Niladevi

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Nila Devi
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Niladevi
Goddess of Bliss[1]
painting
Shrine of Niladevi (left to the image of Vishnu) in Thirukkadigai
Other namesNappinnai
Venerated inSri Vaishnavism
AffiliationDevi, aspect of Lakshmi, Nagnajiti
AbodeVaikuntha
ConsortVishnu
Part of a series on
Vaishnavism
Closeup of Vishnu, seated in the lotus position on a lotus. From depiction of the poet Jayadeva bowing to Vishnu, Gouache on paper Pahari, The very picture of devotion, bare-bodied, head bowed, legs crossed and hands folded, Jayadeva stands at left, with the implements of worship placed before the lotus-seat of Vishnu who sits there, blessing the poet.
Supreme deity
Vishnu / Krishna / Rama
Important deities
Dashavatara
Other forms
Consorts
Related
Holy scriptures
Puranas
Sampradayas
Others
Teachers—acharyas
Related traditions

Niladevi (

Sri Vaishnava tradition, all three consorts of Vishnu are regarded as aspects of Lakshmi.[7]

In Vishnu's

North Indian traditions.[5][8]

Legend

According to regional traditions, Niladevi took the incarnation of Nagnajiti, a wife of Krishna. In Sri Vaishnavism, Nagnajiti is also called Nappinnai (Pinnai, a favourite gopi of Krishna in Tamil tradition).[9][5]

Niladevi appears in the

Vaikhanasa Agama text.[9][10][6] Some texts mention that Vishnu's iccha shakti takes three forms: Sridevi, Bhudevi, and Niladevi, representing the three gunas; The Sita Upanishad mentions that these three forms as those of goddess Sita; Niladevi is associated with tamas.[5] Niladevi, besides tamas, is associated with the sun, the moon and fire.[5] She appears as Krishna's Gopi in Cherusseri Namboothiri's Krishnagatha.[5]

According to a dhyana mantra of Vishnu, in his Param aspect, he is depicted seated on the serpent Shesha with Sridevi on his right and Bhudevi and Niladevi on his left.[11] Niladevi may be also depicted standing behind Vishnu with his two co-wives.[10] In a depiction in the British Museum, Vishnu as Vaikuntha-Natha ("Lord of Vaikuntha") is seated on Shesha between Sridevi and Bhudevi, while his foot is supported by Niladevi.[10]

The Alvar Andal is sometimes considered by the Sri Vaishnava denomination as an aspect of Niladevi.[11][12]

Forms

Niladevi's aspect of Nappinnai is mainly limited to

Silappadikaram.[13] According to these texts, Andal (one of the Alvars) wanted to offer her devotion to her patron deity Krishna just as the Braj gopis did in Dvapara Yuga. In her Tiruppavai, Andal wakes up Nappinai before waking up Krishna. As per Sri Vaishnavism, complete surrender to God is performed through his consort, and in the case of Krishna specifically, it is performed through Nappinai.[13]

Niladevi took the avatar of Nappinnai, the daughter of Kumbagan (the brother of Yashoda). Krishna won Nappinnai's hand after conquering the seven ferocious bulls of her father. Nappinnai's brother is Sudama. Parasara Bhattar describes Krishna, intoxicated by her beauty, with the epithet "Neela thunga sthana giri thati suptham" (lit. "He who rests on the breasts of Nappinnai").[14]

S. M. Srinivasa Chari states that Andal, singing

Thiruppavai, she mentioned Nappinnai. This stands for the identification of Nappinnai as Radha.[15] Alvar mentions the three nachiyars (consorts) as Ponmangai (Sridevi), Nilamangai (Bhudevi) and Pulamangai (Niladevi). Niladevi is mentioned to be the goddess of senses. It is Niladevi who keeps mind stable by offering him her bliss.[16]


References

  1. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2015-11-22). "Niladevi, Nīlādevī, Nila-devi: 1 definition". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  2. ISBN 978-0-203-87884-2
    , retrieved 2022-06-28
  3. JSTOR 40873090
    . Retrieved 11 January 2021 – via JSTOR.
  4. ^ Āṇṭāḷ (1974). Garland of Songs. Rajalakshmi Pathippakam. p. 79.
  5. ^
    OCLC 664683680.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link
    )
  6. ^ a b "album; painting | British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  7. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2015-11-22). "Niladevi, Nīlādevī, Nila-devi: 1 definition". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  8. ISBN 978-81-7017-245-1
    .
  9. ^
    ISBN 978-81-7625-039-9
    . Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  10. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7141-2424-7
    .
  11. ^ a b Srinivasan, T. N. (1982). A Hand Book of South Indian Images: An Introduction to the Study of Hindu Iconography. Tirumalai-Tirupati Devasthanams. pp. 96, 115.
  12. ISBN 978-0-19-972431-4
    .
  13. ^
    ISBN 9788183680806
    .
  14. ^ "thirup pAvai - part 7 - thaniyangaL (Ramanuja.org/Bhakti List Archives)". ramanuja.org. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  15. ^ Srinivasa Chari, S. M. (1997). Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 205.
  16. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2015-11-22). "Niladevi, Nīlādevī, Nila-devi: 1 definition". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
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