Nandi is the vehicle of Lord Shiva.
He is one avatar of Lord Shiva, who appears by the request of Sage Shilad.
He has two forms. One is in the bull form to serve Shiva, other is the human form.
He is one of the greatest devotees of Mahadev who did penance in the age of 8 years.
And in this article, we will see an interesting story of him with an answer to why he is in front of Shivling. We also see the Significance of Nandi (the bull) in Shiva temple.
Let's see,
Once Shilad rishi penance to Lord Indra for many years.
He wants to get a son who is Ayonija, who born without mother and father.
He meditates on Indra for number of years. When Indra appears, he asks a boon of Ayonija son.
But Indra shows his inability to provide such a son.
He says that only God Shiva is able to give you a son as per your wish.
After Sage Shilad penance to Lord Shiva for a long time. His penance is of extreme level. He not eat anything, not even take water. His bone seems on the body.
From this level of penance, Lord Shiva pleased and come there. They wake up him.
Shilad pray to them, he glorifies them by prayers and thoughts.
Lord Shiva pleased by his true devotion, they say to ask for any boon.
Shilad says, "O Lord, I want a son like you who never disappear, who is immortal, who take birth without a womb."
God of all world, Lord Shiva accepts his request and says,
"Shilad, I am the father of the world, but you become my father. I born in your home as Nandi."
After Lord Shiva disappeared from there.
Shilad is too happy because he will get a son like Mahadev, God of gods. He went to the home and say everyone about it.
After sometimes, when Shilad digs Earth for Yagya, from his body Nandi appears.
Nandi looks like second Mahadev. The appearance of him is the same as Lord Mahadev, the third eye, moon, Trishul and ash on the body. He is like Rudra form in front of Shilad. Shilad glorifies them through various prayers.
He says, "Because you give me happiness by appearing as Nandi name, I bow to you who give peace to the world."
After Shilad dive into the sea of peace, he is too happy like when a poor person gets money. His happiness is unexplainable, he, again and again, prays to Nandi.
After both return home. When they reach, Nandi abandons his divine form, he becomes like a baby who born sometimes ago. Now he is in human form. As per rituals, works done for new babies.
When he is a child, he goes to learning. In the fifth year, he learns Vedas and various scriptures by his father. His father is very happy to see his brilliance. He quickly learns, his intelligence is surprising. And time passed.
When his seventh year completed, two Sages come, named Varuna and Mitra. Both come to say some bad news, the news that will shock his father.
They say, 'Shilad, Your son has all knowledge of Vedas, but the sad news is he won't live more, his age won't see more than one year from now. His life may end, no possibility seems."
Father Shilad become too sad, he can't believe that his dear son will die. He cries and falls on Earth.
People from the neighborhood come, they wake up him. Nandi, his son ask, What happened? Why you cry? Please know me.
Father says, "Son, your life will end soon. Two Sages forecast that your life is no more than 1 year from now. I am too sad. Who can solve this problem?"
Son Nandi says, "Father, don't I promise that I will not die in childhood even if Lord of death come. I can't die, so don't depress."
Father says, "What you will do? On whom you penance? How can you overcome death?"
Nandi says, "I do not do any other things, the only thing I do will penance on Lord Shiva, surrender to them. They will surely protect me, death will not even touch me because I win death by Mahadev's devotion."
After saying this, he takes permission from father and goes to the way of Forest.
He finds one place in Forest and sits there, starts penance of Mahadev. As great sages did penance, he prays with great devotion. His every second spends in memory of Shiva. He chants the Rudra Mantra. He thinks only about God Shiva.
By his true devotion and penance, Lord Shiva pleased on him, come there and say, "Nandi, you did great penance. I am satisfied with your devotion and faith toward me. Ask a boon."
Nandi becomes too happy, he falls on the feet of Shiva and glorifies them with stuties. He cries, doesn't have a word to ask.
Mahadev stands him up and says, Nandi, don't worry about death, two Sages come there by my order. How can you die? You are my Avatar.
