Lord Shiva’s vehicle
History of Nandikeshwar aka Nandi Devar:
TITLE:- “Story Of Nandi: The Sacred Bull of Shiva in Hindu Mythology”
TiruNandi Devar means Nandi God is regarded as the first guru and vehicle of Shiva in Shaivism.In the temples, the image of Nandi Dev is placed in front of the Shiva lingam. He is also known as Siddha.
Kailai is the gate-guarding deity of Lord Shiva’s abode. He is usually depicted as a bull. He is also considered as the suitable vehicle for Shiva. According to Saiva Siddhanta tradition, Nandi Devar is regarded as the main guru of the eight disciples of the Nandinatha Sampradaya; That is, the eight disciples Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana, Sanatkumara,Tirumular, Vyaghrapada, Patanjali, and Sivayoga Muni were sent in eight different directions to propagate Shaivism.
In almost all temples, there is an idol of Nandi before the Shiva shrine. The worship of Nandi has been around for thousands of years.Nandi was the son of Sage Shilata. Shilatha did severe penance to Lord Shiva and got Nandi as her son. By the grace of Lord Shiva,Nandi was born in the Yagna performed by Shilatha. Nandi was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and he performed severe penance and became the guardian of his mountain which is the divine gate of Kailash parvat.
Nandi’s color is white, white means purity. The color of dharma, which is virtue, is also white. Nandi is full of purity and dharma.The song ‘Urthi Val vel Lerre Best Sierkelu Kodhium Avveveru…’ is composed as a greeting to the God of Puranhun. It means that the bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva, is pure white in color and has special great pride.Know the nature of the material Our “Lord Nandiwana”
It is clear from the saying that Nandi is the one who blessed Shiva Gamat directly from Lord Shiva to the people of the world.The Shiva Purana says that Nandi Deva played Mattalam (a drum beaten by the hand) during Lord Shiva’s Thirumanam purigai.According to the Bharata dance book Abhinaya Darpanam, Lord Shiva taught Brahma the art of dance.
It is mentioned in the Puranas that Lord Nandi, who was the guru of Tirumool, explained and blessed the nine Vedic Agamas.Lord Shiva’s vehicle and flag is Rishab (Bull). Dharmadeva asked Lord Shiva to accept her as a vehicle. Pursuant to that request,Lord Shiva – you should walk with four, three, two, one feet in every age. He blessed that even the sins committed by our worshipers will become virtues because I am alive to you and lead you.
We can see Nandi in temples with three legs folded and only one leg raised. This is according to Lord Shiva’s order to walk on one leg in Kali Yuga.In temples, Nandi Deva seated majestically in front of Garbha Graha is known as Dharmavidya.There is no destruction. Ishvara is seated on that Nandi so that it reaches the Lord in the form of the answer (Bull).
Lord Shiva says in Nandi Purana that I and Nandi are not different but one. Worshiping Nandi is equivalent to worshiping Lord Shiva.
Five Nandi’s in Shiva Temples: Shiva temples also feature five Nandi’s based on the Shiva Agamas.
They are as follows…
He will be near the source in all Shivalams. He is called Kailaya Nandi because he is always near Lord Shiva in Kailayam.(kailash)
Avatar Nandi:
Avathara Nandi is next to Kailaya Nandi in temples. This Nandi is called Vishnu Avatar Nandi and Vishnu Nandi as Tirumala became Nandi as a vehicle for Lord Shiva.
Power Nandi:
Athikaran Nandi is the third of the five types of Nandi’s found in temples. Nandi standing as a gate guard at Kailayam (kailash) got the name Abhikaran Nandi because he had the authority to allow people to visit Lord Shiva.
Ordinary Nandi:
A normal Nandi is the fourth of the five types of Nandi’s found in temples.This Nandi is not installed in temples with less than five Nandi’s.
Maha (Great) Nandi:
Periya Nandi is one of the five types of Nandi found at the entrance of temples. This Nandi will always be the guard in the Vishwaroopam of Kailayam.Because of that he is called Maha Nandi and Vishwaroopa Nandi.
Mythological History:
The worship of Shiva and Nandi can be found even in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Here there is an icon of the famous ‘Pasupati Nadhar’ seated. It is commonly identified with Shiva.
Also many bull seals were found at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. Thus the worship of Nandi has been going on for thousands of years.This led the researchers to conclude that it has been a long-standing tradition.
Nandi is revered as the son of Sage Shilata. Shilatha underwent severe penance to obtain a boon. And so,
a child who was immortal and blessed by Lord Shiva had Nandi as his son. Nandi is also believed to have appeared through a prayer made by Shilatha. It is believed that when he was born, his body was covered with an armor made of diamonds.
