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Nandee is a bull and the ride of Shiv Jee and Paarvatee Jee. He is their gatekeeper too. Nobody can go in or meet Shiv without his permission. He is the chief Guru of 18 Siddh too, including Patanjali. Mostly all Shiv temples which have Shiv family established in them have Nandee's idol in sitting position as their gatekeeper facing them - so as you enter the temple, you face his back. There are some individual temples also for Nandee.

Who is Nandee?
According to Ling Puraan, there was a sage named Shilada. He was very righteous and learned in the Shaastra. He had no son so to obtain a son, Shilada performed a severe Tap for Indra. Indra appeared before him to grant him a boon. When he heard about his desire of having  an immortal son, he suggested him to pray to Shiv. So Shilada started praying Shiv. His Tapasya went on for a thousand years. He did not even move for 1,000 years. The insects started his flesh and only bones remained. After 1,000 years Shiv appeared before Shilada and said - "I am very pleased with your meditation. what boon do you desire?" "Please grant me the boon that I may obtain a son who will not be born from a mother." replied Shilada, "And my son should be immortal." Shiv said to him granting his desired boon to him - "I myself will born as your child." Shiv just touched Shilada and his body resumed his old form.

Shilad performed a Yagya and a child appeared from that fire. The child had three eyes, four arms carrying a trident and a mace in his two hands. His body was claded in armor  with diamonds. The boy was named Nandee - means "who brings joy". Shilada brought the child home and the boy became a normal child. He even forgot about his birth too. Shilad started his education and he became proficient in Ved etc by the age of 7 years. One day Mitra and Varun visited the sage Shilada and they told him that the boy would have a very short life. He would not live after the age of 8 years. The sage sank in worries. Nandee asked him not to worry and started doing Tap for Shiv. He appeared before the boy and made him immortal and put on a necklace too. he also blessed him that he would be worshipped along with him.  Immediately the boy got all the divine powers, three eyes and ten hands. Soon He was adopted as the child of Goddess Paarvatee.

Another Story About His Birth
According to some other Puraan, Nandee was born by the grace of Shiv. Shilad prayed Shiv to get a son. Shiv appeared before him and asked him to ask for his desired boon.  Shilada asked for an immortal son. Shiv granted him his desired boon and disappeared. When Shilada was ploughing the land, a handsome boy suddenly appeared on the top of his plough. The four directions shone with the boy's radiance and the boy began to address Shilada as father. Shilada brought him home and started bringing him up as his son. The son studied the Shaastra and became learned. He was given the name of Nandee. Nandee wished to see Shiv and he also wished to become immortal. He therefore went to the shores of the ocean and started to pray to Shiv. He chanted the required Mantra one crore times. When Shiv appeared and wished to grant a boon, Nandee said. "Please grant me enough of life so that I can chant the Mantra one crore times more."

Shiv appeared once again, and Nandi desired the same boon. When this had happened three times, Shiv said, "Enough is enough. There is no need for any more chanting of incantations. I make you immortal. I also make you a Ganapati, Lord over the Gan. You will be my constant companion." The place where Nandee chanted the incantation has become famous as Japyeshwar Teerth. The Maruts had a daughter named Suyashaa. Shiv himself arranged that Nandee should be married to Suyashaa.

Other Legends About Nandee
(1) Vaalmeeki Raamaayan says that Nandee cursed Raavan that his golden Lankaa will be burnt by a monkey, and Hanumaan burnt Raavan's Lankaa when he was out in search of Seetaa who was imprisoned in Ashok Vaatikaa in Raavan's Lankaa.

(2) Once Shiv and Paarvatee were playing a dice game. To play the game the players need an umpire, so Nandee was appointed their umpire who had to declare the winner. Now Nandee is favorite of Shiv as he is the ride of Shiv. The game began and Shiv lost it, still Nandee declared him winner. Paarvatee got very angry at this and she cursed him to die with an incurable disease, Nandee asked for her forgiveness saying - "I just wanted to show my gratitude to my master. Was it not humiliating for me if I had declared him a loser? Although I have lied but this curse is more severe for just a small offence."

Paarvatee forgave him and taught him to atone for his lapse - "Bhaadrapad Chaturthee is my son's birthday. On that day you offer my son what pleases you most (green grass)." It means that if one offers his most favorite thing to Ganesh Jee he will atone his all sins.

Worshipping Nandee
When somebody enters a Shiv temple, he worships Nande first. Women visit images of Nandee, bringing floral offerings, and touch the stone. Their prayers are for fertility. It is also considered a custom among some to whisper the fact of their visit, to that shrine, while requesting the faithful attendant to inform his master of the same.

Temples of Nandee
Although Nandee's statues can be found anywhere in a Shiv temple wherever there is family of Shiv (Shiv, Paarvatee and Ganesh), but there are some exclusive temples also there for Nandee. The two of the largest Nandee statues in India are found in the Halebid Shiv Temple in Karnaatak. One of the famous Nandee Statues in India is at Chaamundee hills in Mysore, again in Karnaatak.

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