In the vibrant culture of Bengal, the celebration of Vishwakarma Puja once carried a unique iconographic tradition that has now largely faded into obscurity. During the early and mid-20th century, idols of Lord Vishwakarma—the divine architect of the universe—were often accompanied by two male figures placed on either side of him within the puja pandals. These figures represented Nala and Neela, the two legendary sons of Vishwakarma, revered in the Ramayana for their unmatched skills in engineering and construction.
Nala and Neela in the Ramayana
According to the Ramayana (Yuddha Kanda, Chapter 22), Nala and Neela were among the vanaras (divine monkey warriors) who played a crucial role in building the bridge—known as Setu Bandha or Rama Setu—across the ocean to Lanka. Their father, Vishwakarma, the celestial architect, had blessed them with the gift of construction. As Valmiki describes, “They were endowed with divine craftsmanship, capable of making the impossible possible.” Under their guidance, the vanara army built the massive bridge that allowed Lord Rama to cross the sea and rescue Sita from Ravana’s captivity.
The Disappeared Tradition in Bengal
In Bengal’s early Vishwakarma Puja celebrations, these divine artisans were honored as assistants to their father. Local idol-makers depicted Nala and Neela as human craftsmen, dressed in the "babu" style typical of colonial Bengal—symbolizing the merging of divine skill with earthly craftsmanship. Over time, however, this representation began to vanish. With the spread of industrialization and the rise of the working class, Vishwakarma’s image evolved. The god once seated on a swan began to ride an elephant burdened with tools and goods, a reflection of Bengal’s growing industrial ethos.
The Changing Symbolism
Vishwakarma, once revered primarily as the cosmic creator, gradually became the patron deity of laborers, artisans, and factory workers. His tools—hammer, balance, and scale—came to represent not only divine creation but human toil. In this transformation, Nala and Neela were forgotten, their divine legacy absorbed into the collective identity of the workers who now viewed Vishwakarma as their own.
Remembering the Divine Craftsmen
The fading of Nala and Neela from Vishwakarma Puja does not erase their significance. They remain eternal symbols of ingenuity, devotion, and service to divine purpose. Their story reminds worshippers that skill, when dedicated to righteousness, becomes sacred. As the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 3, Verse 19) says, “Therefore, without attachment, perform always the work that has to be done; for by performing work without attachment, one attains the Supreme.”
The tale of Nala and Neela, once visible in Bengal’s festive artistry, still whispers through the spirit of Vishwakarma Puja—a reminder that divine craftsmanship lives on in every act of honest labor and creative pursuit.