Nandi Devar Sidhar
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| Lord Shiva and Nandi |
Nandi Devar Sidhar
Gurukkal Dr. S Mahesh
Agasthyamuni is revered as the Adi Siddha among the eighteen Siddhas.
Nandi Devar is also considered to be an Adi Siddha. While he is
considered to have obtained the 8 siddhis from Shiva on one side,
devotees consider him to be Nandiswar, the vehicle of Siva. Nandi
represents infinitely patient waiting. He is a massive bull that waits
for time. Nandi Devar is the guru of Tirumular, Patanjali and Sattaimuni
among the Siddhars. He developed Siddha medicine, the physical
transformation of Kayakalpam, and the alchemy of Rasavadavidya.
Here’s a mythological story.
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| Lord Shiva and Nandi |
Not many know about the birth story of Nandi. Sage Shailabha, through
severe penance, obtains a boon to have an immortal son. He had prayed to
Shiva for 1000 years. His body was covered by a termite mound. Termites
began feeding on him. He became a skeleton. Siva appeared before him
and granted the boon. He was blessed with a son. He was named Nandi
which meant the one who brings joy. He grew up to be a brilliant boy and
Shiva appeared before him and took him to Kailasa as his own son. He
blessed Nandi that he too will be revered by people who worship Siva. He
took the form of the divine bull, the guardian of time.
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Now let’s consider the Siddha tradition. In Tirumantiram, Triumular
mentions Nandishwara 67 times. There are several works attributed to
Nandiswara.
- Vaidya Kavyam 1200
- Nandishwar 300
- Nandiswar Kurikidai 300
- Nandinikhandu 300
- Nandi kalai Jnanam 1000
- Nandi Soothiram 500
- Samavedam 200
- Danda kapachini 100
- Ganasutram 100
- Mappsoothram 37
- Vaidyam 12
- Kurukidai Soothram 33
He has also extensively written about yoga. About Kumbhaka or holding of
breath in the cycle of Pooraka inhalation and Rechaka exhalation,
Nandiswara urges us to focus on Kumbhaka, to worship it as it will
provide divine milk that will fill the body and mind with joy. It can
make desires come true.
The Siddhar songs are cryptic and hide more than they reveal. But Nandi
Devar tried to explain for the common man. We have encountered the
iconography of the bull since the time of Indus Valley. The seal symbol
of Pashupatinath, bulls of Mohenjodaro and Harappa, all remind us of
Nandi. In Tamil, Nandi is also derived from Nandu which means growing.
Nandi continues to meditate on Siva with innocent hope and patience. He represents the ideal qualities needed for a student and a yogi. And it also symbolizes Nandi Devar Siddhar and Nandinathar who created pathways of knowledge for us.
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