Nandi is Shiva’s bull and traditional mount in Hindu mythology.
Nandi is also described as Shiva’s vahana, or vehicle, and as a devoted attendant and gatekeeper at Shiva’s abode. In temple iconography, a seated Nandi commonly faces the main shrine containing a Shiva linga. This arrangement symbolizes Nandi’s constant devotion and gives him a prominent place in Shaiva temple architecture.
Nandi is sometimes identified with Nandikeshvara, a divine teacher and guardian associated with Shiva. Stories about his birth and status vary among Puranic and regional traditions. In several accounts, Nandi is born to the sage Shilada after the sage performs austerities to obtain an immortal son.
The bull is not merely an animal companion in this tradition. It represents strength, steadfastness, fertility, and disciplined devotion. Nandi is easy to confuse with other famous divine animals: Garuda is Vishnu’s eagle-like mount, Airavata is Indra’s elephant, and Kamadhenu is the wish-fulfilling cow. Those figures belong to different mythological roles.