Nayru (Goddess)

Nayru (ネール, Neeru) is the Goddess of Wisdom, one of the three Golden Goddesses who created the realm of Hyrule (along with parallel realms, such as the Sacred Realm). Naryu is the source of the fundamental laws that govern the realm of Hyrule. Nayru's essence, as well as the essence of her two sisters Farore, and Din, is the source of the Golden Power within the omnipotent sacred relic, the Triforce.

At the dawn of existence, Nayru, along with Din and Farore, descended upon the void that was to become the land of Hyrule, each of them creating a different facet of the realm. According to Ocarina of Time, Nayru "poured her wisdom onto the earth and gave the spirit of law to the world." Upon departure, the three goddesses created the Triforce, the embodiment of their divine essence, and left it within the Sacred Realm.

Nayru's divine essence is what constitutes the Triforce of Wisdom, which affords Princess Zelda her great wisdom and mystical abilities. Though at a much smaller extent, Nayru's essence can also be invoked by a powerful sorcerer. Her essence provides a protective shield of light when the spell Nayru's Love is cast.

Attributes
Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom, is revered for establishing the physical and meta-physical laws of Hyrulean existence, as well as being the designer of space-time itself. She is commonly associated with the element of water, and thusly she is worshiped as a Goddess of the Seas and other great bodies of water, such as Lake Hylia. Because of her part in creating the laws of the realm, Nayru is possibly also the one worshiped as the Goddess of Time (as referred to in Majora's Mask.)

Of all the races in the Hyrulean realm, the essence of Nayru is best personified by the Zoras. These fish-like, humanoid, water-dwellers are known for their hierarchical form of government, as well as their stoicism and their great wisdom. Though they are native to Zora's Domain, Zoras' are found within waterways throughout the Lanayru Province, as far south as Lake Hylia.

Nayru is commonly associated with string instruments, such as the harp, and singing.

Appearances
In her first appearance, in Ocarina of Time, Nayru is represented by a simple golden figure surrounded by a bluish aura. However, in later games, monuments representing Nayru (such as the statues of the Golden Goddesses in the throne room of Hyrule Castle in Twilight Princess) give them a more detailed appearance. In Wind Waker, the statue of Nayru appears almost identical to the oracle Nayru.