Nandi is depicted as a bull who is the gate-guardian deity of Lord Shiva’s abode called Kailasa. He also serves as Shiva’s mount. He is believed to be the main guru of 8 disciples of Nandinatha Sampradaya, i.e. Sanandana, Sanaka, Patanjali, Sanatana, Vyagrapada, Sanatkumara, Sivayoga Muni and Tirumular who were sent to unfurl the wisdom of Shaivism in 8 different directions.
It is from Nandhu, a Tamil root word that the term Nandi is obtained. Nandhu was a term indicating the flourishing and growing of white bulls, means to appear or flourish or means the holy bull Nandi. Nandi in Sanskrit means satisfaction, joy and happiness all of which are the characteristics of the divine guardian, Shiva-Nandi. Images of a seated Nandi are seen in almost all Shiva temples. The seated Nandi faces the main shrine.
Nandi and Lord Shiva have been worshipped right from the time of the Indus Valley Civilization. In Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa a number of bull seals were found depicting the seated figure of Nandi. A seated figure of is seen on the popular ‘Pasupati Seal’ which is identified usually as Lord Shiva.
Hindu mythology indicates that Sage Shilada did severe penance to have a child with blessings and immortality of Lord Shiva. Accordingly, Nandi his son was born. Shilada performed a Yagna from which Nandi was born with a diamond studded armor. Nandi became an ardent disciple of Lord Shiva, did penance and became his mount as well as his gate-keeper on the Narmada River banks at the Nandikeshwar Temple in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. Researchers state, it has been tradition to worship Nandi since thousands of years.
