The Nandikeshvara avatara

Sanatkumara asked

How were you born as an auspicious portion of Mahadeva? I wish to hear it all, so please tell me.

Nandishvara replied

Listen carefully, omniscient Sanatkumara. I will tell how I was born as a portion of Mahadeva and how I obtained Shiva. Wanting offspring, the ancestors lovingly spoke to Shilada, hoping he would raise them up. Shilada, dharmic and valiant, lowered his gaze, and, following a sage's conduct, went to Shiva's world. Turning to Shakra, he practised extremely hard austerities with an unwavering mind, firm in his vows for a long time, and Shatakratu was satisfied. The lord of all the gods came to give him a boon and said lovingly that he was pleased and he should choose. Shilada bowed to the lord of the gods, praised him with hymns and, hands properly joined, said he wanted a son excellent in his vows, not born from a womb and not subject to death. Shakra answered that to one who wants a son he could grant only a son born from a womb and subject to death. He could not give one not born of a womb and deathless, since no one is free of death. Even Hari and Brahma face an end, though they came from Tripura's enemy, and the nigama texts give the lengths of their lives. So Shilada should give up that effort and accept a son like himself. But if Rudra Maheshvara, lord of the gods, was pleased, he might get such a son, though extremely hard to obtain. He, Vishnu and Brahma could not grant it, and Shilada should worship Mahadeva, for powerful Sarveshvara could grant such a son. Having said this with favour and compassion, the lord of the gods went back to his world surrounded by the gods.

When the thousand-eyed giver of boons left, Shilada began to worship Mahadeva, seeking to please Bhava with austerities, intently day and night. A thousand divine years passed like an instant. Hundreds of thousands and crores of termites covered the sage's body, some hard as vajra, some with needle mouths, and sucked his blood on every side. He stayed in that pit with no flesh or blood, reduced to bare bones. The lord was satisfied and showed him his own form, divine and with all divine qualities, which the crooked-minded cannot reach. The trident-wielder, lord of all gods, told him he had come to give a boon. But Shilada was deep in great samadhi and did not hear, though Shambhu is subject to his devotees. Only when Tripura's enemy touched him with his hand did the sage give up his austere observance. He opened his eyes and saw Shambhu with Uma, and, delighted, quickly bowed at his feet, shoulders lowered and hands joined, his voice choked with joy, and praised Parameshvara. The three-eyed lord, pleased, told Shilada he gave boons and asked what he had to do with such austerities, saying he would give him a son who knew everything and was expert in the meaning of all texts. Shilada bowed and, in words choked by joy, said that if Shiva was satisfied and wished to give a boon he wanted a son equal to him, not born of a womb and not subject to death. The three-eyed divinity was pleased and told the brahmana, a store of austerities, that Brahma, sages and the best of gods had earlier worshipped him through austerity so that he would take an avatara, and so he would become Shilada's son Nandi, not born of a womb. He was father of the universe, and Shilada would become his father. Compassionately he glanced at the sage, who was still prostrate, instructed him, and with Uma vanished.

When Mahadeva left, the great sage Shilada went back to his hermitage and told the rishis. After some time my father, who knew how to perform sacrifices, had a sacrificial ground built for a sacrifice. Then, as Shambhu had earlier commanded, I was born from his body, with a radiance like the fire at the end of a yuga. Pushkara, Avarta and other clouds rained, and when I was born as Shilada's son, sky-travellers, kinnaras, siddhas and sadhyas sang and the chiefs of rishis showered flowers from every direction. Brahma and the other gods arrived delighted with the gods' wives, Hari came, and Shiva with Ambika. There were great festivities and apsaras danced in great numbers. Delighted, they welcomed me as the lingam and worshipped me, praised Shilada in hymns and praised Shiva and Shivaa, and all returned to their abodes, as did Shiva and Shivaa, lords of everything. Shilada saw me as bright as the sun or the fire of destruction: a boy with three eyes and four arms, matted hair and diadem, blazing and holding a trident, in every way Rudra's form. Full of great bliss he bowed to me lovingly and said that since I had delighted him my name would be Nandi, and he bowed to the lord of the universe who is bliss. After properly bowing to Maheshvara, my father went happily back with me to his cottage like a poor man who had found a treasure. When I reached Shilada's cottage I cast off that divine form and took a human one. Seeing me take human form, my father, revered by the worlds, lamented miserably among his people. Shilada, Shalankayana's son, loved his son and performed the birth ceremony and all the other rites. By the time I was five my father had taught me the Vedas with the Vedangas, their subsidiary parts and the other texts. When I reached seven, by the lord's command, the sages Mitra and Varuna came to the hermitage to see me, were honoured by the sage and sat comfortably, looked at me repeatedly and said that though Nandi knew the purport of all the texts he would have a short life; they saw no more than a year left. When the two brahmanas said this, Shilada, who loved his son, embraced me and lamented loudly in grief. I saw my father and grandfather fall as though dead. Cheerful in mind, I remembered Shiva's lotus feet and asked why my father was miserable, trembling and weeping, wanting to know the truth. He answered that he grieved over my early death and who could take away his sorrow, to whom would he go for refuge? I replied that even if the gods, danavas, Yama, Kala or anyone were angry with me I would not have a short life, he should not grieve, and I would take a vow. He asked what my austerities, supreme knowledge, yoga and lord were that could sweep away this terrible grief. I said death could not be deceived by austerity or learning but only defeated by worshipping Mahadeva, in no other way. Saying this I bowed my head at my father's feet, circled him, and left for an excellent forest.