Sambodhi 2005 Vol 29

SR No.: 520779
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J B Shah, N M Kansara
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 242
Language: English, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Gujarati
Classification: Magazine, India_Sambodhi, & India
File Size: 40 MB

Page 18

RAVI HAJARNIS
SAMBODHI-PURĀTATTVA
in several images of Natarajā, Vīņādhara Śiva, Sādhāraṇa Śiva, Ardhanārīśvara, Pärvatī, Māheśvarī, and others are represented in company of a bull-mount.
In Śiva temples, Nandi is invariably represented fully in the theriopomorphic form (bull) wherein the bull is shown squatting on a raised platform, facing the entrance -door of the shrine in which is placed the divine emblem of Sivalinga. This position of Nandi is fully corroborated by the description given in the Matsya Purāna23 i.e. devavīksanatatparah).
The sculptural tradition of Nandīs and his allocation to the temple proper, are however described in detail in the Aparājitaprcchā which describe Nandi or Nandideśvara in a bull form and gives all the relative measurements of the figure.24 According to this text, height of Nandi should cover the sight up to Visnubhāga of the Sivalinga. The text further describes that the bull should be adorned with the Ghantā (bell), camara (fly whisk), Ghurghurmālā - (garland of rattle-boxes), and Srngabhārana (horn ornament). It also refers to the pot containing modaka (sweet balls) to be placed in front of the Nandi.
The Saivagama Nibandhana, a South Indian work (c.11th cent. A.D.) though available in a corrupt form gives almost similar description.25 Vrsa or Nandi (bull) is an invariate member of the Siva temple complex. As a sculpture, customarily it is represented as a composed bull rendered in living form of the breed known in a given region of the same period.26
The early examples of Nandī images from Northern Indian temples in their various regional styles are in some cases impressive pieces of craftsmanship. But it is in the Southern Indian examples that it attained a level of highest artistic sensibility in certain varied school of sacred sculptures. Dhaky has published an exhaustive article on the Nandi images of Tamilnadu and Kannadnadu.27 According to Dhaky, bull is represented in Dravidian temples in three positions - (1) Facing the sanctum from outside the ardhamandapa (hall). (2) As cognizance placed over each of the four corners of the Vimāna. (3) In partly decorative and partly symbolic role placed along the top of the prakara (wall) surrounding the temple complex.
The sitting postures of all these Vrsa figures are uniform, following