Nandi

myminifactory

This is a depiction of Nandi, the revered bull-calf. In Sanskrit, Nandi translates to 'joy' or 'ecstasy', conveying the emotions experienced by devotees when in the presence of Lord Shiva. The Indian subcontinent is home to numerous temples dedicated to Shiva, the Hindu deity of creation and destruction. A vital element in any Shiva temple is the image of Nandi, situated at the axis, drawing the attention of faithful from outer halls directly into its spiritual core, the 'garbhagrha' (or 'womb chamber'). Large images of Nandi were typically housed within a pillared hall ('mandapa'), a separate structure allowing it to face the eastern porch leading to the linga sanctuary. This arrangement explicitly highlights Nandi's close relationship with Shiva. Nandi embodies the sacred duty ('dharma') of devotees, serving as Shiva's ultimate worshipper. As such, Nandi is first venerated by those intending to pay homage to Shiva within the temple sanctuary. It is consistently represented in a resting posture and always depicted as a bull-calf. In its form as a processional vehicle ('vahana'), Nandi is portrayed standing upright. Processional Nandis are typically crafted from wood, which may be painted or covered with sheet silver, depending on the temple's wealth. This artifact can be found in South-East Asia, Room 47b, case EXP. It is part of the 'Scan The World' initiative, a non-profit project created by MyMiniFactory to establish a digital archive of fully printable sculptures and artworks from across the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can assist. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.