They give him boons,
After saying this, Lord Shiva wears a garland of flowers to Nandi from their neck. As Nandi wears, he becomes like a Mahadev again with trishula on hand, three eyes, and moon on the head.
God Shiva asks him, what boon do you need?
And God Shiva takes water in hand from head and order, "Become a river." As they put water on land, it turns to five rivers.
After they ask Goddess Parvati, "I want to make Nandi as leader of Ganas, what to do you say?"
Parvati Devi says, "You can make him as a leader. He is dear to me like a son."
After saying that, they call all Ganas and tell them, "Ganas, Nandi will the leader of all of you. So, Ready for Abhishek of him."
And Ganas agree, they start preparation.
Nandi marries with Suyasha. Divine things are given to Nandi and Suyasha. After he and his wife bow to God Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and Parvati.
Brahma and Vishnu and other Devtas also give numerous boons. Then Lord Shiva goes to Kailas with Parvati and all Devtas are also go with admiring Nandi and praising God Shiva.
Lord Shiva gives a boon to Nandi of the nearness of them which means wherever Shiva is, Nandi is also there. Mahadev goes anywhere, they ride on Nandi. When Lord Shiva says Shiva Purana stories, Nandi is also there and he listens complete Shiv Puran which has 100 crore verses. When Shiva meditates, Nandi stays near to them. And because Nandi has the boon of Shiva nearness, he is in the temple, in front of Shivling where Mahadev is in Nirguna form.
ॐ नंदिकेश्वराय नमः
Om Nandikeshwaraya Namah
Chanting Nandi Mantra please Lord Shiva because Nandi is a great Shiva devotee who represents one form, incarnation of Mahadev.
This mantra should be chanted at the time of worshipping Nandi in the procedure of Abhishek of Mahadev.
Nandi has great significance. He is one who is an avatar of Mahadev. He always stays near to Shiva.
If we see at the temple, whenever we worship Lord Shiva, we also worship Nandi.
When we enter the temple, we bow to Nandi bull before we see Lord Shiva. We also whisper in Nandi's ear which fulfills all wishes.
Nandi shows the symbol of Dharma, Lord Shiva ride on him which shows that they always with Dharma.
Nandi is one of the best devotees of Lord Shiva. He is very knowledgeable. He listens to Shiv Purana of 100 crore verses and he teaches to great sages Sanatkumara. His knowledge is unlimited because Lord Shiva gives him a boon of equality.
Nandi is a form of the sacred bull, a form of Dharma and holiness.
Nandi is a symbol of devotion, faith, and surrenderness towards Shiva. His dedication toward Shiva is incomparable.
He is one avatar of Lord Shiva, who appears by the request of Sage Shilad.
He has two forms. One is in the bull form to serve Shiva, other is the human form.
He is one of the greatest devotees of Mahadev who did penance in the age of 8 years.
And in this article, we will see an interesting story of him with an answer to why he is in front of Shivling. We also see the Significance of Nandi (the bull) in Shiva temple.
Let's see,
Story of Nandi - How Shilad get Nandi as a son?
Once Shilad rishi penance to Lord Indra for many years.
He wants to get a son who is Ayonija, who born without mother and father.
He meditates on Indra for number of years. When Indra appears, he asks a boon of Ayonija son.
But Indra shows his inability to provide such a son.
He says that only God Shiva is able to give you a son as per your wish.
After Sage Shilad penance to Lord Shiva for a long time. His penance is of extreme level. He not eat anything, not even take water. His bone seems on the body.
From this level of penance, Lord Shiva pleased and come there. They wake up him.
Shilad pray to them, he glorifies them by prayers and thoughts.
Lord Shiva pleased by his true devotion, they say to ask for any boon.
Shilad says, "O Lord, I want a son like you who never disappear, who is immortal, who take birth without a womb."
God of all world, Lord Shiva accepts his request and says,
"Shilad, I am the father of the world, but you become my father. I born in your home as Nandi."
