17th Century Carved Wooden Nandi Bull

A beautiful and atmospheric 17th Century carving of Nandi. It comes in its totally original state and was bought from a large collection of Asian artefacts which were part of a deceased estate. Although there are signs of age, it feels solid and heavy.

Nandi is the most iconic and revered figure in Hindu Mythology. In Sanskrit, Nandi means, “happy and joyous”. Nandi is a secred bull. He is vehicle and gatekeeper of the Hindu deity Lord Shiva. Nandi is the reason why all Hindu worship cows and bulls. Almost all Shiva temples display a stone sculpture of the seated bull, Nandi, generally facing the main shrine. The word “Nandi” came from the Tamil word Nandhu. Nandi’s abode is KAILASHGIRI, the abode of Lord Shiva.