Nīla

Nīla

Nīla is a name used for more than one person and place in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.

People

  • Nīla the Vānara: the son of Agni, a senāpati of Sugrīva‘s vānara army, who helped build the bridge to Laṅkā and killed Prahasta. Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bāla Kāṇḍa, Chapter 17; Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Chapter 37; Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Chapters 22–24; Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Chapters 44–45; Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Chapter 59; Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Chapter 131; Tulasī Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa; Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 10; Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 9, Chapter 10
  • Nīla of Māhishmatī: the king of Māhishmatī on the Narmadā, whose city was guarded by Agni; he gave tribute to Sahadeva and later joined the Kauravas. Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 31; Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 19; Mahābhārata, Bhīshma Parva, Chapters 43–122; Mahābhārata, Droṇa Parva
  • Nīla Rāja: a Pāṇḍava-allied king with a blue chariot, armour, flag and horses, killed by Aśvatthāmā. Mahābhārata, Droṇa Parva

Named in passing

  • Nīla, the boundary mountain: the mountain that bounds Ramyaka, the first of the varshas north of Ilāvṛta; told in Ramaṇaka Varsha. The Bhavishya Purāṇa names it among the varsha mountains north of Meru, told on Jambudvīpa. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 5, Chapter 16; Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 1, Chapter 4; Uttara Parva, Chapter 2
  • Nīla, a mountain of Bhārata: one of the twenty-seven mountains of Bhārata khaṇḍa; told in Bhārata Varsha. Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 5, Chapter 19
  • Nīla, son of Ajamīḍha: the son of Ajamīḍha by his second wife Nalinī, from whose line came the Pañcālas; told in Ajamīḍha (Pūru Vaṃśa). Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 9, Chapter 21
  • Nīla, the elephant: one of the eight Diggajas, the kings of elephants; told in Diggajas. Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 269
  • Nīla, in the pūjā of Yama: the third of the seven names under which Yamarāja and his attendants are worshipped when one gives up vṛntāka, told on that page. Bhavishya Purāṇa, Uttara Parva, Chapters 112–113