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{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{short description|Divine animal in Hinduism}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = Nandieshvara.jpg
| caption = Nandi in a zoo-[[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] form
| name = Nandi
| affiliation = Mount of [[Shiva]]
| god_of =
| abode = [[Mount Kailash]]
| mantra =
| consort = Suyasha<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gopinatha Rao|first1=T. A.|title=Elements of Hindu Iconography, Volume 2|date=1997|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|isbn=9788120808775|page=213|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e7mP3kDzGuoC}}</ref>
}}
{{Saivism}}
'''Nandi''' ({{lang-sa|नन्दि}}), also known as '''Nandikeshwara''' or '''Nandideva''', is the [[bull]] [[vahana]] of the [[Hindu god]] [[Shiva]]. He is also the [[Dvarapala|guardian]] deity of [[Mount Kailash|Kailash]], the abode of Shiva. Almost all Shiva temples display stone-images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine.

According to [[Saivism|Saivite]] [[Shaiva Siddhanta|siddhantic]] tradition, he is considered as the chief [[guru]] of eight disciples of [[Nandinatha Sampradaya]], namely, [[Four Kumaras|Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana]], [[Sanatkumara]], [[Tirumular]], [[Vyagrapada]], [[Patanjali]], and Sivayoga Muni, who were sent in eight different directions, to spread the wisdom.<ref name="sivay">{{cite book | author=Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami|date=2003|title=Dancing with Siva: Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism|publisher=Himalayan Academy Publications|ISBN=978-0-945497-89-9}}</ref> The [[Hinduism in Vietnam|Cham Hindus of Vietnam]] believes that when they die, the [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] will come and take their soul to the holy land of India from Vietnam.

The Sanskrit word nandi ({{lang-sa|नन्दि}}) has the meaning of happy, joy, and satisfaction, the properties of divine guardian of Shiva- Nandi.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/tamil/recherche | title=Monier Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary | access-date=5 March 2017}}</ref>

It is recently documented, that the application of the name Nandi to the bull (Sanskrit: ''Vṛṣabha''), is in fact a development of recent [[syncretism]] of different regional beliefs within Saivism.<ref>Gouriswar Bhattacharya, (1977), "Nandin and Vṛṣabha", ''Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft'', Supplement III,2, XIX. Deutscher Orientalistentag, pp. 1543–1567.</ref> The name Nandi was widely used instead for an anthropomorphic [[Dvarapala|door-keeper]] of Kailasha, rather than his mount, in the oldest Saivite texts in Sanskrit, Tamil, and other Indian languages. [[Shaiva Siddhanta|Siddhantic]] texts clearly distinct Nandi from ''Vṛṣabha''. According to them, [[Parvati|Devi]], [[Chandeshvara Nayanar|Chandesha]], [[Mahākāla|Mahakala]], Vṛṣabha, Nandi, [[Ganesha]], [[Bhringi]], and [[Murugan]], are the eight Ganeshwaras (commanders) of Shiva.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sabaratnam Sivacharyar|first1=Dr.S.P.|title=Shrimat Kamigagamah Purva Pada (Part One)|publisher=The Himalayan Academy, Kauai Adheenam|location=USA|pages=4:471–500|url=http://www.himalayanacademy.com/view/kamika-agama-purva-pada-part-1}}</ref>

== History and legends ==

Nandi is described as the son of the sage Shilada. Shilada underwent severe penance to have a boon– a child with immortality and blessings of Lord Shiva, and received Nandi as his son. Legends say that Nandi was born from a [[Yajna]] performed by the Shilada. Nandi grew as an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and he performed severe penance to become his gate-keeper, as well as his mount, on the banks of river [[Narmada River|Narmada]], near Tripur Tirth Kshetra in present-day Nandikeshwar Temple, in [[Jabalpur]], [[Madhya Pradesh]].

