The Story of Nandi: Shiva’s Loyal Companion

Story

It was a Sunday morning when a group of children with their parents visited a beautiful Shiva temple. As they stepped inside, the children noticed a big statue of a bull in a sitting pose in front of the Shiva Linga. Curious, they ran up to the statue and began touching the bull, asking questions.

“Kids come here fast, first complete your darshans,” said one of the uncles.

Once they completed the rituals, the kids ran up to the statue of the bull again. They had lots of questions in mind.

"Who is this big bull?" asked Riya, pointing at the statue.

The priest, an old man with kind eyes and a warm smile, walked over to them. "Ah, children, this is Nandi," he said. "He is Bhagwan Shiva's loyal companion.”

“How can a bull be a friend to Bhagwan Shiva? Please tell us everything, Pujaari Ji,” said Rohan.

“Alright, let me tell you the Story of Nandi,” said Pujaari Ji.

The children nodded eagerly.

The priest began, "Nandi means 'joy' or 'happiness.' He is not just a bull; he is Bhagwan Shiva's vahana, which means vehicle. Whenever Shiv Ji wants to travel, he rides on Nandi’s back. But Nandi is much more than just Shiva’s ride—he is also his best friend, protector, and a very devoted follower."

"Wow!" said Aarav, his eyes wide. "How did Nandi become so special?"

The priest smiled. "A long time ago, there was a wise sage named Shilada. He prayed to Bhagwan Shiva and asked for a child who would always stay close to Shiva. Bhagwan Shiva was pleased and gave Shilada a son, Nandi. From that day on, Nandi became Bhagwan Shiva’s most loyal companion."

The children listened with wonder as the priest continued.

"Nandi is known for his strength, devotion, and goodness," said the priest. "He reminds us to stay loyal to those we care about, just like he does for Bhagwan Shiva. When life gets tough, Nandi teaches us to stay strong and never give up."

"Is that why he sits here in front of Shiva?" asked Meera.

"Exactly!" the priest replied. "Nandi watches over Bhagwan Shiva and listens to the prayers of devotees who come to the temple. It’s like having a best friend who always looks out for you."

The children looked at each other and smiled, thinking about their friends.

"Fine, Nandi ji is a great friend of Shiv Ji, but what can we learn from Nandi?" asked little Kabir.

The priest thought for a moment and then said, "Nandi teaches us three important things:

1.     Be devoted: Just like Nandi is devoted to Bhagwan Shiva, we should be loyal to our friends and family.

2.     Be strong: When things are hard, we should stay strong and dedicated.

3.     Help others: Support others, like Nandi does for Shiva, be kind and caring."

The children nodded thoughtfully.

"Why do people touch Nandi's statue?" asked Preeti.

"Good question," said the priest. "In many temples, people believe that if you whisper your prayers into Nandi’s ear, he will carry them straight to Bhagwan Shiv. It is also believed that people have to first take Nandi’s permission to pray to Bhagwan Shiv. That’s why they show respect by touching him."

The children looked at the statue of Nandi with new admiration.

"So, Nandi is like a superhero friend of Bhagwan Shiva!" exclaimed Riya.

The priest smiled. "Yes, you could say that! Nandi’s love and devotion make him truly special."

As the children left the temple, they looked back at Nandi and smiled, feeling inspired to be better friends and family members, just like Nandi.