After Lord Shiva disappeared from there.
Shilad is too happy because he will get a son like Mahadev, God of gods. He went to the home and say everyone about it.
After sometimes, when Shilad digs Earth for Yagya, from his body Nandi appears.
Nandi looks like second Mahadev. The appearance of him is the same as Lord Mahadev, the third eye, moon, Trishul and ash on the body. He is like Rudra form in front of Shilad. Shilad glorifies them through various prayers.
He says, "Because you give me happiness by appearing as Nandi name, I bow to you who give peace to the world."
After Shilad dive into the sea of peace, he is too happy like when a poor person gets money. His happiness is unexplainable, he, again and again, prays to Nandi.
After both return home. When they reach, Nandi abandons his divine form, he becomes like a baby who born sometimes ago. Now he is in human form. As per rituals, works done for new babies.
When he is a child, he goes to learning. In the fifth year, he learns Vedas and various scriptures by his father. His father is very happy to see his brilliance. He quickly learns, his intelligence is surprising. And time passed.
When his seventh year completed, two Sages come, named Varuna and Mitra. Both come to say some bad news, the news that will shock his father.
News by Sages and Nandi's Penance for Lord Shiva
They say, 'Shilad, Your son has all knowledge of Vedas, but the sad news is he won't live more, his age won't see more than one year from now. His life may end, no possibility seems."
Father Shilad become too sad, he can't believe that his dear son will die. He cries and falls on Earth.
People from the neighborhood come, they wake up him. Nandi, his son ask, What happened? Why you cry? Please know me.
Father says, "Son, your life will end soon. Two Sages forecast that your life is no more than 1 year from now. I am too sad. Who can solve this problem?"
Son Nandi says, "Father, don't I promise that I will not die in childhood even if Lord of death come. I can't die, so don't depress."
Father says, "What you will do? On whom you penance? How can you overcome death?"
Nandi says, "I do not do any other things, the only thing I do will penance on Lord Shiva, surrender to them. They will surely protect me, death will not even touch me because I win death by Mahadev's devotion."
After saying this, he takes permission from father and goes to the way of Forest.
He finds one place in Forest and sits there, starts penance of Mahadev. As great sages did penance, he prays with great devotion. His every second spends in memory of Shiva. He chants the Rudra Mantra. He thinks only about God Shiva.
By his true devotion and penance, Lord Shiva pleased on him, come there and say, "Nandi, you did great penance. I am satisfied with your devotion and faith toward me. Ask a boon."
Boons of Lord Shiva to his great devotee
Nandi becomes too happy, he falls on the feet of Shiva and glorifies them with stuties. He cries, doesn't have a word to ask.
Mahadev stands him up and says, Nandi, don't worry about death, two Sages come there by my order. How can you die? You are my Avatar.
They give him boons,
- You will become immortal.
- Oldness never touches you.
- You will become free from all sorrows.
- You will never decay.
- You will become the leader of all Ganas.
- Your father and family members will my dear.
- You will have strength equal to me.
- You are always with me, near to me.
- On you, always my favor will there. By my grace, death, oldness, birth can't affect you.
After saying this, Lord Shiva wears a garland of flowers to Nandi from their neck. As Nandi wears, he becomes like a Mahadev again with trishula on hand, three eyes, and moon on the head.
God Shiva asks him, what boon do you need?
And God Shiva takes water in hand from head and order, "Become a river." As they put water on land, it turns to five rivers.
After they ask Goddess Parvati, "I want to make Nandi as leader of Ganas, what to do you say?"
Parvati Devi says, "You can make him as a leader. He is dear to me like a son."
After saying that, they call all Ganas and tell them, "Ganas, Nandi will the leader of all of you. So, Ready for Abhishek of him."
And Ganas agree, they start preparation.
Nandi marries with Suyasha. Divine things are given to Nandi and Suyasha. After he and his wife bow to God Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma, and Parvati.