Nandi got the divine-knowledge of [[Āgama (Hinduism)|Agamic]] and [[Tantra|Tantric]] wisdom taught by Shiva, from goddess [[Parvati]]. He could teach that divine-knowledge to his eight disciples, who are identified as the progenitors of [[Nandinatha Sampradaya]], namely, [[Four Kumaras|Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana]], [[Sanatkumara]], [[Tirumular]], [[Vyagrapada]], [[Patanjali]], and Sivayoga Muni. These eight disciples were sent in eight different directions of the world by Nandi, to spread this knowledge.<ref name="sivay" />

Many other puranic tales are available about Nandi. One describes his conflict with [[Ravana]], the antagonist of [[Ramayana]]. Nandi cursed Ravana (the demon King of [[Lanka]]), that his kingdom would be burnt by a forest-dweller monkey ([[Vanara]]), since he behaved in a restless manner, just like a monkey,while waiting to meet [[Shiva]]. Later, [[Hanuman]] burned Lanka when he went in search of [[Sita]], who was imprisoned by Ravana in [[Ashok Vatika]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=8170172284 | title=Epic Scenes in Indian Plastic Art | publisher=Abhinav Publications | author=Jayantika Kala | pages=37 | isbn=9788170172284| year=1988 }}</ref>

The ancient Tamil text ''[[Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam]]'' mentions another story in which Nandi is [[incarnate]]d as a whale.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ge5ZAAAAMAAJ | title=The Indian Journal of English Studies, Volume 34 | publisher=Orient Longmans | author=Indian Association for English Studies | pages=92| year=1995 }}</ref> It says that Parvati lost her concentration while Shiva was explaining the meaning of ''[[Vedas]]'' to her. Parvati, then incarnated as a fisher-woman to atone for her lack of concentration. To unite his master and his beloved-wife, Nandi took the form of a whale and started to trouble the people. Fisher-woman Parvati's father declared that the man who would kill the whale would marry his daughter. Later, Shiva took the form of a fisherman and killed the whale, and received Parvati in her previous form.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Nandi - Shiva's bull in front of Hindu temple, Rewalsar, HP, India.jpg|thumb|Nandi - [[Shiva]]'s bull in front of Hindu temple, [[Rewalsar, India|Rewalsar]], HP, India
File:Decorated Nandhi.jpg|Decorated Nandhi at temple in [[Thanjavur]]
File:Nandibull.jpg|2nd-century CE sculpture of a Nandi in [[Mysore]]
File:Nandi-Gongakondaicholapuram.jpg|Nandi at [[Gangaikonda Cholapuram]]
File:Nandi Dev at Tungnath.jpg|Nandi at [[Tungnath]] Mandir
File:Nandi at chamundi mysore.jpg
File:6th century Ladkhan temple, Nandi in lower mandapa, Aihole Hindu monuments Karnataka.jpg
File:Nandi90 4 4.jpg|Nandi at [[Prambanan]], Java, Indonesia
</gallery>
[[Āgama (Hinduism)|''Agamas'']] describe him in a zoo-anthropomorphic form, with the head of bull and four hands, with [[antelope]], axe, mace, and [[abhayamudra]]. In his mount form, Nandi is depicted as a seated bull in all Shiva temples, all over the world. This form has been found even in [[Southeast Asia]]n countries including [[Cambodia]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher= [[The Walters Art Museum]]|url= http://art.thewalters.org/detail/6687|title= Shiva and Uma on the Bull Nandi}}</ref>

The white color of the bull symbolizes purity and justice. Symbolically, the seated Nandi faces the sanctum in Shiva temples and represents an individual [[Ātman (Hinduism)|jiva]] (soul) and the message that the jiva should always be focused on the [[Parameshwara (god)|Parameshwara]]. From the yogic perspective, Nandi is the mind dedicated to Shiva, the absolute. In other words, to understand and absorb light, the experience, and the wisdom is Nandi, which is the guru within.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1620552493 | title=Shiva: Stories and Teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana | author=Vanamali - | year=2013 | isbn=978-1-62055-249-0}}</ref>