Nandi Devar grew up to be an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. History has it that he did austere penance and
attained the position of gatekeeper and chief disciple of Lord Shiva at the present-day Nandikeshwar Temple on the banks of the Narmada River near Tirupur Tirth Kshetra in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Nandi received the divine knowledge of Agamic and Tantric wisdom taught by Shiva from Goddess Parvati.
He imparted that divine knowledge to eight of his disciples who are identified as the pioneers of Nandinatha Sampradaya.They are Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Thirumoola, Vyaghrapada, Patanjali, and Sivayoga Muni.These eight disciples were sent by Nandi Deva to eight different directions of the world to spread this knowledge.
Shaivites believe that Lord Shiva dances in the center of Nandi’s head during Pradosha.Therefore, there are special prayers for Nandi and Thirumuzku worships. As Nandi Devar is the chief guardian of Shivaloka, he has the power to prevent devas and devotees from visiting Shiva. While Shiva had drunk the Alagala Vida and was dozing in Umaiyal’s lap, Abhikhara Nandi prevented the others from entering.
Abhikaran Nandi and Garuda
Vishnu rode the Garuda Vahanam to have darshan of Lord Shiva in Kailai. Vishnu stood outside with
Garuda to get permission from Lord Shiva’s guard, Nandi Deva, to visit Shiva. As it was time for Vishnu to return engrossed in Shiva darshan, Garuda tried to enter without taking permission from Nandi dev. This led to a fight between the two.Nandi staggered and fell with the fetus in the furious breath of God.
He called Vishnu to protect him. Vishnu, who was in Shiva darshan, prayed to Lord Shiva and prayed to Nandi to forgive Garuda.So it is history that Garuda was protected.
Nandi Deva, who has many glories, has idols in many places all over the world.
In India, there are many famous Nandi’s, especially in South India, there are many temples where Nandi’s are located.Lord Shiva temples have at least a small Nandi.
Here are the five largest Nandi idols in India.
Located in Thanjavur Bragatheeswarar Temple, this Nandi idol was built by Nayaks. The statue is 13 feet tall and 16 feet long.
2. Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi.
This Nandi statue is located in the Veerabhadra Temple, built in the 16th century by the Vijayanagara Kings in Lepakshi,Andhra Pradesh. This Nandi is considered to be the largest Nandi statue in India. Apart from that it is also known as the largest monolithic Nandi in the world. The idol is 15 feet tall and 27 feet long.
3. Chamundi Hill, Mysore
This colossal Nandi was built in 1664 at Chamundi Hill in Mysore. It is 15 feet high and 24 feet long.
4. Basavanagudi Bangalore
This Nandi idol is located in Basavanagudi, south of Bangalore. The Nandi idol in this temple is 15 feet tall and 20 feet long.
5. Hoysaleshwara Temple Halipedu Hoysaleswara Temple was started in the 12th century and stopped halfway through.
Two 14 feet tall monolithic Nandi idols are found in this temple.
Some information:
Nandi means bliss, giver of happiness. Nandi’s job is prevention. This means that no one can enter the places where human beings can hangs out without his permission. Human beings can get grace only if he gets Nandi’s permission.That is why, if someone obstructs during important events, it is customary to say, “What is he obstructing like Nandi?”
It is believed that those who regularly worship Nandi during the Pradosha season will get auspicious fruits.
A wonderful scene of Nandi Deva worshiping Lord Shiva is at Mandhara Vaneswarar temple at Athur, Nagai district. The Adipureeswarar Temple in Chintadripet, Chennai has a huge Adhikarana Nandi Vahanam.
This authority Nandi was given by the Tamil scholar D.B.O. It was done by Ponnusamy Gramani, father of Meenakshi Sundaranar.
The largest stone Nandyam in India is the Nandi carved in black stone at Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh.
For the people of Tamilnadu, when Nandi comes to mind, Nandi is the big temple of Thanjavur. This Nandi is made of single stone.Madurai Avani Moola Road has a huge Nandi made of mud known as “Makalai”. Such Makkalai Nandis can also be found in Nellai, Suchindram, Rameswaram, Thiruvidaimarudur temples.
Jyoti Nandi is located on the Tiruvannamalai Kriwala Path. Devotees have a custom of lighting a lamp before this Nandi and crawling towards the mountain.
When viewed from a certain point on the Tiruvannamalai trail, the mountain looks like a reclining Nandi.
That place is called “Nandimukha Darshanam”.Nandi on Chamundi Hill in Mysore is a spectacularly beautiful Nandi. There is a Mahadeva temple in Vaikam, Kerala. Nandi is placed there at the four corners. In the Tiruvarur Thiagarajan Temple shrine, Nandi is standing up looking at Isaan in wonder. It is believed that by worshiping this Nandi, all the sins committed will disappear.
