"In temples of Easwara (or Shiva), you find Nandi (image of bull) in front of the deity. What is
the inner significance of this? The usual reply you get is that Nandi is the Vahana (vehicle) of
Easwara; as if He could not afford to have a better vehicle than a bull. This is a wrong idea.
The
truth is that just as the Lingam is the symbol of the Lord (Easwara), Nandi (bull) is the symbol
for Jiva (individual soul). Therefore, just like the Nandi, man should turn away from Prakruthi
and direct all his attention towards Easwara only.
There are some more meanings for this symbolism. For instance, it is said that no one should
stand between Easwara and Nandi. One should have the vision of Easwara by looking through
the space in between the two ears of Nandi.
The underlying idea is that through the Sadhana of
using its ears to listen about Easwara alone, the animality in the bull becomes transformed into
divinity and because of its merger with Easwara it is called Nandeeshvara (Bull-God).
Thus the
lesson of the symbolism is that man should also try to merge with God, by following the example
of the Nandi."
~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 24.5.1992)
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