Is Shiva depicted as fighting mounted on Nandi in his bull form?

Question

Has Shiva ever been depicted as fighting mounted on Nandi in his bull form?

The Banasura fight as related in Harivamsa is one example. Are there any others?

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 27 '18 at 11:14

1

This chapter of the Karna Parva of the Mahabharata describes Shiva first riding a chariot pulled by his bull, and then riding the bull itself, when he goes to destroy Tripura:

After, O monarch, that best of cars had thus been constructed by the gods, O tiger among men, for grinding their foes, Sankara placed upon it his own celestial weapons. Making the sky its flagstaff, he placed upon it his bovine bull.... Indeed, when Bhava, riding on the car, set out towards the triple city, his bull uttered tremendous roars, filling all the points of the compass.... During the time the car had sunk and the foe had began to roar, the illustrious Deity, endued with great might began, from rage, to utter loud shouts, standing, O giver of honours, on the head of his bull and the back of his steeds.

And by the way, there's some indication that Shiva's bull is not the same as Nandi, as I discuss in my answer here.

answered Feb 27 '18 at 11:14

Keshav Srinivasan

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I am specifically interested in Nandi in his bull form. – S K Feb 27 '18 at 11:37
@SK What my other answer is saying is that Nandi is NOT Shiva's bull. – Keshav Srinivasan Feb 27 '18 at 12:26
thank you - actually your other answer is more of what I am looking for @Keshav Srinivasan – S K Feb 27 '18 at 12:28
Could it be that name of vrsabha of shiva and leader of his gana are same, so, two nandis one a gana other a bull? Is the name of bull of Shiva given in any scripture? – Anubhav Jha Feb 27 '18 at 13:08

Is Shiva depicted as fighting mounted on Nandi in his bull form?

1 Answers1