Nirṛti
Encyclopedia
In Hinduism
, is the goddess of death and corruption, one of the dikpāla (Guardians of the directions
), representing the southwest (or—according Monier-Williams’s Sanskrit-English Dictionary—the south). The name has the meaning of "absence of ṛta
, lawless". The masculine form of the name, , is a name of Rudra
.
Nirṛti is mentioned in a few hymns of the Rigveda
, mostly to seek protection from her or imploring for her departure. In one hymn (X.59), she is mentioned several times. This hymn, after summing up her nature, also asks for her departure from the sacrificial site. In the Atharva Veda (V.7.9), she is described as having golden locks. In the Taittiriya Brahmana (I.6.1.4), Nirṛti is described as dark, dressed in dark clothes and her sacrificial shares are dark husks. In the Shatapatha Brahmana
(X.1.2.9), she is associated with pain and as the southwest quarter is her region, pain is associated with the southwest. But elsewhere in the same text (V.2.3.3.) she is mentioned as living in the south, the direction of the kingdom of the dead.
. She is one of the Goa'uld System Lords, portrayed by actress Jacqueline Samuda
.
In the video game Ninja Gaiden 2, the dual-wielded swords have a technique called Blade of Nirrti.
In Roger Zelazny
's novel Lord of Light
, set on a world where humans with vastly advanced technology have set themselves up as the gods of Hinduism
, Nirriti the Black is one of their enemies.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, is the goddess of death and corruption, one of the dikpāla (Guardians of the directions
Guardians of the directions
The Guardians of the Directions are the deities who rule the specific directions of space according to Hinduism and Buddhism—especially...
), representing the southwest (or—according Monier-Williams’s Sanskrit-English Dictionary—the south). The name has the meaning of "absence of ṛta
Rta
In the Vedic religion, Ṛta is the principle of natural order which regulates and coordinates the operation of the universe and everything within it. In the hymns of the Vedas, Ṛta is described as that which is ultimately responsible for the proper functioning of the natural, moral and sacrificial...
, lawless". The masculine form of the name, , is a name of Rudra
Rudra
' is a Rigvedic God, associated with wind or storm, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "The Roarer", or "The Howler"....
.
Nirṛti is mentioned in a few hymns of the Rigveda
Rigveda
The Rigveda is an ancient Indian sacred collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns...
, mostly to seek protection from her or imploring for her departure. In one hymn (X.59), she is mentioned several times. This hymn, after summing up her nature, also asks for her departure from the sacrificial site. In the Atharva Veda (V.7.9), she is described as having golden locks. In the Taittiriya Brahmana (I.6.1.4), Nirṛti is described as dark, dressed in dark clothes and her sacrificial shares are dark husks. In the Shatapatha Brahmana
Shatapatha Brahmana
The Shatapatha Brahmana is one of the prose texts describing the Vedic ritual, associated with the Shukla Yajurveda. It survives in two recensions, Madhyandina and Kanva , with the former having the eponymous 100 adhyayas,7624 kandikas in 14 books, and the latter 104 adhyayas,6806 kandikas in 17...
(X.1.2.9), she is associated with pain and as the southwest quarter is her region, pain is associated with the southwest. But elsewhere in the same text (V.2.3.3.) she is mentioned as living in the south, the direction of the kingdom of the dead.
In popular culture
Nirrti is a character in the television series Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
. She is one of the Goa'uld System Lords, portrayed by actress Jacqueline Samuda
Jacqueline Samuda
Jacqueline Samuda is a Canadian actress, director and writer.-Filmography:* 2008: The Story of Saiunkoku as Eiki Hyo-Sa and Lady Owner* 2008: Edison and Leo as Toni* 2008: Stargate: Continuum as Nirrti...
.
In the video game Ninja Gaiden 2, the dual-wielded swords have a technique called Blade of Nirrti.
In Roger Zelazny
Roger Zelazny
Roger Joseph Zelazny was an American writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels, best known for his The Chronicles of Amber series...
's novel Lord of Light
Lord of Light
Lord of Light is an epic science fiction/fantasy novel by American author Roger Zelazny. It was awarded the 1968 Hugo Award for Best Novel, and nominated for a Nebula Award in the same category. Two chapters from the novel were published as novelettes in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science...
, set on a world where humans with vastly advanced technology have set themselves up as the gods of Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Nirriti the Black is one of their enemies.