NANNI TEMPLE, MYSORE

NANNI TEMPLE, MYSORE

Nandi Temple is exclusively for the worship of the sacred bull (Basava in Kannada) in Hinduism, known as Nandi, Lord Shiva's vahana, or animal mount. The word "nandi" means "joyful" in Sanskrit. NANDI is located on the top of Chamundi Hills about 13 km from the palace city of Mysore in the state of Karnataka in India.

Nandi is now universally supposed to be the name for the bull which serves as the mount (Sanskrit: Vahana) of the god Shiva and as the gate keeper of Shiva and Parvati, and in Hindu mythology. The temple was built in 1537 by a local ruler under the Vijayanagara empire in the Vijayanagara architectural style. The ruler, a feudatory chief named Kempe Gowda, also founded the city of Bangalore. .

The temple is a small one, consisting only of the shrine fronted by a porch in the Vijayanagara style.. It is said to house one of the largest Nandi murthis in the world.

 Nandi, or Nandin, is a white bull constantly associated with Lord Shiva. It is Shiva’s vehicle. An idol of Nandi is found in almost all Shiva Temples. The bull is seated in front of the sanctum sanctorum (garbhagirha) and is the guard or door keeper or gate keeper. Puranas associated with Shiva details about the role played by Nandi as guard. He is also the chief of Shiva’s ganas (attendants) and Nandishvara is another name of Lord Shiva.

Nandi means ‘causing gladness.’ Nandi is always represented as quiet and benign. He also symbolically represents sexual energy tamed by Shiva. The disciplined bull, which is calm and docile, symbolizes Dharma, an image of controlled power. He is also considered to be the guardian of four-legged animals.

The image of Nandi is often placed outside the sanctum sanctorum facing the Linga or the image of Shiva. Sometimes the images are found on the corners of the sanctuary of Shiva temples.

There are several instances in the Puranas when Nandi was cursed by Shiva and Parvati. Nandi would be guarding the doors when Shiva and Parvati are in sexual union. Gods or demons would approach Nandi with the request of meeting Shiva. Nandi would sternly deny them but they will find some method to enter the room and disturb the amorous couple. In the end, Nandi will be cursed but soon he will regain his position through the austerities performed in the cursed state

Legends 

According to some puranas, Nandi was born out of the right side of Vishnu resembling Shiva exactly and given as a son to the sage Salankayana. Some puranas mention him as the son of the sage Silada who got him by the grace of Shiva. It was Nandi who cursed Ravana (the demon King of Lanka) that his kingdom would be burnt by a monkey (Vanara). And later Hanuman burnt Lanka when he went in search of Sita, who was kept prisoner by Ravana in Ashok Vatika. In one puranic story, it is stated that once Siva and Parvathi were playing a game of dice. For any game there has to be an umpire, who has to declare who is the winner. Siva and Parvathi agreed to have Nandi (the divine bull) as the umpire. Nandi is a favorite of Siva, as he is Siva's vehicle. Although Siva lost the game, Nandi declared him the winner. It is stated that Parvathi was indignant over Nandi's partiality for Siva and cursed him that he should die from an incurable disease.

Thereupon Nandi fell at the feet of Parvathi and pleaded for forgiveness. "Mother forgive me. Should I not show at least this amount of gratitude to one who is my master? Is it not humiliating for me to declare that my master has lost the game? To uphold his honor I no doubt uttered a lie. But am I to be punished with such severity for so small an offence?" Nandi prayed for forgiveness in this manner. Parvathi forgave Nandi and taught him the means to atone for his lapse. She told him. "The Chaturdasi day in the month of Bhadrapada is the day when my son's birthday is celebrated. On that day you have to offer to my son what pleases you most (green grass)". This means that one atones for one's sins when one offers to the Lord what is most pleasing and enjoyable to him. For Nandi the most enjoyable and relishing food is green grass. As directed by Parvathi Nandi worshipped Ganapathi by offering green grass. Nandi was then relieved of his dreaded disease. His health improved and by the grace of Parvathi he was redeemed.