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At one point in time, there was a righteous wise man called Shilada who had no young kids of his very own. He made the choice to believe in a god, Lord Shiva in order to receive a special baby graced by him. For over thousands of years, he started praying ardently and ended up living in austerity. Lord Shiva finally showed up before Shilada, delighted with his passion and commitment.
"Awake, dear Shilada, and tell me what blessing you pursue," he said. "My good Lord, I have only one wish. I'd like to have a child, "Shilada reacted. Shiva grinned and then said, "You'll have it shortly," before departing from the scene. Shilada arrived home elated, recognising that the Lord will indeed bless him with a beautiful child.
He wound up going to the farm the following day to begin plowing when he noticed a beautiful baby on the ground before his plow. The baby was as vibrant as the sun. Shilada was mesmerized by the baby when he heard a sound from heaven speak, "Take The Baby, SHILADA. Bring him up with Love and Care".
Shilada was overjoyed as he brought the boy home. He gave the infant the name Nandi. Nandi had a deep love and loyalty to Lord Shiva since his early life. Shilada nurtured the child with compassion and love. He imparted to his son the Vedas, healthcare arts, fighting, dancing, singing, and a wide range of other religious texts. Nandi was a magnificent small boy who managed to learn it all rapidly.
Nandi, at Shiva's orders, ended up killing the elephant devil Airavata, who rightfully belonged to the deity Indra, as stated in the Brihad Dharma Purana. Nandi had already been tasked with locating a substitute head for the god Ganesha, who'd already lost him in a blunder encompassing his father Shiva. Naturally, Indra was disenchanted with this plan and flung various munitions at Nandi in an attempt to oust him.
Nandi, in contrast, easily brushed aside Indra's mace, trident, and thunderbolt. Indra whereupon managed to gather his vast army and unleashed a downpour of arrows on Nandi. Nandi, for whom the body is as solid as a rock, was unchanged by this wave of violence and continued to simply cut off Airavata's head without giving it a second thought.
The head was rapidly connected to Ganesha's body, and Shiva was ecstatic with Nandi's job. Nandi, in addition to being Shiva's vehicle, is also the commander of the god's ganas, or attendants, which is why he commonly carries a golden staff of office. His other obligations include protecting all quadrupeds and supplying music as Shiva continues to perform the tandava, the cosmic waltz of formation.
His role as Shiva's gatekeeper is outlined in the Saura Purana Nandi as "decorated with all adornments, shining like a thousand suns, carrying a spear in his hand, three-eyed, accessorized with a smidgen of the moon, a lightning in his hand, four-armed, like a 2nd Sankara [Shiva]."
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Nandi gazed at the God, wishing to take in his appearance. He didn't realize he had any additional questions to ask. If merely I could always remain with the Lord, he assumed to himself.
The reality of the situation is that, just as Lingam symbolizes the Omnipotent Ultimate power, Shiva Nandi (Bull) symbolizes Jeeva (Solitary Soul). Nandi seated before Shiva Linga symbolizes how well a person should veer away from Prakruthi and concentrate purely on God.
Nandi, the Bull, is a great devotee and the Vaahan (vehicle) of Lord Shiva. Almost all the temples dedicated to Shiva have a statue of the Nandi bull built in a seated position facing the main shrine. This is because he is always absorbed in the glorification of his lord and is ready to accept his orders anytime. Nandi is revered as the guardian deity of Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. Thus, it is believed that no one can approach Lord Shiva without the permission of Nandi.
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