At that time, Lord Shiva says,
"Nandi, you and Suyasha, listen. You both are my dear, so I want to give you boons. Nandi, you become my great devotee, special, grandeur, great Yogi, always a winner in any battle, very strong, great Archer and always worshipped. Wherever you stay, I also there and wherever I stay, you will be also there. Your father also becomes grandeur, my devotee and Swamy of Ganas. Same as your grandfather. You all get my nearness."
Devi Parvati says after listening to this, "O son, ask a boon from me. I will fulfill all your wishes."
Listening to this, Nandi says, "O Devi, In your lotus feet, always my devotion stay, heart stay."
Goddess Parvati says, "Avamastu, Your wish will be fulfilled."
Then Goddess Parvati tells to Suyasha, "You will also become free from death and birth cycle. You will have great devotion in me and your husband."
"Nandi, you and Suyasha, listen. You both are my dear, so I want to give you boons. Nandi, you become my great devotee, special, grandeur, great Yogi, always a winner in any battle, very strong, great Archer and always worshipped. Wherever you stay, I also there and wherever I stay, you will be also there. Your father also becomes grandeur, my devotee and Swamy of Ganas. Same as your grandfather. You all get my nearness."
Devi Parvati says after listening to this, "O son, ask a boon from me. I will fulfill all your wishes."
Listening to this, Nandi says, "O Devi, In your lotus feet, always my devotion stay, heart stay."
Goddess Parvati says, "Avamastu, Your wish will be fulfilled."
Then Goddess Parvati tells to Suyasha, "You will also become free from death and birth cycle. You will have great devotion in me and your husband."
Brahma and Vishnu and other Devtas also give numerous boons. Then Lord Shiva goes to Kailas with Parvati and all Devtas are also go with admiring Nandi and praising God Shiva.
Why Nandi is in front of Shivling in Temples?
Lord Shiva gives a boon to Nandi of the nearness of them which means wherever Shiva is, Nandi is also there. Mahadev goes anywhere, they ride on Nandi. When Lord Shiva says Shiva Purana stories, Nandi is also there and he listens complete Shiv Puran which has 100 crore verses. When Shiva meditates, Nandi stays near to them. And because Nandi has the boon of Shiva nearness, he is in the temple, in front of Shivling where Mahadev is in Nirguna form.
Lord Nandi Mantra
ॐ नंदिकेश्वराय नमः
Om Nandikeshwaraya Namah
Chanting Nandi Mantra please Lord Shiva because Nandi is a great Shiva devotee who represents one form, incarnation of Mahadev.
This mantra should be chanted at the time of worshipping Nandi in the procedure of Abhishek of Mahadev.
Significance of Nandi (the bull)
Nandi has great significance. He is one who is an avatar of Mahadev. He always stays near to Shiva.
If we see at the temple, whenever we worship Lord Shiva, we also worship Nandi.
When we enter the temple, we bow to Nandi bull before we see Lord Shiva. We also whisper in Nandi's ear which fulfills all wishes.
Nandi shows the symbol of Dharma, Lord Shiva ride on him which shows that they always with Dharma.
Nandi is one of the best devotees of Lord Shiva. He is very knowledgeable. He listens to Shiv Purana of 100 crore verses and he teaches to great sages Sanatkumara. His knowledge is unlimited because Lord Shiva gives him a boon of equality.
Nandi is a form of the sacred bull, a form of Dharma and holiness.
Nandi is a symbol of devotion, faith, and surrenderness towards Shiva. His dedication toward Shiva is incomparable.
In the temple, Nandi represents all Jeevas (creatures) who sit in front of Shiva. It shows that the only duty for us is devotion.
Lord nandi mantra :-
ReplyDeleteॐ महाकालयम महावीर्यं
शिव वाहनं उत्तमम
गणनामत्वा प्रथम वन्दे
नंदिश्वरम महाबलम ||
I am so intrigued reading all this story about my Dharma🙏🏼🙏🏼
ReplyDelete