Nandi
Nandi (Sanskrit: नन्दि) is the gate- guardian god of Kailasa, the
residence of Lord Shiva. He is usually depicted as a bull which also serves as
the mount to the god Shiva. According to Shaiv tradition, he is considered as
the chief guru of eight disciples of Nandinatha, Sampradaya, Sanaka,
Sanatana,Sanandana, Shanatkumara, Tirumular, Vyagrapada,
Patanjali and Sivayoga Muni who were send to eight directions to spread the
wisdom of Shaivism.
The word Nandi has come from Tamil root
word Nandhu (Tamil: நந்து) means to grow, to flourish or to appear which
was used to indicate growing flourished white bulls as well as divine bull
Nandi. The Sanskrit word Nandi (Sanskrit: नन्दि) has the meaning of
"happy", "joy" and "satisfaction"; also said as the properties of divine
guardian of Lord Shiva - Nandi. Almost all Shiva temples display stone
images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine.
It is recently documented that the application of the name Nandi to the bull
(Sanskrit: Vṛṣabha) is in fact a development of recent combination of
different regional beliefs within Saivism. The name Nandi was widely used
instead for an human characteristics door-keepers of Kailasha rather than his
mount in the oldest Saivite texts in Sanskrit, Tamil and other Indian
languages. Siddhantic texts clearly distinct Nandi from Vṛṣabha. According to
them, Devi, Chandesha, Mahakala, Vṛṣabha,
Nandi, Ganesha, Bhringi and Murugan are eight Ganeshwaras (commanders)
of Shiva.
The worship of Shiva and Nandi can be traced to even Indus Valley
Civilization time period. The famous 'Pasupati Seal' depicts a seated figure
which is usually identified as Shiva and there were so many bull seals were
found in Mohenjo daro and Harappa that led to conclude the researchers it
might be the origin of Bull - cum - Nandi worship.
Nandi is described as the son of the sage Shilada. Shilada underwent
severe self-punishment to have a boon — a child with immortality towards
Lord Shiva and got Nandi as his son. It is said that Nandi was born from
a Yajna performed by the Shilada and his body was clad in armour made out
of diamonds when he was born. Nandi grew as an ardent devotee of Lord
Shiva and he did self-punishment to become the gate-keeper of the Lord Shiva
as well as his mount on the Banks of River Narmada near Tripur tirth Kshetra
present day Nandikeshwar Temple, Bargi, Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.
Nandi got the divine knowledge of Agamic and Tantric wisdom taught
by Lord Shiva from goddess Parvati. He could teach that divine knowledge to
his Eight disciples who are identified as the progenitors of Nandinatha
Sampradaya -Sanaka, Sanatana,
Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Tirumular, Vyagrapada, Patanjaliand Sivayoga
Muni. These eight disciples are directed to eight directions of the world by
Nandinatha to spread the wisdom he taught them.
Many other puranic tales are available about Nandi. One describes his
conflict with Ravana, the anti-hero of Ramayana. Nandi cursed Ravana (the
demon King of Lanka) that his kingdom would be burnt by a monkey
(Vanara). Later Hanuman burnt Lanka when he went in search of Sita, who
was kept prisoner by Ravana in Ashok Vatika.
