Nāgnajiti
Nāgnajiti, also called Nīlā, is one of the eight chief queens (mahā-patnī) of Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa. The Brahma Khaṇḍa of the Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa says she was born for a set purpose (kāraṇa-janma). In her earlier birth she was the daughter of Kavyavāhana, a form of the agni-pitara (fire-ancestors). She did hard tapas (austerity) at Śeṣācala to win Bhagavān Viṣṇu as her husband. Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa himself gave her the vara (boon) that she would be his wife in the Kṛṣṇa-avatāra.
Her earlier birth
In her earlier birth she was the daughter of Kavyavāhana, the chief among the ancestors (pitṛ) and a form of Agni. She had one aim: to have Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa alone as her husband. When her father tried to arrange her marriage, she turned away every suitor. She said she wished to be united with Bhagavān Viṣṇu alone.
By the grace of Bhagavān Viṣṇu she had seen a vision of the coming Kali Yuga. She told her father about it. In that age the darśana (sight) of these would become rare: Śrīnivāsa at Śeṣācala, Raṅganātha on the bank of the Kālindī, Varadarāja at Kāñcī, Rāmasetu, and Viṣṇupāda at Gayā. She made her resolve:
“Before that age arrives, I will become a Viṣṇu-patnī and live in those kṣetras to watch over the bhaktas.”
She did tapas at the Pāpanāśana tīrtha (holy place) near Śeṣācala, in a lonely cave. Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa appeared to her and said:
“In the Kṛṣṇa-avatāra, I shall become your husband.”
She then left her body by yoga and was born as Nīlā in the house of the righteous Kumbhaka. (Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 19)
The svayaṃvara and the marriage
In her new birth, Nīlā’s father held a svayaṃvara (a ceremony where the bride chooses her husband). The condition was to master seven strong bulls that Bhagavān Śiva had given him. This task looked impossible. Her father meant it so that only a man with the grace of Bhagavān Viṣṇu could win her.
Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa, after pleasing Bhagavān Śiva, mastered all seven bulls alone. Kṣatriya kings then tried to carry the bride off by force. Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa beat them all in battle. Then he married Nīlā by the rules of the śāstras. (Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 19)
What her story shows
Her story shows that the wives of Bhagavān Viṣṇu are forms of Mahālakṣmī. They chose particular births and particular practices to be united with him in each of his avatāras. Her two births show the same: first she was the daughter of the fire-ancestors and did tapas, then as Nīlā she married Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa at a svayaṃvara. True devotion is honoured by Bhagavān Viṣṇu across many births.
Sources
- Garuḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Brahma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 19