Brass Nandi Idol - 2 Inch Shiva's Sacred Bull

• Nandi belongs with a Shivling — He is the vahana and the gatekeeper, and traditional practice never places him alone; he is set facing the lingam.
• 2 inches and 79 grams — Sized to sit in front of a small household Shivling rather than to stand as a piece in his own right.
• Temple posture — Modelled seated with the forelegs folded and the head lifted, the couchant pose Nandi holds in every Shiva temple courtyard.
• Completes a home Shiva shrine — Households that keep a lingam and no Nandi are usually adding this piece rather than buying it first.
• Shravan Somvar and Mahashivratri — The occasions when a household Shiva shrine is set up in full.

• Nandi faces the Shivling. This is the single fixed rule for his placement; he is never turned away from Shiva.
• Set him directly in front of the lingam at a short distance, on the same level or slightly lower, so that his gaze meets it.
• The shrine itself goes in the north-east, Ishanya, which is Shiva's quarter of the home.
• Do not place Nandi facing out into the room, facing a door, or on a shelf by himself without a lingam or Shiva image before him.
• Keep him outside the direct splash of abhishek water where you can; standing water on brass leaves a chalky bloom as it dries.

1. 1. Wash the murti in clean water before first placement, dry it and set it in front of the Shivling.
2. 2. Begin the Shiva puja by greeting Nandi first; in temple practice the devotee acknowledges Nandi before approaching the lingam.
3. 3. Offer bilva patra, white flowers, bhasma and a little water to Nandi along with the lingam.
4. 4. Chant Om Namah Shivaya, traditionally 108 times. Some households add Om Nandikeshwaraya Namah when offering to Nandi directly.
5. 5. Monday is Shiva's day, with the Mondays of Shravan and the night of Mahashivratri as the principal occasions.
6. 6. Conclude with a ghee lamp aarti taken before the lingam and Nandi together, then distribute the prasad.

Nandi is Shiva's mount and the guardian of his shrine, and in every Shiva temple he sits in the courtyard looking through the doorway towards the lingam, never away from it. Devotees traditionally stand behind him and look between his horns to see the deity, and it is customary to whisper a request into his ear before entering. Because his whole meaning lies in the direction of that gaze, a Nandi at home is placed in front of a lingam rather than kept as an ornament on its own.

• Material100 per cent brass
• Height2 inches
• Weight79 grams
• FinishPolished golden brass that darkens where abhishek water reaches it
• Deity and formNandi, the bull of Shiva, seated in the temple posture
• CraftHand-cast and hand-finished in India
• Suitable forPlacing before a household Shivling, home mandir, Shiva shrine

Colour and texture vary slightly from piece to piece — every bead and stone is natural and one of a kind.

Keep away from water, perfume and harsh chemicals. Wipe gently with a soft dry cloth. Store in the pouch or box provided when not in use.

Presented in a sturdy gift box with protective foam, made for safe delivery and for gifting.

7-day returns. Contact us with your order number and we will guide you through it. Please keep the product in its original condition.