India: The sacred bull Nandi or Nandin, marble, Tamil Nadu, c. 1000 CE

Nandi or Nandin (Tamil: நந்தி Sanskrit: नंदी) is the name for the bull which serves as the mount (Sanskrit: vāhana) of Shiva and as the gate keeper of Shiva and Parvati in Hindu mythology.

Temples venerating Shiva and Parvati display stone images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine. There are also a number of temples dedicated solely to Nandi.

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