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Naigamesha

January 01, 1970

Naigamesha (Sanskrit: नैगमेष, Naigameśa), also known as Harinegameshi, is a goat-headed or deer-headed deity, associated with children. He also appears in Jain as well as Hindu traditions, associated with the war-god Kartikeya and childbirth.

Harinegameshi carrying the embryo, fragment of a leaf from a dispersed Kalpasutra, Brooklyn Museum
Naigamesha, Mathura Museum, Kushan Empire, 1st-3rd century CE.[1]

Associations edit

Naigamesha is known by a variety of names: Negamesha, Nemesha, Naigameshin, Negamesi, Harinegameshi. The last is translated as "Negamesi, the general of Hari (Indra)". Another interpretation says that it is derived from harina (deer) and mesha (ram).[2]

Naigamesha is the benefactor and protector of children in Jainism. While the Greek satyr Pan is depicted with the lower body of a goat, Naigamesha has a goat head; in both cultures, the goat denotes fertility.[3] He is worshipped to beget children.[2]

Literature edit

Jainism edit

 
Naigamesha (left) looks over Mahavira's birth; the infant Mahavira is held in his mother's arms. Folio from the Kalpa Sutra (1450–1500).

According to the Kalpa Sutra, Naigamesha, on the orders of the king of the gods Indra, transferred the embryo of the Tirthankara Mahavira from the womb of the Brahmin (priest class) woman Devananda to the Kshatriya (ruling caste) Trishala, who finally delivers Mahavira. According to the Shvetambara text Neminanathacharita, which recalls the life of the Tirthankara Neminatha, Krishna – a cousin of Neminatha and generally venerated as Hindu deity – worships Naigamesha to beget a son from his second wife Satyabhama; a son who equals his first-born Pradyumna, from his first wife Rukmini. Other texts portray Satyabhama praying to the deity.[2]

Hinduism edit

In Hinduism, Naigamesha is associated with Kartikeya, the god of war and is frequently mentioned as Naigameya. Naigamesha is an epithet and a form of Kartikeya, where he is generally depicted goat-headed. In other instances, Naigamesha is described as the son or brother of the war god. Hindu texts like the Brahmanas, the Grihya sutras and medicinal texts mention a similar deity with a ram's head.[2] As a fearsome follower of Kartikeya, Naigamesha was feared and worshipped to ward off evil. Later, he evolved into the patron of childbirth.[4]

Iconography edit

Depictions of Naigamesha are rare and are generally confined to North India and the pre-third century era. They are many depictions of the deity found in the region around Mathura, dating from the 1st–3rd century.[5][2] Terracotta figurines of Naigamesha from 2nd century BCE to 4th century CE are also been discovered.[4]

In a 1st–3rd century depiction from Kankali Tila near Mathura (currently in Mathura Museum), Naigamesha is depicted with a goat's head and short, backward turning horns, a long beard (goatee) and "drooping" ears. Another sculpture from the 10th–13th century depicts him in the company of Hindu deities. The group of seven Hindu mother-goddesses, the Saptamatrika – who are associated with children – are surrounded by their usual companions Shiva and Ganesha as well as Naigamesha. The goat-features mirror the earlier depiction. In addition, Naigamesha is depicted with three children; one held in his left arm, another seated near his left foot and a third standing near the right leg, which conveys his association with children.[6]

Besides his goat-head, Naigamesha may also be shown having a deer head and may be depicted transferring the embryo of Mahavira in narrative panels. He is also depicted as seated on a throne, flanked by children on his lap or shoulders. Female attendants or a goat-headed woman sometimes accompany the god.[2]

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Naigamesa was a popular deity in the Kushana period and we have at least eight figures of this god from Mathura assignable to c. 1st to 3rd century A.D. (GMM., E. 1, 15.909, 15, 1001, 15. 1046, 15. 1115, 34.2402, 34. 2547, SML., J 626, etc)" in Joshi, Nilakanth Purushottam (1986). Mātr̥kās, Mothers in Kuṣāṇa Art. Kanak Publications. p. 41.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Roshen Dalal (18 April 2014). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin Books Limited. p. 797. ISBN 978-81-8475-277-9.
  3. ^ Van der Geer pp. 170–171
  4. ^ a b Satish Chandra Kala (1980). Terracottas in the Allahabad Museum. Abhinav Publications. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-391-02234-8.
  5. ^ Van der Geer p. 173
  6. ^ Van der Geer pp. 172–3, xxxii

References edit

  • Alexandra Anna Enrica van der Geer (2008). Animals in Stone: Indian Mammals Sculptured Through Time. BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-16819-0.

