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Nandaka: FAQ & Sources
नन्दकNandaka is the sword of Vishnu. The Vishnu Purana explains it as vidya, true knowledge, sheathed in the scabbard of ignorance. Vishnu is called Nandaki in the Vishnu Sahasranama, and the Tirumala tradition holds the poet Annamacharya to be an embodiment of the sword.
Borne byविVishnu
Frequently asked questions
What is the name of Vishnu's sword?
Nandaka. Vishnu is called Nandaki, the bearer of Nandaka, in the Vishnu Sahasranama.
What does Vishnu's sword represent?
The Vishnu Purana says it is knowledge (vidya), kept in the sheath of ignorance (avidya).
Who is said to be an incarnation of Nandaka?
The poet-saint Annamacharya, in the tradition of Tirumala.
Sources
- Vishnu Purana, Book 1, ch. 22
- Vishnu Sahasranama, closing verse
- Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams tradition on Annamacharya
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