Siva on Bull

Description

Nandi is the gate-guardian deity of Kailasa, the abode of Lord Shiva. He is usually depicted as a bull, which also serves as the mount to Shiva.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. It is said that Nandi was born from a ritual performed by the Shilada, and his body was clad in armour made out of diamonds, when he was born. Nandi grew as an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and he did penance to become his gate-keeper, as well as his mount, on the banks of river Narmada, near present-day Nandikeshwar Temple, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Four-armed Siva seated on Nandi bull, with his right leg suspended and left flexed at the knee. His hair is tied into a conical loop over the head parted in the middle, wearing a crescent and other ornaments. He wears round earrings, a necklace, bangles, vanamala composed of skulls, anklets, composed of skulls, anklets, yajnopavita of serpents, and a double chord around his waist. Third eye of Siva is in the middle of the forehead. His linga is shown erect touching the stomach. The Nandi bull has its face turned to the proper right, with a bell hanging around its neck and the tail raised and turned. Made in reddish stone.