| Niladevi | |
|---|---|
| Goddess of Bliss | |
.JPG) Shrine of Niladevi (left to the image of Vishnu) in Thirukkadigai | |
| Other names | Nappinnai |
| Venerated in | Sri Vaishnavism |
| Affiliation | Devi, aspect of Lakshmi, Nagnajiti |
| Abode | Vaikuntha |
| Consort | Vishnu |
Niladevi (Sanskrit: नीलदेवी, romanized: Nīladevī, lit. 'blue goddess'), also rendered as Neela Devi or Nappinnai, is a Hindu goddess, and a consort of the preserver deity Vishnu, along with Sridevi and Bhudevi. Niladevi is primarily revered in South India, particularly in Tamil culture, as one of Vishnu's consorts. In Sri Vaishnava tradition, all three consorts of Vishnu are regarded as aspects of Mahalakshmi.
In Vishnu's avatar as Krishna, Niladevi is either regarded as Nagnajiti, the consort of Krishna in Dvārakā or in some accounts, as southern counterpart of Radha, the gopi consort of Krishna in North Indian traditions.
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).
Niladevi appears in the Vaikhanasa Agama text. 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. Niladevi, besides tamas, is associated with the sun, the moon and fire. She appears as Krishna's Gopi in Cherusseri Namboothiri's Krishnagatha.
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. Niladevi may be also depicted standing behind Vishnu with his two co-wives. 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.
In some areas, rooted in certain legends and folk traditions, recounts the tale of Nagnajiti, the daughter of King Nagnajit of Kosala, also known as Satya at birth. According to some commentaries, she was separated from her parents during a devastating flood and was later adopted by Khombagan, said to be Yashoda's brother, with Sodama becoming her foster brother.
Nagnajiti grew up alongside Krishna, and their families planned for the two to be married. Even as a child, Krishna demonstrated his extraordinary strength by taming seven bulls, a feat that showcased his divine prowess. However, one day, unaware of Sodama's devotion to Krishna and its significance, Nagnajiti playfully refused to let her foster brother play with him. Angered by this, her brother cursed her, saying she would be separated from Krishna.
The curse manifested when Krishna left Gokulam to kill Kamsa, leaving Nagnajiti heartbroken.
Years later, King Nagnajit performed a yagna and discovered the whereabouts of his lost daughter, who then returned to Kosala and reclaimed her identity. Hearing of this, Krishna, still devoted to her, traveled to Kosala to seek her hand in marriage.
At the time, Kosala’s people were plagued by Valvano, a menacing force. Krishna defeated Valvano by lifting and casting it into the river, thereby saving the city. Through his strength and dedication, Krishna earned the right to marry Nagnajiti, who is also known in some traditions as Nappinai or Satya.
Although not found in canonical scriptures, this story is preserved in folk narratives and highlights Krishna's valor, love, and divine role in protecting his devotees.
The Alvar Andal is sometimes considered by the Sri Vaishnava denomination as an aspect of Niladevi.
Forms
Niladevi's aspect of Nappinnai is mainly limited to Tamilakam. The name Nappinnai is found in the Divya Prabandham of the Alvars and Silappadikaram. 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.
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").
S. M. Srinivasa Chari states that Andal, singing Nachiyar Tirumoli as a gopika in Thiruppavai, she mentioned Nappinnai. This stands for the identification of Nappinnai as Radha. 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.
In certain spiritual traditions, both Andal and Nappinnai are seen as manifestations of Neeladevi, engaging in a divine dialogue within themselves. This conversation symbolizes the journey of bhakti (devotion) and the role of divine grace in guiding a devotee toward ultimate liberation.
As Andal, Neeladevi embodies the seeker—full of longing, surrender, and unwavering devotion to Krishna. She expresses the yearning of a true devotee, demonstrating how one should approach the divine with sincerity and love. On the other hand, as Nappinnai, she represents the bestower of grace, the one who grants access to Krishna and facilitates the devotee’s union with Him.
The interaction between these two forms, especially in the three pasurams where Andal pleads with Nappinnai, is not merely a request for entry but a deeper spiritual lesson. It illustrates that pure bhakti is both the path and the guide—when devotion is sincere, divine grace itself will awaken within the seeker and lead them toward Krishna, just as Nappinnai, another form of Neeladevi, ultimately allows Andal to unite with Him.
Through this self-communion, Neeladevi teaches that devotion is not separate from divine intervention; rather, it is through pure bhakti that one invokes divine grace, and that grace, in turn, leads the soul to moksha—the ultimate liberation.
