Nandi the Bull

cults3d

This famous sculpture is on display in the ground floor lobby of the Asian Art Museum. Nandi, dating back to around 1400-1500 India; specifically Tamil Nadu state Granite Gifted by the Atholl McBean Foundation, B68S3 The bull Nandi serves as a loyal companion to the Hindu deity Shiva. In southern India, a large sculpture of Nandi is typically placed in front of the main temple entrance dedicated to Shiva. It faces the sanctuary, allowing Nandi to gaze reverently at the representation of his master enshrined within. As worshipers enter the temple grounds, they approach the sculpture of Nandi from behind. Here, Shiva's bull is adorned with garlands, strings of bells, a lavish blanket, and intricate decorations carved directly into the stone. In the temple setting, it would also be surrounded by real flowers and fabrics. Scanned using a Canon S95 camera and the 123D Catch desktop application.