According
to some puranas, Nandi was born to sage Shilada, by the
grace of Shiva. Lord Shiva blessed the child and declared that he
would be worshiped along with Him and become his vaahana (vehicle).
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It is to be remembered that in Srimad Ramayana mention about "Nandiswara" was made in Srimad Ramayana.
It is to be remembered that in Srimad Ramayana mention about "Nandiswara" was made in Srimad Ramayana.
When Ravana saw Shri Hanuman, he was taken aback by the radiance of the latter. He thought Shri Hanuman to be either Nandishwara or Baanasura.
किमेष भगवान्नन्दी भवेत्साक्षा
येन शप्तोऽस्मि कैलासे मया संचालिते पुरा |
सोऽयम् वानरमूर्तिः स्यात्किंस्विद्बाणो महासुरः || (Sundara Kanda Sarga 50 Sloka 2)
"When Mount Kailasa was moved by me, is it the same revered Nandi , who cursed me long ago and came here now in this form or whether he is Baana, the great demon, came here in the form of a monkey."
किमेष भगवान्नन्दी भवेत्साक्षा
येन शप्तोऽस्मि कैलासे मया संचालिते पुरा |
सोऽयम् वानरमूर्तिः स्यात्किंस्विद्बाणो महासुरः || (Sundara Kanda Sarga 50 Sloka 2)
"When Mount Kailasa was moved by me, is it the same revered Nandi , who cursed me long ago and came here now in this form or whether he is Baana, the great demon, came here in the form of a monkey."
Here, Ravana was referring "Nandi" as "Bhagvan (भगवन्)".
Did he say so, because he was one among many Devatas? I think, it was
not the case, because even the Great Brahma or Indra or Vayu was not
referred to as भगवन् in Valmiki Ramayana.
Brahma was referred to as "Pitamaha", "Swayambhu", "Brahma". Indra was referred to as "Sakraha", "Sahasraaksha", "Vaasavaha", "Indra".
Then the question arises as to why Sage Valmiki referred "Nandi" as Bhagavan (भगवन्)?
After his first encounter with Shri Rama in the war, Ravana gets defeated, humiliated and spared of his life by Shri Rama. He comes back to Lanka and thinks as follows:
उमा नन्दीश्वरश्चापि रम्भा वरुणकन्यका ||
यथोक्तास्तन्मया प्राप्तम् न मिध्या ऋषिभाषितम् | (Yuddha Kanda Sarga 60 Sloka 11)
"What was predicted by Uma, Nandishvara, Rambha the wife of Nalakubara and Punjikasthala the daughter of Varuna has come to pass! The words of the sages never prove false."
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In the above situation, Ravana was saying, while referring to Uma, Nandiswara that words of the sages never prove false!
Brahma was referred to as "Pitamaha", "Swayambhu", "Brahma". Indra was referred to as "Sakraha", "Sahasraaksha", "Vaasavaha", "Indra".
Then the question arises as to why Sage Valmiki referred "Nandi" as Bhagavan (भगवन्)?
In my view, the answer lies in Srimad Ramayana itself in other places.
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After his first encounter with Shri Rama in the war, Ravana gets defeated, humiliated and spared of his life by Shri Rama. He comes back to Lanka and thinks as follows:
यथोक्तास्तन्मया प्राप्तम् न मिध्या ऋषिभाषितम् | (Yuddha Kanda Sarga 60 Sloka 11)
"What was predicted by Uma, Nandishvara, Rambha the wife of Nalakubara and Punjikasthala the daughter of Varuna has come to pass! The words of the sages never prove false."
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In the above situation, Ravana was saying, while referring to Uma, Nandiswara that words of the sages never prove false!
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Bhagavat (भगवत्).means - Glorious, illustrious, Revered, venerable, divine, holy (an epithet applied to gods and other holy or respectable personages).
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If we browse through Srimad Ramayana, we will come across the word "Bhagvan ( भगवन्)" in some episodes describing Great Rishis.
1) Dasaratha, glad after hearing the words of assembled people, requests Vasishta and Vamadeva to start arrangements for the anointing ceremony of Shri Rama.
अभिषेकाय रामस्य यत्कर्म सपरिच्छदम् ||
तदद्य भगवन् सर्वमाज्ञापयितु मर्हसि | (Ayodhya Kanda Sarga 3 Sloka 6)
"Oh Divine Vasishta! Be pleased to order now for the traditional ceremonial that is to be done and various accessories needed for the anointing ceremony of Rama."
2) Shri Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana reach the hermitage of Bharadwaja, situated a the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna rivers. After entering his hermitage Shri Rama addresses Sage Bharadwaja as follows:
न्यवेदयत च आत्मानम् तस्मै लक्ष्मण पूर्वजः |
पुत्रौ दशरथस्य आवाम् भगवन् राम लक्ष्मणौ || (Ayodhya Kanda Sarga 54 Sloka 13)
Shri Rama (the elder brother of Lakshmana) introduced himself to the sage as follows: "Oh! venerable sage! We both are Rama and Lakshmana the sons of Dasaratha."
3) While roaming in the Dandaka Forest, Shri Rama, Lakshmana, and Seetha enter the hermitage of Sage Agastya. Shri Rama informs the greatness of Sage Agastya to Lakshmana and falls on the feet of sun-like radiant sage Agastya, touching them reverentially.
अब्रवीत् वचनम् वीरो लक्ष्मणम् लक्ष्मिवर्धनम् ||
बहिर् लक्ष्मण निष्क्रामति अगस्त्यो भगवान् ऋषिः |
औदार्येण अवगच्छ्हामि निधानम् तपसाम् इमम् || (Aranya Kanda Sarga 12 Sloka 22)
On seeing the brilliantly glowing sage among those sages, Shri Rama told Lakshmana, "Here comes the godly sage, Lakshmana, by his eminence I comprehend him as a depository of all ascesis."
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People at the time of composing Ramayana, might have referred great rishis respectfully, as bhagavaan भगवान्.
So Nandiswara was a Great Rishi, but not a bull.
He was doing austerities in Mount Kailash area, when Ravana tried to move it, which action invited a curse from Nandiswara.
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