Lord Shiva Blessed Nandi – Mahanandi Temple Andhra Pradesh
Nandi means one who pleases others. The name is best suited to Nandi Deva, who is the vehicle of the Lord, Lord Shiva, the Lord of the Universe, has bestowed many powers on Nandi so he is also called ‘Athikara Nandi’. Anangan, the first guru of the world. Indra, Soman, Gandharvas are believed to have learned the Vedas from many gods. Nandi Devar in Lord Shiva’s vehicle and flag is white in color which is a symbol of virtue, purity and masculinity, in the form of Dharma Deva is Shiva’s vehicle and sits before Shiva and Parvati in the form of bliss.
Lord Shiva has given Nandi Deva the boon that none other than Nandi Deva can stand directly opposite to Shiva’s three-eyed vision. Based on that, the place specially blessed by the Lord Shiva for Nandi, who sits guard before the sanctum in all Shiva Thalams, is Mahanandi Thalam near Nandiyal in Andhra Pradesh. Many ages ago, Silada Maharishi had built an ashram and lived in the Vilwa forest in the Nalla mountain range. He longed to have a son to worship Sivan after him. Maharishi, who asked Maheshwaran(God Siva) to give him a child, gave birth to two sons named Mallikarjuna and Nandanan.
The elder son did thavam on Mallikarjuna Rai in Srisailam and was blessed with Isaan in his heart. Nandanan, the younger son, learned the Vedas and Upanishads from his father and turned to Kailainathan. He prayed to Lord Shiva, who gave him a vision, for the boon of a great son who would live with him and serve him forever. Sensing the love in his heart, Lord Shiva blessed him to be his vehicle and made him the leader of his Bhutha Ganas. This place is known as a place dedicated to Nandi as this is the shrine where Nandi received such a boon.
The mound formed by Nandan during thavam (meditation) is worshiped in the form of a linga at this thalam. Lord of this Thalam appears as Mahanandeeswarar. Here Sukku, sugar and butter are mixed together to create Naivediya for Shiva.
In the sanctum sanctorum, Mahanandeeswarar is facing west as in many temples. Since it is a Swayambu lingam, devotees can anoint the lingam by themselves. Nandeeswarar is not in the full linga form, but in the form of a broken lingam by Cow’s Foot . From the middle of it, the water rises steadily. Its pedestal is located at the bottom of the floor.
In front of Nandeeswarar Sannidhi, Nandi, who adds pride to the place, always presents the Lord in a grand form.
Pushkarani of this temple appears from the feet of Gangadhar who wears Ganga on his head. Where the water comes from under the Swayambu Lingam is still an unsolved mystery. The holy water that appears there goes to the Rudra Gundam opposite the Mukha Mandapam next to the Sannidhi. The water flowing from the Isan Sannidhi is arranged as if pouring from the mouth of a Nandi into the Rudra Kund. The water that is as clean as marble, gushes out in equal measure during summers and torrential rains, is especially noted by devotees of Rudra Kund. It is believed that taking a dip in the Rudra Kund, which is 60 feet wide and 5 feet deep, can wash away the sins of many births.
This site is located at a distance of 16 km from Nandyal in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh.