By Swami Harshananda
Nandana literally means ‘that which gives joy’.
Nandana or Nandanavana is a pleasure garden in Indra’s svargaloka or heaven. Only those who have controlled their senses and practiced ahinsā[1] are eligible to enter it. It is also the name of one of the sons of Hiraṇyakaśipu, the demon-king and father of Prahlāda, the famous devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. He was a devotee of Śiva and ruled over the Svetadvīpa. Later on he was absorbed into Śiva’s retinue.
References[edit]
- ↑ Ahinsā means non-violence.
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore