In every temple of Lord Shiva, you will always see a Nandi bull facing the Shivling. It’s not just an artistic or architectural element — it’s deeply symbolic and rooted in ancient Puranic lore. According to scriptures, the presence of Nandi is essential for the Shivling’s completeness. But do you know why Nandi is so important to Lord Shiva?
Let’s take you to the heart of a fascinating tale from the Shiva Purana, which explains how a boy named Nandi became Lord Shiva’s most trusted devotee, companion, and vehicle.
The Birth of Nandi: A Divine Blessing
Long ago, there lived a sage named Shilad Rishi, who had no children. Determined to become a father, he performed deep penance to please Lord Shiva. Moved by his devotion, Lord Shiva blessed him with a divine child — a boy named Nandi, who was born not from a womb but from the energy of penance itself.
Shilad raised Nandi in his ashram, where he grew up absorbing sacred knowledge and serving guests and sages with great devotion.
Saints Foretell a Short Life
One day, two sages named Mitra and Varun visited the ashram. Shilad entrusted his son with the responsibility of looking after the saints. Nandi served them with such devotion that they were pleased. But before leaving, the sages made a shocking revelation: they blessed Shilad with a long life, but said nothing about Nandi.
When asked, the sages finally confessed: Nandi’s life would be short.
This shattered Shilad Rishi. He was devastated and could not hide his sorrow.
Nandi’s Faith in Shiva
Seeing his father’s grief, Nandi calmly smiled and said, “Father, do not worry. I was given to you by Lord Shiva himself. It is He who will protect me.” With unshakable faith, Nandi began to meditate and perform penance to please Lord Shiva.
Moved by his love and devotion, Lord Shiva appeared before Nandi and asked him to express his wish.
From Devotee to Divine Companion
Nandi bowed to the Lord and said, “I wish to be with you always — to serve you and never be apart from you.”
Hearing this, Lord Shiva embraced Nandi, granted him immortality, and transformed his face into that of a sacred bull — symbolizing strength, loyalty, and righteousness. Lord Shiva made him his vahana (divine vehicle) and declared Nandi to be the chief of his ganas (followers) and the eternal gatekeeper of Kailash.
From that day on, every Shiva temple began installing a statue of Nandi facing the Shivling — as a reminder of devotion, service, and unbreakable faith.
Why Devotees Whisper in Nandi’s Ear
There’s also a popular belief that whispering your wish into Nandi’s ear ensures that your prayer reaches Lord Shiva directly. Because Nandi is not just Shiva’s ride — he is His constant companion and most trusted messenger.
