Nandi (bull)

Nandi (Sanskrit नन्दी Nandi, m., " The lucky one " ) a hump animal to the Hindu mythology is the mount ( Vahana ) and faithful servant of Shiva. He leads his heavenly entourage, the Ganas, and acts as guardian and threshold guardian before each Shiva Linga and every Shiva temple. In some temples, however, he himself is revered center. He is also the patron god of the four-legged animals and the four corners of the world.

Iconography

The iconography often presents him as resting animal represents a popular icon shows him how he carries the " Holy Family ", consisting of Shiva, Parvati, his wife and son Ganesha on his back. In his anthropomorphic form he appears as Nandikeshvara, a man with a bull's head, three eyes and four arms. This form is similar to that of Shiva, with the deer in one hand and the ax in the other, but only two of his Nandikeshvara folds his hands in prayer. In complete devotion ( Bhakti ) he worships his Lord.

Mythology

The mythology called Kashyapa as Nandi's father, who is identical with the Creator God in the form of turtles, Prajapati. As a mother applies Surabhi, " Ur - cow " and Wunscherfüllerin. Nandi is Dharmadevata - Lord of Dharma, incarnation of the eternal law. One of the many stories told how Nandi Dharmadevata shocked one day about the eternally circling infinity. In his despair and looking for a way he came to Shiva and threw himself at the feet of this. He begged that he might take it as a mount. In his reply, Shiva indicates the adoption in Hinduism increasing weakness of the Dharma in the different ages: "I delight to do, Lord of Dharma. In the golden age you will go without problems on all four legs. In three silver and copper age on two legs. In the dark iron age you will eventually have to be laboriously on one leg. "

Bull symbolism

The protection of cattle is one of the basic characteristic of Hinduism. Dyaus Pita ( Father Sky ) and Prithvi Mata (Mother Earth), the oldest pair of gods of the Vedas, are symbolized by the bull and cow. The cow enjoys as a living animal worship, while the bull, played a major role in the Hindu Inkonographie as a companion animal of several deities, such as in Yama, the lord of death and righteousness. In the battle of the Goddess Durga, the bull represents the vanquished by them evil. The significance of Shiva's hump animal seems contradictory, it is both the fervent admirer of Shiva and embodiment of its creative aspects, he embodies the other hand, like Shiva transience and destruction.