Nirṛti

Nirṛti (Sanskrit: निर्ऋति) — Sometimes people dey spell am as Nirruti or Nirriti. For Hindu belief, Nirṛti na one spirit wey dem dey call deity (na spirit wey people dey worship). E stand for death, decay (things wey dey spoil), and sorrow (bad feelings or sadness).

For di old Hindu books, dem talk say Nirṛti be woman goddess wey dey live for di land of dead people. Later on, for some other Hindu beliefs, Nirṛti come turn man spirit too. Dem even believe say e be one of di dikpala, wey mean spirit wey dey guide di different corners of di world. Nirṛti own corner na di southwest side.

Wetin di name mean

Di word Nirṛti for Sanskrit language mean decay — as something dey spoil or break down. Di word come from nirṛ, wey mean "to separate" or "to break apart." Some people believe say di name also mean place wey no get order or law — everywhere just scatter.

For olden days Hindu books, di word Nirṛti mean place wey no get life at all — total darkness. E be place wey fit swallow anybody wey no do sacrifice or wey no born pikin like di tradition talk. For dis place, no light, no food, no pikin — all di things wey important for Hindu life that time no dey there.

As Goddess

Nirṛti name show for plenty songs and prayers wey dem gather for Rigveda, one of di oldest Hindu books. Most times, people dey pray make she no near dem or make she comot from where dem dey do sacrifice. For one prayer (Rigveda hymn X.59), dem mention her name many times. For Atharvaveda (another old Hindu book), dem describe her say she get golden hair. For another book, Taittiriya Brahmana, dem talk say her skin dark, she dey wear dark cloth and di part wey she dey chop for sacrifice na dark husk (di chaff wey dey cover grain). For Shatapatha Brahmana, dem talk say her side na southwest corner. But for another part of di same book, dem talk say she dey live for di land of dead people.

Later belief about Nirṛti

For some other Hindu books, dem change di way dem see Nirṛti. Some books talk say she be wife of Adharma (Adharma mean everything wey no good or wey no follow correct law). Dem say she born three pikin — Mrityu (Death), Bhaya (Fear), and Mahabhaya (Big Fear). People dey call dis three pikin dem Nairrita.

Another story talk say she be pikin of Adharma and Himsa (Himsa mean violence — di opposite of Ahimsa, wey mean peace). Dis story talk say Nirṛti marry her own brother wey dem call Arita (Arita mean something wey no get order or law). She come born two pikin — Naraka (di spirit wey stand for hell) and Bhaya (Fear).

For Bhagavata Purana (another Hindu book), dem talk say Nirṛti no get pikin at all. Dem say e adopt Adharma and Mrisha (Mrisha mean lie or untruth) — two spirit wey dem believe say Brahma (di creator god) create.

Some books join Nirṛti name with Jyeshtha or Alakshmi — two other bad-luck goddesses. For dis version, dem talk say she come out from di Samudra Manthana — di time wey gods and demons shake di ocean to bring out treasure and power.

How Nirṛti later turn man god

Some scholars (people wey study religion well well) talk say for later Hindu belief, Nirṛti change from woman spirit to man spirit. Di male version of Nirṛti come be dikpala — di spirit wey guide southwest side of di world.

Some books talk say Nirṛti join di group wey dem dey call rudras, wey be different forms of Shiva. For dis story, dem say Nirṛti na pikin of Sthanu, wey be another name for Shiva.

Di way dem take describe Nirṛti body for different books no too dey same. Some books like Agamas talk say Nirṛti skin black, e body big, e dey wear yellow cloth. E dey ride ontop either one man or one lion.

For Vishnudharmottara Purana, dem say Nirṛti face no fine, e eye bad, e mouth dey open anyhow, and e teeth dey outside. For dat same book, dem talk say e dey ride ontop donkey and e dey hold one kind stick wey dem dey call danda.

Vishnudharmottara Purana still talk say Nirṛti get four wives — Devi, Krishnangi, Krishnavandana, and Krishnapasha.

For Devi-Bhagavata Purana, dem talk say Nirṛti get one big city wey dem call Krishnajana. Dis city dey for southwest side of Mount Meru (one holy mountain for Hindu belief). Dem talk say di size of di city na 2500 yojanas (yojana na old Indian way to measure distance — e fit be like 10-12 km for one yojana).