17 February 2015 Tirupati: On tuesday Lord Somaskanda Murthy took holy ride on the elegant and impressive Nandi VAHANAM at the streets near Sri Kapileswaraswamy Temple as a part of the ongoing Brahmotsavams, On the auspicious occasion of Mahasivarathri.
The holy procession started at 6.00 pm and ended at 10.00pm along the four mada streets of kapila theertham. As Nandi is Lord Shiva’s primary and favorite vehicle and is also the first follower of Lord Shiva.
Legends says the close relationship of Shiva and Nandi such that the presence of a statue of Nandi at the gate of many temples which are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Bull is called vrisha in Sanskrit, which has another connotation — that of goodness or Dharma. Hence it is important to have blessings of Nandi before worshiping Lord Shiva.
Some Puranas mention that Nandi lead the Shiva troops and he is the chief commando of Lord Shiva’s army like Viswaksena to Lord Maha Vishnu.
From the yogic perspective, Nandi is the mind devoted to Lord Siva, the Absolute. In different phrases, to grasp and soak up Light, the ‘expertise and the knowledge’ is Nandi which is the Guru inside. Spiritually, Nandi represents a person jiva (soul) and the message that the jiva ought to at all times be targeted on the Atman (Paramatman), that’s Lord Shiva.
So people strongly consider that having a glimpse of Lord Shiva on Nandi Vahanam will give salvation.
photo from ttd