu Deities and Texts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lakshmi]]
[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
[[Category:Consorts of Vishnu]]
[[Category:Tamil deities]]

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Nila Devi