Nila or Neela, for those who are acquainted with the Ramayana, is a vanara or monkey who was the chieftain of Lord Rama’s army. He was the commander-in-chief under Sugriva and led the battle against the demon Ravana. He was credited with the slaying of several rakshshas in Ravana’s army. According to the Ramayana, the ocean between Rameswaram and India was bridged with a help of the Vanara army of Lord Rama. Ramayana credits Nala as the sole builder of the Rama Setu. However many adaptations of the epic attribute the credits to Nila as well.
Nila’s Contribution in the Epic
In Ramayana, Nila is described as the child of the God of Fire, Agni. Nila’s prowess, effulgence and reputation were beyond par and it enabled him to become one of the foremost of monkeys. He played a very important role in the rescue of Sita by the vanaras. However, there have been several adaptations that tell various other versions of the story. In the epic, Sugriva orders Nila to assemble all the monkeys such that they can go ahead and locate Seeta. The search party that went south had Nila as their chieftain. The Mahabharata also tells about Nila who was sent along with other vanaras to search for Sita. Nila was known for his strength and devotion to the Lord. He was strong enough to cross the ocean between Sri Lanka and India. He bore the orders of Sugriva who asked him to find a route that would be replete with food to help the army survive during their journey.
Special Powers
During their attempt to cross the sea by building a bridge, the sea god Varuna told Lord Rama and Nila and his brother Nala possessed the power to make the large stones float on water. These special powers that they possessed have a story which is related to their birth. As children, Nila and Nala were mischievous and often threw away the idols worshipped by the sages into the water. Now the sages planned to save their images by making a decree among themselves that any stone thrown by the two monkeys in the water, will never drown.
The Battle
Nila, the blue monkey, has prominent contribution in the battle against King Ravana. He led the army of monkeys in the epic battle. Nila fought one of the most important fights in the epic against Nikumbha. Even though he was seriously injured, he managed to pick up the chariot wheel and crush Nikumbha with it. Another fierce battle fought by the monkey chieftain was with Prahastha. Nila was attached with a deluge of arrows by Prahastha which was he bore on himself. But, when the attacker dashed towards him with a mallet, Nila counter attacked with a huge boulder which killed him.
There are several other myths surrounding the blue monkey of Ramayan in other adaptations as well as in the Mahabharata.
Nila’s Contribution in the Epic
In Ramayana, Nila is described as the child of the God of Fire, Agni. Nila’s prowess, effulgence and reputation were beyond par and it enabled him to become one of the foremost of monkeys. He played a very important role in the rescue of Sita by the vanaras. However, there have been several adaptations that tell various other versions of the story. In the epic, Sugriva orders Nila to assemble all the monkeys such that they can go ahead and locate Seeta. The search party that went south had Nila as their chieftain. The Mahabharata also tells about Nila who was sent along with other vanaras to search for Sita. Nila was known for his strength and devotion to the Lord. He was strong enough to cross the ocean between Sri Lanka and India. He bore the orders of Sugriva who asked him to find a route that would be replete with food to help the army survive during their journey.
Special Powers
During their attempt to cross the sea by building a bridge, the sea god Varuna told Lord Rama and Nila and his brother Nala possessed the power to make the large stones float on water. These special powers that they possessed have a story which is related to their birth. As children, Nila and Nala were mischievous and often threw away the idols worshipped by the sages into the water. Now the sages planned to save their images by making a decree among themselves that any stone thrown by the two monkeys in the water, will never drown.
The Battle
Nila, the blue monkey, has prominent contribution in the battle against King Ravana. He led the army of monkeys in the epic battle. Nila fought one of the most important fights in the epic against Nikumbha. Even though he was seriously injured, he managed to pick up the chariot wheel and crush Nikumbha with it. Another fierce battle fought by the monkey chieftain was with Prahastha. Nila was attached with a deluge of arrows by Prahastha which was he bore on himself. But, when the attacker dashed towards him with a mallet, Nila counter attacked with a huge boulder which killed him.
There are several other myths surrounding the blue monkey of Ramayan in other adaptations as well as in the Mahabharata.
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