South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c9.s16.4

c9.s16.4

Nandi, Nandīsa or Nandikēśvara, now represented by the recumbent bull placed in front of the chief shrine in a Siva temple, is described by Hēmādri to be one of the attendant demi-gods of Siva. He is stated to have three eyes and four arms and to wear a tiger’s skin. In two of his hands he holds the trident and the *bhindivāla* “a short javelin.” The third hand is raised up over the head and the last shows a stretched finger (*tarjani*), his eyes being watchful and fixed towards people coming from a distance into the Siva temple. The Varāha-Purāṇa says that, though originally an ascetic, Nandi by his austerities and devotion to Siva was blessed with a form similar to that of Siva himself and was placed at the head of the attendant *gaṇas* of Siva. A metallic image (fig. 104) from Valuvūr (Tanjore district) represents him in this metamorphosed form. He has four arms of which the two back ones hold the *tanka* and the deer and the two front are joined together palm to palm in a worshipping posture. By the side of Nandīśvara stands also his wife with two arms.²