External links edit

  Media related to Naigamesha at Wikimedia Commons

January 01, 1970
naigamesha, sanskrit, गम, naigameśa, also, known, harinegameshi, goat, headed, deer, headed, deity, associated, with, children, also, appears, jain, well, hindu, traditions, associated, with, kartikeya, childbirth, harinegameshi, carrying, embryo, fragment, le. Naigamesha Sanskrit न गम ष Naigamesa also known as Harinegameshi is a goat headed or deer headed deity associated with children He also appears in Jain as well as Hindu traditions associated with the war god Kartikeya and childbirth Harinegameshi carrying the embryo fragment of a leaf from a dispersed Kalpasutra Brooklyn Museum Naigamesha Mathura Museum Kushan Empire 1st 3rd century CE 1 Contents 1 Associations 2 Literature 2 1 Jainism 2 2 Hinduism 3 Iconography 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksAssociations editNaigamesha is known by a variety of names Negamesha Nemesha Naigameshin Negamesi Harinegameshi The last is translated as Negamesi the general of Hari Indra Another interpretation says that it is derived from harina deer and mesha ram 2 Naigamesha is the benefactor and protector of children in Jainism While the Greek satyr Pan is depicted with the lower body of a goat Naigamesha has a goat head in both cultures the goat denotes fertility 3 He is worshipped to beget children 2 Literature editJainism edit nbsp Naigamesha left looks over Mahavira s birth the infant Mahavira is held in his mother s arms Folio from the Kalpa Sutra 1450 1500 According to the Kalpa Sutra Naigamesha on the orders of the king of the gods Indra transferred the embryo of the Tirthankara Mahavira from the womb of the Brahmin priest class woman Devananda to the Kshatriya ruling caste Trishala who finally delivers Mahavira According to the Shvetambara text Neminanathacharita which recalls the life of the Tirthankara Neminatha Krishna a cousin of Neminatha and generally venerated as Hindu deity worships Naigamesha to beget a son from his second wife Satyabhama a son who equals his first born Pradyumna from his first wife Rukmini Other texts portray Satyabhama praying to the deity 2 Hinduism edit In Hinduism Naigamesha is associated with Kartikeya the god of war and is frequently mentioned as Naigameya Naigamesha is an epithet and a form of Kartikeya where he is generally depicted goat headed In other instances Naigamesha is described as the son or brother of the war god Hindu texts like the Brahmanas the Grihya sutras and medicinal texts mention a similar deity with a ram s head 2 As a fearsome follower of Kartikeya Naigamesha was feared and worshipped to ward off evil Later he evolved into the patron of childbirth 4 Iconography editDepictions of Naigamesha are rare and are generally confined to North India and the pre third century era They are many depictions of the deity found in the region around Mathura dating from the 1st 3rd century 5 2 Terracotta figurines of Naigamesha from 2nd century BCE to 4th century CE are also been discovered 4 In a 1st 3rd century depiction from Kankali Tila near Mathura currently in Mathura Museum Naigamesha is depicted with a goat s head and short backward turning horns a long beard goatee and drooping ears Another sculpture from the 10th 13th century depicts him in the company of Hindu deities The group of seven Hindu mother goddesses the Saptamatrika who are associated with children are surrounded by their usual companions Shiva and Ganesha as well as Naigamesha The goat features mirror the earlier depiction In addition Naigamesha is depicted with three children one held in his left arm another seated near his left foot and a third standing near the right leg which conveys his association with children 6 Besides his goat head Naigamesha may also be shown having a deer head and may be depicted transferring the embryo of Mahavira in narrative panels He is also depicted as seated on a throne flanked by children on his lap or shoulders Female attendants or a goat headed woman sometimes accompany the god 2 Notes edit Naigamesa was a popular deity in the Kushana period and we have at least eight figures of this god from Mathura assignable to c 1st to 3rd century A D GMM E 1 15 909 15 1001 15 1046 15 1115 34 2402 34 2547 SML J 626 etc in Joshi Nilakanth Purushottam 1986 Matr kas Mothers in Kuṣaṇa Art Kanak Publications p 41 a b c d e f Roshen Dalal 18 April 2014 Hinduism An Alphabetical Guide Penguin Books Limited p 797 ISBN 978 81 8475 277 9 Van der Geer pp 170 171 a b Satish Chandra Kala 1980 Terracottas in the Allahabad Museum Abhinav Publications p 65 ISBN 978 0 391 02234 8 Van der Geer p 173 Van der Geer pp 172 3 xxxiiReferences editAlexandra Anna Enrica van der Geer 2008 Animals in Stone Indian Mammals Sculptured Through Time BRILL ISBN 978 90 04 16819 0 External links edit nbsp Media related to Naigamesha at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Naigamesha amp oldid 1187040281, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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