Nila Devi


Nila Devi is the third consort of Lord Maha Vishnu, the other two being Sri Devi and Bhu Devi.Sri devi,Bhu devi,Nila devi are Goddess Lakshmi's Forms.In Paramapadam Sri Devi is seated to the left of the Lord, and Bhu Devi and Nila Devi to His right as Bhu Devi is first wife and Sri Devi the second wife. First wife always occupies Dakshina/Right-hand side of husband. Younger wife occupies the Vama/left hand side. The misconception of Sri Devi to right, and Bhu Devi and Nila Devi to the left arises from a common wrong equating of Sri Devi with "Mahalakshmi". Mahalakshmi is singular form of all three wives mixed together. She obviously is to the right while only two forms Bhu Devi and Sri Devi are seated to his left. In such pictures, Nila is absent or indirectly present unified with Bhu Devi. Nila Devi is older than Lord and is sometimes therefore called Jestha Devi, when Vishnu is called Lord Shani. So even though she is third wife, being older in age occupies right side of Lord along with Bhu Devi. Nila is basically Bhu Devi modified and both are symbol for patience and burden. Nila Devi is embodiment of simplicity of Lord Vishnu. Bhu Devi is embodiment of the rule of the lord on earth. While Sri Devi is embodiment of Grandeur of the lord. The Veda sings the glory of Goddess Nila in Nila Suktam.
Nila Devi, also known as Neela Devi, is the ferocious form of Durga. She is also called Tara, one of the ten manifestations of the Feminine Energy Ref; Dasha Mahavidya, Reference of Neela Devi as the third consort of Maha Vishnu, as I understand is not referred in any Puranas, but Neela Devi, Tara, has reference in TANTRA SHASTRAS

Nappinnai

What Bhu Devi is to Varaha avatara and Sri Devi to Rama avatara, is Neela devi to Krishna avatara. Neela devi took avatar as Nappinnai, daughter of Kumbagan and Krishna won her hand after conquering the seven ferocious bulls of her father. Nappinnai's brother is Sudama. Sri Parasara Bhattar describes Krishna, intoxicated by her beauty, as "Neela thunga sthana giri thati suptham".
Nappinnai – Krishna cult is mainly limited to the Tamil-speaking world. Nappinnai is often referred to as Radha or Rādhārānī or "Radhika" in North India.
Andal wanted to perform devotion to her Lord Krishna like Gopikas did in Dvapara Yuga. She in her Thiruppavai, wakes up Nappinai before waking up Lord Krishna. As per Srivaishnavism, saranagati is performed through His consort and in Sri Krishnaavatharam specifically it is performed through Nappinai.
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 as Pon mangai, nila mangai and pula mangai the consort of senses. It is Neela devi who keeps Bhagavan under control by her bhogam. Swami Vedanta Desika says in Daya satakam - "nisAmayatu mAm nIla yat bhOga patalai: druvam". Lord 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, hence he married Nappinnai according to that. Neela suuktam also says - ghruNAhi - ghrutavai - payasvati, etc., mentioning the characteristics of a gopika.
The name Nappinnai is found in Divya Prabandha of Alvars and Silappadikaram.

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.