Nandi: Height: 4 cm X Width: 4 cm

 Made from Asthadhatu Gold Plated

Nandi (Sanskrit: नन्दि), is the bull vahana of the Hindu god Shiva, meaning happiness, joy, and satisfaction. He is also the guardian deity of Kailash, the abode of Shiva. Almost all Shiva temples display stone images of a seated humped, white Nandi, reclining on a raised platform generally facing the main shrine continuously staring at the god. Nandi is one of Shiva’s chief attendants, occasionally depicted in sculpture as a bull-headed figure.

 

Nandi is also discerned in an entire human form as Nandikeshwara or Nandideva, such sculptured forms are found at the entrance door of many Shaivite temples in South India, and are frequently confused with images of the deity because they are alike in such iconography features as the third eye, crescent moon in the matted locks, and four arms, two of which hold the battle-axe and an antelope. However, a distinguishing feature is that Nandi’s hands are pressed together in adoration.

 

Nandi got the divine knowledge of Agamic and Tantric wisdom taught by Shiva, from the goddess Parvati. He is considered the chief guru of eight disciples of Nandinatha Sampradaya, namely Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Tirumular, Vyagrapada, Patanjali, and Sivayoga Muni. These eight disciples were sent in eight different directions of the world by Nandi, to spread this knowledge.