Nandi ("joy," "delight") is a Sanskrit word that means "joy" or "pleasure."
The deity Shiva's animal
chariot, which assumes the appearance of a bull, is given this name.
It represents the god, as do all of the animal vehicles.
Nandi is Shiva's chariot as well as his devotee (bhakta).
Outside Shiva temples, statues of Nandi are often carved
(typically facing the image) to indicate the location as holy to Shiva.
In Shiva's mythology, he appears often, though generally as
a dedicated underling advancing Shiva's goals rather than as an autonomous
agent with his own goals and objectives.
