In January of 2016 I took a spiritual tour in India, and my first stop was in Bangalore (aka Bengaluru), the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. With a population of more than 8 million people, Bangalore is the third most populace city in India. My first destination on my site-seeing journey was to the historical Nandi Bull Temple located in the South of the city. The temple was built in 1537 by Kempe Gowda, the founder of the Vijayanagara Empire and the city of Bangalore. The Vijayanagara Empire rose in response to Islamic invasion in southern India. Emperor Kempe Godwa and his family were Shaivites (Shiva worshipers) and so they constructed a great temple to Lord Shiva’s companion and vahana (mount), the bull deity Nandi. The temple is famous for its showcase granite 15ft tall murti (“idol”) which has become blackened from years of being rubbed with charcoal and oil. The temple’s tower is chiseled with Shaivite imagery.
The name of the temple’s deity, Nandi, means “joyful” in the Hindu Sanskrit language. According to the Kurma Purana, Nandi was produced when the sage Shilada prayed intensely to Lord Shiva and asked for an immortal son. Shiva granted this wish and made Nandi. As a boy, Nandi read the sacred scriptures intensely which would later make him a wise advisor to both humans and the gods. Nandi became a great devotee to Lord Shiva and because of his devotion, Shiva made Nandi his constant companion. Some Puranas describe Nandi as a bull or having a bull face and as being the mount of lord Shiva. Nandi is often also described in the Puranas as being the gatekeeper to Shiva’s abode, a wise counselor and a slayer or demons. His wisdom, poise, association with Shiva and guru status makes Nandi particularly popular among Yogis seeking to attain discipline and self-mastery. Some pictures from this temple trip are below.
There used to be a sage named Shilada. He was righteous and learned in the shastras. To obtain a son, Shilada began to pray to Shiva. The tapasya went on for a thousand years and Shiva appeared before Shilada. “I am pleased with your meditation.” said Shiva, “what boon do you desire?” “Please grant me the boon that I may obtain a son who will not be born from a mother” replied Shilada, “And my son should be immortal.” Shiva granted the desired boon. When Shilada was ploughing the land, a handsome boy suddenly appeared on the top of his plough. The four directions shone with the boy’s radiance and the boy began to address Shilada as “father”. The son studied the shastras and became learned. He was given the name of Nandi. Nandi wished to see Shiva and he also wished to become immortal. He therefore went to the shores of the ocean and started to pray to Shiva. He chanted the required mantra one crore times. When Shiva appeared and wished to grant a boon. Nandi said. “Please grant me enough of life so that I can chant the mantra one crore times more.” Shiva appeared once again, and Nandi desired the same boon. When this had happened three times. Shiva said, “Enough is enough. There is no need for any more chanting of incantations. I make you immortal. I also make you a ganapati, lord over the ganas. You will be my constant companion.” The place where Nandi chanted the incantation has become famous as japyeshvara tirtha. The maruts had a daughter named Suyasha. Shiva himself arranged that Nandi should be married to Suyasha. – Kurma Purana
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