Nandi was the guru of Tirumool who wrote the book Thirumanthiram. It is mentioned in the Puranas that Lord Nandi explained the 9 Vedic Agamas to Tirumool.Sanagar, Sanandhar, Sanadanar, Sanathkumar, Patanjali, Sivayoga Mamuni, Vyakramar and Thirumoolar were all 8 students of Nandi Peruman. Nandi Durga Hill is popularly known as Nandi Hill in Kolar District of Karnataka. Nandi Hill is considered to be the birthplace of the rivers Bennar and Balaru Ponnaiyar. It is 1,500 feet above sea level. Nandi Hill got its name from the thousand year old Nandi temple.
The Linga Purana tells the story of Nandikesvara. It is a mythological tradition that Lord Shiva, who was born as a great lord, was born as Nandikeshwara and became the leader of Ganas. While worshiping Nandi, “O Nandikeshwara, who is deeply blessed in Sivatyana, bowing down to Shiva’s feet!
I should pray, ‘Give me orders to go to the Sannidhi and visit the Lord with the Mantle.’ Nandi dev should be worshiped with arugula garland, red rice offering and ghee lamp. The Shiva Purana says that Nandi deva himself played the Mattalam in Lord Shiva’s Thirumanam purigai.
Dharma sustains God. It is the breath it emits that gives him life. This is why the Navel of the Moolah is
placed as the life stage and Nandi’s nostrils are arranged in its straight line. It is said that one should not cross Nandi and bow down to reach the source without hindrance of this breath.
Nandis left for Shiva darshan:
Nandi left for Nandan – In the Shiva temple in the town of Tirupunkur, Nandanar was not allowed to enter the
temple at that time, so he wanted to visit Lord Shiva from outside the temple. Nandikeshwara sat a little away from his place to pray to Lord Shiva. A seven feet tall Nandi can be seen at this site, not directly facing the Sannidhi of Lord Shiva but slightly away from it.
Nandi’s for Gnanasambandar – The Nandi’s will be moving a bit so that Gnanasambandar can have a good visit to Lord Shiva in Patteeswaram and Thirupoonthuruthi temples of Nandikesvara
Other Names:
Rudran, Thuyavan, Sailathi, Agniruban, Mritanga Vidhyapriya, Siva Vahanan, Tarunakaramurthy, Veera Murthy,
Dhanapriya, Kanakapriyan,
Sivapriyan, Nanthisar, Nantheeswarar, Nandyam Peruman have various names.
Benefits of worshiping Nandi:
Pradhakshanam three times – Ishta Siddhi
Prathikshanam five times – Jayam
Pradhakshanam seven times – virtues
Pradhakshanam nine times – putra prapti
Pradhakshanam eleven times – long life
If you do Pradhakshanam thirteen times – the prayer is accomplished
Fifteen times Pradhakshanam – Tana Prapti
If you do Pradhakshanam seventeen times – Dhana Vriddhi
One hundred and eight times Pradhakshanam – Aswamedha result
Nandi Gayatri Mantra:
Om tatpurushaya vidmahe chakra tundaya dhimahi
Tanno Nandi Prachodayat
Meaning:
Lord Nandi, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
I pray that you protect me and purify my mind as a result of worshiping you forever.
Praise of Nandikeswarar:
If Lord Nandi worships Him daily In Bundi, the fame of wisdom will be sought by education
Even worldly pleasures are under him!
Even the grace of the world has to sing his praises!
Antecedents are also burnt wax
Nandi’s view will be accompanied by good pictures!
Sitting across from Eason, God swings
Let us pray to Nandi dev!
By worshiping Lord Nandi, all the evil in our mind will be removed and all your requests, good wishes and legitimate desires will surely be fulfilled. May you get the perfect grace of Lord Shiva. In addition, there will always be happiness in life, Guru’s blessings and peace of mind. Diseases and poverty will be removed by worshiping Lord Nandi with Arukumbul mala and jaggery mixed with Arisima. Children are born to the childless. Job seekers will get jobs of their choice. One cannot visit Lord Shiva without visiting Nandi in temples. But even if you do darshan of Nandi alone, you will get the full benefits of darshan of Lord Shiva.
Similarly, it is enough to pray to Nandikeshwar to pray to Parameswar.
It is believed that he would add it to Lord Shiva.
Praise be to Nandikeshwara
Atma Namaskar
READ OUT MORE STORIES ABOUT NANDI FROM GIVEN LINK BELOW,
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Nandi-Hindu-mythology
1 thought on ““Story Of Nandi: The Sacred Bull of Shiva in Hindu Mythology””