Form · Vaishnava · East India · Odisha

Nilamadhava

Also called: Nila Madhava

The blue-stone image of Vishnu that tradition says the Sabara chief Viswavasu worshipped in secret in the forest before it vanished and the god returned as the wooden Jagannath; the name marks the older, tribal-worshipped layer of the Puri cult.

Sources: Lord Jagannath origin story; Lord Jagannath: the tribal deity (Odisha Review, June–July 2007) · see Nilamadhava's web

Relations 2

Nilamadhava form of

Jagannath (Form) Vaishnava · Jagannath and the Sabara chief
The blue-stone forest image tradition names as the god's earlier form.

Nilamadhava worshipped by

Viswavasu (Mortal) Tribal · Jagannath and the Sabara chief
Sabara chief who worshipped the image in secret.

Stories 1

Jagannath and the Sabara chief
Origin · as his earlier blue-stone form · 2 tellings

Cited

Lord Jagannath origin story Popular retelling
Lord Jagannath: the tribal deity (Odisha Review, June–July 2007) Scholarly