First Nandi and then Siva

OM brahmarUpiNe shivadhyAnaparAyaNAya shivavAhanAya viShNurUpiNemshvetavarNAya vedasArAya mahAvIryAya shAshvatAya vRiShabhAya nandikeshAya namaH

Nandi (means Bull) is vahana(vehicle) for Lord Shiva. He is the symbol of Dhrma. (vrushohi bhagavAn dhrmaha meaning bull is dharma bhagavan ). Bulls color, White represents the purity for Dharma. The four legs of Nandi are (i) Satyam(truth) (ii) Ahimsa(non-violence) (iii) astEyamu (Honestey) and (iv) Sowchamu (Neatness). As per upanishat, satyam is described as bhutahita yathartha bhashaNamEva satyam - benevolent use of words describing the facts, but not the harsh portrayal of the truth. Ahimsa is a virtue that culminates any type of hurting of one living-being on other being. Honesty is incorruptibility and trustworthiness. Sowcham means cleanliness. Internal cleanliness will lead to finest thoughts and helps for peaceful mind and attain state of love. These four features and pillar stones for dharma. Thus the attitude of a bull is happiness. People who follow these four principles in their lives will over come fear, sorrow and have contentment in their lives. Lord Siva shines on whoever follow dharma life. When we visit SivAlayam, first we bow to Nandi first, before praying Lord Siva. The subtle meaning in this is dharmacharana is first and foremost for bhagavAn to pay attention to our prayers. As per shastras, devotees who visit Siva temple has to view Siva Lingam through the aperture generated by keeping the index and thumb fingers of the right hang on the two horns of Nandi. The left hand can be rested on the shoulders of Nandi, while standing or sitting behind its leg on the right side.

According to Some Puranas, he was born out of the right side of Vishnu resembling Siva exactly and given as a son to the sage Salankayana. As per Linga purana Suta Maha Muni narrated the birth- account of Nandeswara to the Rishis at Naimisha Forest. Maharshi Shilada approached Indra Deva to bless him to a highly renowned and virtuous son who would be Ayonijam and Mrityuheenam or unborn to a woman and deathless. Indra Deva expressed his inability and said:
Na durlabho Mrityuheenastwa Putro hyayonijah, Mayaa cha Vishnunaa chaiva Brahmanaa cha Mahatmanaa/

Neither Brahma nor Vishnu can grant a son who would be unborn to a woman and would not die. Maharshi Shilada then performed severe Tapasya for thousands of years and his body got degenerated to such an extent that it became a skeleton full of worms. Finally, Maha Deva granted his vision and Shiladas wish:
Tawa Putro bhavishyaami Nandi naamnaa twayonijah, Pitaa bhavisyaasi mama Pitrurvey Jagataam Muney/ (I shall grant you a son with the name of Nandi and he would be my son and would be popular like wise). Then Nandi was born at Yagna Bhumi with the features of Maha Deva himself with Trinetras, Chaturbhjas and as Jataa mukuta and Vajra-Sarpa dhaari when Devatas rained fragrant flowers, Apsaraas danced and Gandharvaas sang tuneful hymns in praise of Shiva and Nandi. Vasus, Rudras and Indra prayed respectfully and Devis like Lakshmi, Jyeshtha, Diti, Aditi, Nanda, Shachi, Bhadra and others rendered Stutis to Nandi. Shailada Muni commended Maha Deva as well as Nandeswara and expressed his total satisfaction and gratitude. As Nandeswara was taken into the Parnashala or thached home of Shailada, Nandi assumed a human Rupa instead of Deva Swarupa. Shailada Muni was overjoyed, performed the childs Jaata Karma and other Vedic Tasks and on the sons attaining seven years performed his Yagnopaveeta dharana and Upaasana of Gayatri and tendered him to the Ashram of Maharshi Mitraavaruna. The Guru taught Veda Vidya, Shastras and other Scriptures, besides Dhanur Vidya, Ayur Veda and MantraVidyas, Chatushashti Kaalas, Ashrama Dharmas and so on. Mitravaruna was very proud of the student and so was Muni Shilada; the Guru then blurted at that time of Nandi s exit from Ashram that doubteless Bala Nandi displayed extra-ordinary brilliance as a fulfedged Scholar and accomplishment but was shortlived! Shilada fainted at this disclosure for long and after regaining normalcy took to extreme Tapasya again to Maha Deva; even as Shilada was engaged in Tapasya, Shiva appreared, fondled Nandi, assured him not to get disturbed from what was stated by his Guru. He said that actually he sent messengers that Nandis life was almost over since his human birth would anyway be of Tapatrayas and hence he was terminating the Manava Janma to bestow Everlasting Life; by so saying, Maha Deva touched Nandi so that his physical body would fall down with his Jataa Mukuta etc

and secure a permanent Rudra Rupa. The Place where the human form of Nandis Jatajuta fell on Earth was materialized into a Sacred River called Jatodaka and Nandis new Form was of a Vrishabha; Parama Shiva himself performed Abhisheka on the new Form of Nandi and that Place came to be called Vrishadhwani, Jambunada or Panchanada and Vishwakarma gifted a Golden Mukuta or Headgear and Kundalaas or Ear Rings. Thereafter Nandeswara familiarised with his mother Devi Girija and also the Ganaas, whom he was empowered as their Chief. Devi Parvati endeared the son who prostrated before her with veneration. Maha Deva declared to the Tri Lokas that Nandeswara was the son of Shiva and Parvati. Devas headed by Indra, Brahma, Vishnu , Dikpalakas, Maharshis, besides Yaksha-GandharvaMuni and Yogi ganaas were all invited to a huge event where Nandeswaras unique name was fame were known all over, where ever Maha Deva was known and indeed Maha Deva was acclaimed as the Supreme Lord of the Universe. Parama Shiva granted a boon to Nandeswara that He would be in the Sannithi (Presence) of Shiva always and any kind of worship to himself would be incomplete without any Service to Nandi ! Even great sins of the magnitude of Brahma hatya could be nullified by Shiva Puja but at first, Nandeswara should be propitiated without fail; Aadow kuryaanamaskaaram tadantey Shivataam Vrajet/

There are number of popular stories and references about Nandi in the scriptures. We are aware that Lord Siva swallowed the poison that was generated during the churning of ocean by devatas and asuras to obtain the nectar of immortality using the serpent Vasuki and mountain Mandara. It was suggested that Nandi drank some portion of this deadly poison that spilled from the mouth of Lord Shiva. There was a story floating around to describe the reason for using green grass as part of offerings to Lord Ganapathi on Vinayaka chaviti day. Once when Lord Siva and Parvathi playing a game of dice, Nandi has been chosen as referee to decide the winner. Nandi declared Lord Siva as the winner. Parvati was indignant with this defeat, and enraged with Nandi. She cursed him to die with an incurable disease, for unreasonably showing partiality towards Lord Siva. Nandi prayed mother for forgiveness. Eventually Parvathi 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.

As per Siva Purana, deamon King of Lanka Ravana once attempted to lift Kailasa to take Lord Siva to his kingdom. Nandi discouraged him for doing it. Egoistic Ravana humiliates Nandi with his sarcastic comments comparing him with a monkey. Then Nandi cursed Ravana that his kingdom would be burnt by a monkey (Vanara). Later in Treatyuga

Hanuman burnt Lanka when he went in search of Sita, who was kept prisoner by Ravana in Ashok Vatika.