Dictionary Of God And Godedesses

214 NaradaTwo of the sons of DHARMA, who was born fromthe heart of BRAHMA, they spent a thousand yearsas severe ascetics in the Himalaya, where theywere subject to various temptations by INDRA.They are described as sages. The texts depictNara colored green and bearing two hands, whileNARAYANA has four hands and is colored blue.They may also be paralleled by HARI and Krsna.Also NARAYANA.Narada (giver of advice)Minor but popular deity. Hindu (Vedic, Epic andPuranic). Narada is depicted as a sage who is alsoa messenger and teacher. Born from the head, orthroat, of BRAHMA, and alternatively a minorincarnation of VIŠNU. In various roles he is aguardian deity of women, a musician and a wanderer.Narada, often bearded, is generallydepicted standing with the musical instrumentwhich is his invention, the vina (lute). By contrastto his benign nature he is also described as a“maker of strife” and as “vile.” Also Kali-karaka;Pisuna.Naradatta (daughter of Nara)Goddess of learning. Jain [India]. One of sixteenVIDYADEVI headed by the goddess SARASVATI.Narasinha (man-lion)Incarnation of the god Višnu. Hindu (Epic andPuranic). The fourth avatara of the god isdepicted as a man-lion hybrid. According to legend,the demonic king Hiranyakasipu had takenon a dangerous invulnerability. To thwart this,VIŠNU took the form of Narasinha and hid insidea pillar of the king’s palace whence he sprang,capturing Hiranyakasipu and tearing out hisentrails. IconographicalIy, the scene is portrayedwith the victim thrown across Narasinha’s lap andthe god’s claws plunged into his body. Narasinhamay also appear seated in a yoga position with thegoddess LAKSMI on his knee.NarasinhiMother goddess. Hindu (Epic and Puranic). ASAKTI of NARASINHA who is one of a group ofASTAMATARA mothers. In another grouping, oneof nine NAVASAKTIS who, in southern India, rankhigher than the SAPTAMATARAS. Also CANDIKA.NarayanaCreator god. Hindu (Epic and Puranic). More orless synonymous with VIŠNU, but specificallydescribing the embodiment of the “abode ofman.” He is said to have sucked his toe while sailingthe primeval ocean on a banana leaf, until hisown inspiration created the world. Often depictedsupported by the bird god GARUDA.See also NARA.NareuCreator god. Melanesia [Vanuatu]. As in manycomparable legends, he created the world insidethe shell of a mussel. He engendered a son fromsand and water who, in turn, created the sun andmoon from his father’s eyes, rocks from his fleshand bones and mankind from his spine.NarisahGoddess of light. Manichaean. The so-called“virgin of the light,” she may also be androgynousas the father of the virgins of light who equatewith the twelve zodiac signs.NarkissosMinor god. Greek. The son of the river godKephissos, he wasted away after falling in lovewith his own image reflected in water. The gods