Story of Nandi, The Vahana of Lord Shiva

At every Shiva temple, you'll find the sculpture of a bull just outside the main shrine - this is Nandi, the vahana (vehicle) of Lord Shiva, seated on a platform called the nandi-mandapa, gazing toward Shiva with calm devotion. Devotees traditionally pay their respects to Nandi first before worshipping Shiva.

Origin Story: A devout ascetic, Sage Shilada, wished for an immortal son free from the cycles of birth and death. On Indra's advice, he undertook a thousand years of penance to Lord Shiva, who was pleased and promised to take form as his son himself. Thus Nandi was born as a part of Shiva.

Like his father, Nandi devoted himself to prayer and austerity, pleasing Shiva through his own intense penance. Shiva blessed him with immortality, gifted him the bell-necklace seen in his sculptures, and made him his companion, vahana, head of his Ganas, and doorkeeper - transforming him into a being half man, half bull.

It is said that without first holding the image of Nandi in one's mind, one cannot attain the grace of Lord Shiva - the sweet sound of his bells is said to represent Shiva himself, reminding devotees to keep their minds devoted to the divine.