NAPPINNAI AND THE SEVEN BULLS TAMED BY KRISHNA

KRISHNA TAMES THE SEVEN BULLS AT NAPPINAI'S FARM

HOW DID KRISHNA MARRY NAPPINNAI?

In divya prabandhams, Nappinnai is referred by the name *பின்னை pinnai* and KrishNa is referred by the name *பின்னை கேள்வன்* meaning Nappinai's husband.

NeelA Devi incarnated as Nappinnai, the daughter of YashOda’s brother kumban. Just around that time, the sons of kAlanEmi asura were born as seven bulls in kumban's farm. They had strong humps and were very troublesome causing destruction to the cowherds and the cows. Nappinnai's father Kumban could not manage them. Tired of them, one day he declared that he would give his lotus-eyed daughter NeelA to the one who tames the seven ferocious bulls.

तप्तानां वृषमल्लानां दमिता यो भवेद्भुवि । 

तस्मै कन्यां प्रदास्यामि नीलां नीरदलोचनाम् ॥

Harivamsham (Southern Recension), Chapter 12-34

After some days, yashodA took her children krishNa and BalarAma to Kumbhan uncle's house.  During their playtime with Nappinnai, kriShNa spotted the ferocious bulls. He advanced towards them and tamed the seven bulls effortlessly. Kumban then happily sent Nappinnai along with Yashoda as krishNa’s partner to grow up with him. 

This is how NeelA became krishNa’s wife, referred to in tiruppAvai 18-20 as “nandagopAlan marumagaLE nappinnAi, gandam kamazhum kuzhali, pandAr virali, maittaDankanni, nappinnai nangAy, tiruvE.