Scientific name

Boselaphus tragocamelus  Pall.

Common name

Blue Bull

Hindi

Nilgai

Sanskrit 

Nila jauh

Distribution

North Indian plains

Religious association

The nilgai or blue bull is actually a species of antelope, commonly seen all over north India. It looks like a cow, hence its name (nil means blue, gai means cow).The blue bull is regarded as a bovine animal, leading to the local belief that the nilgai is a cow and hence sacred.