For the followers of Shivaji's iconography, it is impossible to overlook Nandi. Usually portrayed as the raging bull next to a form of Shivaji or the reclining one facing the lingam, Nandi is revered as His vahana (Sanskrit for 'mount'). Often, a distinct murti of the bull is placed within the Shivaji temple in a shrine of its own, so that devotees could admire the brilliant workmanship of the sculpture. Also known as Nandikeshvara and Nandishwara, this beast is the personification of Shivaji's vital life-force, the convergence of the creative and the destructive energies. There is an upapurana in Hindu literature named after him, the Nandipurana, where the socialist ideas of arogyadana (universal healthcare) and vidyadana (universal education) have been expounded in the eighth-ninth century. The Mahapuranas abound with stories of Nandi's prowess. He was born to the sage, Salankayana, whose austerities earned him the gift of his worthy son from Vishnuji Himself. Another version says that it was Silada he was born to as a son, who was also a sage and had performed an earth-shattering yajna to get a son. In the South, one comes across interesting iconographies of Nandi - Southern artisans give him the toned body of a human and a bull's head, or a human head complete with the jatamukuta recurrent in Hindu iconography. Nandi is powerful enough to have cursed Ravana to be destroyed by an army of monkeys. His statues are ideally placed at the dakshinadvara (southern door). Bronze sculpture of Nandi dating back to the Chola period, excavated from Kongu-Karnataka region Having started operations in 1998, Exotic India is known for the consistently high quality of its offerings, each of which is hand-picked by its team of experienced editors. Some of the qualities which we look for in our items include high aesthetic value and quality of the material. Not only do we love the rich, living spiritual and cultural traditions of India, the aim has also been to share a fair amount of our profits with the numerous highly skilled artists scattered all over the subcontinent. Fair Trade: We faithfully adhere to the principles of Fair Trade. All artisans, designers, and artists are paid upfront, with remuneration far above the market rates. We are against the practice of Child Labor, and certify that none of our merchandise involves children at any point of the manufacturing process. Our Mission: To make India's famed arts, crafts, and spiritual depth accessible to all. To bring together people who love India.