Encyclopedia of Hinduism

(Darren Dugan) #1

Further reading: Anil Chandra Banerjee, Guru Nanak
and His Times (Patalia: Punjabi University, 1971);
Prithipal Singh Kapur, ed., The Divine Master: Life and
Teachings of Guru Nanak (Jalandhar, India: ABS, 1988);
W. H. McLeod, Guru Nanak and the Sikh Religion (Lon-
don: Oxford University Press, 1968); Gurbachan Singh
Talib, Guru Nanak: His Personality and Vision (Delhi:
Gur Das Kapur & Sons, 1969).


Nandi
Nandi is the divine white bull who is the
vehicle of SHIVA. He is the son of Kashyapa, a
well-known RISHI (sage), and Surabhi (the wish-
giving cow). In his form as Nandikeshvara,


represented as a human with a bull’s head, he is
believed to be one of the great masters of music
and dancing. He is a prominent iconic figure in
many Shiva temples. Particularly notable is the
massive 10-ton Nandi lying on his belly that
greets all those who arrive at the BRIHADISHVARA
TEMPLE in Tanjore.

Further reading: John Dowson, A Classical Dictionary
of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and
Literature, 12th ed. (Ludhiana: Lyall Book Depot, 1974);
Margaret Stutley, An Illustrated Dictionary of Hindu Ico-
nography (Boston: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1985); W.
J. Wilkins, Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic, 2d ed.
(Calcutta: Rupa, 1973).

Nandi, the divine bull and vehicle of Lord Shiva (www.shutterstock.com/Arteki)

K 304 Nandi

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