Krishna’s wedding to Nappinnai
After waking up Nanda Gopalan and Yashoda, the gopis proceeded to wake Goddess Nappinnai who is the consort of Lord Krishna and the incarnation of Neela Devi Nachiar.‘Oh daughter in law of Nanda Gopalan,’ addressed the girls. We know that Lord Krishna was only a child while residing in Vrindavan. Yashoda and Nanda Gopan hadn’t even performed the Upanayanam ceremony for Him. Then how did the Lord marry Nappinnai while at Vrindavan? After lord Krishna’s incarnation Neela Devi Nachiar incarnated as the daughter of Yashoda’s brother Kumban near Nepal. As she incarnated after the Lord, she came to be called as “Pinnai” and as she is always good, the prefix “nal” was added to her name thus changing her name to Nappinnai. As soon as Nappinnai incarnated the happy Kumban purchased seven identical male calves from the market. ‘I am going to raise these seven bulls with my daughter. The young man who controls these seven when my daughter comes off age will get her hand in marriage!’The next day when Kumban visited the barn, he was surprised to see that the calves had grown into adult bulls overnight as they were Asuras in disguise. The bulls started to torment the people and Kumban was unable to find a person who could control them. Soon Nappinnai turned three years old when Yashoda visited her brother along with a five year old Krishna. ‘Your son is very beautiful! I can see that He will turn into a handsome youth. I wish I can promise Nappinnai to Him but I made a foolish vow that I will give her hand in marriage only to the man who can control all seven bulls tied in my barn,’ said Kumban.‘Uncle, don’t worry,’ said Krishna, ‘I will subdue those bulls this very second!’Kumban laughed at the sweet child but was terrified when Krishna went in search of the bulls. ‘Yashoda stop your son! I am afraid that He might get hurt!’ As Yashoda and Kumban rushed to the barn they found that Krishna had killed all seven bulls with one blow! ‘What a marvel!’ exclaimed Kumban. As promised he gave Nappinnai in marriage to Krishna but as they were only children, Kumban allowed Yashoda to take Nappinnai with her so that she could raise the two together. This story is mentioned by Swami Desikan in Yadhavabudhayam.
References
- www.wisdomlib.org (2015-11-22). "Niladevi, Nīlādevī, Nila-devi". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
- "An Eclectic Appraisal of the Success or Failure of Constructivist Instruction", Constructivist Instruction, Routledge, pp. 347–362, 2009-05-28, doi:10.4324/9780203878842-27, ISBN 978-0-203-87884-2, retrieved 2022-06-28
- M., Ramanan (1989). "Āndāl's 'Tirupāvai'". Journal of South Asian Literature. 24 (2): 51–64. JSTOR 40873090. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- Āṇṭāḷ (1974). Garland of Songs. Rajalakshmi Pathippakam. p. 79.
- ^ Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism : an alphabetical guide. New Delhi: Penguin Books. pp. 272, 282. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6. OCLC 664683680.
- ^ "album; painting | British Museum". The British Museum. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
- www.wisdomlib.org (2015-11-22). "Niladevi, Nīlādevī, Nila-devi: 1 definition". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
- Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 282. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
- Rajan, K. V. Soundara (1988). Secularism in Indian Art. Abhinav Publications. p. 17. ISBN 978-81-7017-245-1.
Niladevi, the counterpart of Radha of North
- ^ Chandra, S. (1998). Encyclopaedia of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Sarup & Sons. p. 238. ISBN 978-81-7625-039-9. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
- ^ Museum, British; Dallapiccola, Anna Libera (2010). South Indian Paintings: A Catalogue of the British Museum Collection. British Museum Press. pp. 49, 76. ISBN 978-0-7141-2424-7.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Who was Nappinnai?". My conversations with Perumal. 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2025-01-26.
- Bryant, Edwin F. (2007-06-18). Krishna: A Sourcebook. Oxford University Press. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-19-972431-4.
- ^ Parthasarathy, Indira (2005). Krishna Krishna (in Tamil). Kizhakku. p. 33. ISBN 9788183680806.
- "thirup pAvai – part 7 – thaniyanga". ramanuja.org. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
- Srinivasa Chari, S. M. (1997). Philosophy and Theistic Mysticism of the Āl̲vārs. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 205.
- Dalal, Roshen (2010). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books India. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-14-341421-6.
Some identifies Nappinai with Radha, Nila Devi, Andal
- www.wisdomlib.org (2015-11-22). "Niladevi, Nīlādevī, Nila-devi: 1 definition". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
| Hindu deities and texts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Gods |  | |
| Goddesses | ||
| Other deities | ||
| Texts (list) | ||