Nandi is a medium to reach Lord Shiva.

 

Nandi is a medium to reach Lord Shiva.

Nandi is described as a very staunch Shiva devotee who will never tolerate any unbecoming word about Lord Shiva. During Daksha Yagna , Daksha spoke rudely of Lord Shiva and Nandi closed his two ears, chanting "Siva , Siva". Its believed that whispering your prayers in the Nandi's ears will reach Shiva directly. As a faithful attendant Nandi informs his master of the same.

One legend says, Once Lord Shiva was meditating with Parvati and Nandi, his carrier. He sat in front of Lord Shiva. While they were meditating Jalandhar who was an enemy of Lord Shiva abducted goddess Parvati. Lord Shiva was not aware of this continued meditating. The demigods did not know how to communicate about this incidence to Lord Shiva.

Ganesha tried to make Lord Shiva come out of the meditation but he couldn't and then a very good idea struck him. He saw Nandi bull and he whispered all that he wanted to in the ear of the Nandi. Nandi communicated all to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva came out of him deep meditation. Since then devotees whisper the prayer into the ears of Nandi bull so that it gets communicates to Lord Shiva.

There is a procedure to pray to Nandi. You have to ensure you do not stand in between Nandi and Shiva while praying. first touching the feet, then whispering and then going to the back. As lord Shiva sits in meditation, Nandi makes sure that he is connected with the Lord. He sits as his guardian. It's only Nandi who communicates messages to Shiva during his meditation so that he can come out of his meditation.

Om Nandishwaraya Namah ~ Shivaya Namah Om ~ Shubh Somvaar!