Who Is Nandi? Why Does Lord Shiva Ride on Him? The Puranic Story and Sacred Significance Introduction Among the many fascinating images associated with Lord Shiva, one of the most recognizable is that of Nandi, the sacred bull who sits facing Shiva's shrine. Nandi Maharaj, the Vahana of Lord Shiva AI image  Whenever devotees enter a Shiva temple, they often see Nandi positioned directly in front of the Shiva Lingam . Devotees traditionally offer prayers to Nandi before approaching the sanctum, and in many temples, Nandi is regarded as an important part of Shiva worship. Read: Why is Lord Shiva called Chandra Sekhar   * But who exactly is Nandi? * Was he simply a bull who became Lord Shiva's vehicle, or is there a deeper story behind his divine status? * Why does Lord Shiva ride on Nandi? * And how did Nandi become Shiva's devoted    attendant, guardian, and Vahana? The answers are found in the rich body of Hindu sacred literature and Puranic tradition. Different text...