Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.1516

c8.1516

NILA III. A monkey-chief, who was a dependant of Śrī Rāma. He was Agni’s son. ‘Nila, son of Pāvaka (fire) shone forth like agni (fire). He stood foremost among the monkeys in the matter of effulgence, reputation and prowess’. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, Canto 17). This monkey-chief was also included in the set of monkeys deputed by Śrī Rāma to search for Sītā. In the Rāma-Rāvaṇa war Nila killed Pramāthī, the younger brother of the Rākṣasa called Dūṣaṇa. (Vana Parva, Chapter 287, Verse 27).