== Nandi Flag ==
[[File:NandiFlag.svg|thumb|Nandi Flag, the official flag of Hindu Saivites all over the world.<ref name="rev">{{cite book | url=http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/17929 | title=Reviving Practice of Hoisting 'Nandi' (Crouched Bull) Flag As Hindu Festivals and Functions | author=DBS.Jeyaraj | year=2013}}</ref><ref name = zurich />]]
Nandi flag or Vrshabha flag, a flag with the emblem of seated bull is recognized as the flag of Saivism, particularly among Tamil community all over the world. Nandi was the emblem of historical Tamil Saivite monarchs, such as [[Pallava dynasty]] and [[Jaffna Kingdom]].<ref>Rasanayagam, Mudaliyar (1926). Ancient Jaffna, being research into the History of Jaffna from very early times to the Portuguese Period. Everymans Publishers Ltd, Madras (Reprint by New Delhi, AES in 2003). பக். 390. {{ISBN|81-206-0210-2}}.</ref> Several campaigns to aware the Saivites about their Nandi flag is carried out continuously during the [[Shivaratri]] session, particularly among [[Tamil People|Tamil community]] of [[Sri Lanka]], [[Tamil Nadu]], and [[Tamil diaspora|diaspora]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hinduismtoday.com/blogs-news/hindu-press-international/hindu-campaigns-for-restoration-of-nandi-flag-tradition/7481.html | title= Hiduism Today, (2008), Hindu Campaigns for Restoration of Nandi Flag Tradition | access-date=5 March 2017}}</ref>

The nandi flag used nowadays was designed by Ravindra Sastri of [[Madurai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], according to the request and guidance of S. Danapala, a [[Sri Lanka]]n Saivite personage, in the 1990s. The first Nandi flag was hoisted in 1998, at [[Colombo Hindu College]] at [[Ratmalana]], Sri Lanka.<ref name = dana1>{{cite book | title=Taṉapālā, kalāniti., Ciṉṉatturai., (2013), "Nantikkoṭi ēṟṟīr! Koṭikkavi pāṭīr!", Omlanka Publication}}</ref><ref name = dana2>{{cite book | title=Ciṉṉatturai taṉapālā, (2008), "nantikkoṭiyiṉ mukkiyattuvamum perumaikaḷum", Manimekalai Publication.}}</ref> Following years, it was declared as the official Saivite flag in fourth International Saiva Siddhanta Conference, held in Zurich in 2008.<ref name = zurich /> Nowadays, Tamil Saivites, especially in [[Sri Lanka]], [[Canada]], [[Australia]], [[UK]], [[South Africa]], and [[Switzerland]], hoist the flag in all religious and cultural festivals.<ref name = zurich>{{cite web | url=http://www.island.lk/2008/03/21/features6.html | title=Fourth International Saiva Siddhantha Conference and the Glory of Nanthy Flag | publisher=The Island | date=2008 | access-date=5 March 2017 | author=Kalabooshanam Chelvathamby Manickavasagar}}</ref><ref name = dana1 /><ref name = dana2 /> Nandi flag was declared as the official Hindu flag of Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.omlanka.net/news/other-news/588-nanthi-flag-to-maithripala-sirisena.html | title=Nanthi Flag to Maithripala Sirisena | access-date=5 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.omlanka.net/news/other-news/1686-minister-swaminathan-urged-to-provide-nanthi-flags-to-temples-societies.html | title=Minister Swaminathan urged to Provide Nanthi Flags to Temples, Societies | access-date=5 March 2017}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Kamadhenu]]
* [[Cattle in religion]]
* [[Gavaevodata]], the primordial cow in [[Zoroastrianism]]
* [[Kao (bull)]]
* Nandi is also a village and it's a [[Gram panchayat]] of Janpad Panchayat Katangi, Balaghat (MP)

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.artzolo.com/nandi-kamadhenu-paintings Nandi (Kamadhenu) Paintings]
*''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' 2004 ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}) by Anna Dallapiccola
{{Commons category|Nandi}}

{{Shaivism|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Hindu legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Hindu gods]]
[[Category:Mythological bulls]]
[[Category:Hinduism and cattle]]
[[Category:Sacred bulls]]
[[Category:Shaivism]]
[[Category:Cattle deities]]

Nandi (Hinduism) - Revision history

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ImportMaster: robot: Create/update articles in Category:Hindu gods.