While Nandi is universally known as the loyal mount (vahana) and gatekeeper of Lord Shiva, the story of his birth is deeply rooted in the Nallamala Hills region of Andhra Pradesh.

According to the Puranas, there was a sage named Silada who lived in these forests. He desired a child who would be immortal and purely devoted to God. To fulfill this wish, Sage Silada performed a severe penance (Tapasya) to Lord Shiva in the caves of the Nallamala forest.

Pleased by the sage's devotion, Lord Shiva appeared and granted him a boon. Shortly after, while ploughing a field for a Yagna (fire sacrifice), Sage Silada found a radiant baby boy in a diamond box (some legends say he emerged from the earth, similar to Goddess Sita).

He named the child Nandi (meaning "The Happy One"). It is believed that this divine event took place in the vicinity of what is now the Mahanandi area. Nandi grew up in this forest, eventually performing his own penance to become the chief of Shiva’s army (Ganas) and his eternal vehicle

The Mystery of the Water (Pushkarini)

The defining feature of Mahanandi is the divine water flow.

• The Source: Inside the main sanctum, right in front of the Shiva Lingam, there is a Nandi statue. Crystal clear, fresh water flows continuously from the mouth of this Nandi.

  
  

• The Tanks: This water flows into two tank pools (Pushkarinis) outside the temple. The water is so transparent that you can clearly see a coin dropped at the bottom, five feet deep.

• The Miracle: The source of this water remains a geological mystery. It flows at a constant rate throughout the year, regardless of the season. It is believed to possess medicinal and healing properties.

  
  

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