shivanandinandikeshwaragayatri

Nandikeshwara Gayatri Mantra (Nandi Gayatri)

नन्दिकेश्वर गायत्री मंत्र (नन्दी गायत्री)

🕉️ hindu·📿 108× repetitions·🕐 Monday mornings, Pradosha, and before any Shiva puja; at dawn·📜 Traditional deity-Gayatri (Shaiva Agamic and Puranic worship)

Also known as: nandi gayatri mantra · nandikeshwara gayatri · nandi gayatri · tatpurushaya vidmahe chakratundaya dhimahi · nandeeshwara gayatri mantra

📜 Complete Lyrics 📖 Word-by-Word Meaning ✨ Benefits & How to Chant ⬇️ PDF Download

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Nandikeshwara Gayatri is the Gayatri-metre invocation of Nandi, the divine bull who is Shiva's mount (vahana), gatekeeper and foremost devotee. Following the 'Vidmahe–Dhimahi–Prachodayat' pattern, it invokes Nandi as the inspirer of wisdom. Devotees first salute Nandi before approaching Shiva, and this mantra is chanted to gain his grace and access to the Lord.

Origin & Story

Traditional deity-Gayatri (Shaiva Agamic and Puranic worship) · Unknown (traditional) · Ancient

Like other deity-Gayatris, the Nandikeshwara Gayatri adapts the threefold Vedic Gayatri pattern to invoke Nandi, Shiva's bull-mount and foremost devotee. In Shaiva worship Nandi is honoured first, as the guardian of Shiva's presence and the model of perfect devotion; his Gayatri is recited at the outset of Shiva puja and in temples before darshan of the Lingam.

✦ As told in scripture

Temple lore holds that prayers whispered into the ear of Nandi reach Shiva directly; countless devotees attest that after invoking Nandi and confiding their wishes to him, long-blocked paths opened and their pleas before the Lord were swiftly answered.

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The Mantra

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ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे चक्रतुण्डाय धीमहि। तन्नो नन्दिः प्रचोदयात्॥

Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe Chakratundaya Dhimahi Tanno Nandih Prachodayat

Meaning:Om. Let us realize that Supreme Being; let us meditate upon Chakratunda. May that Lord Nandi (Nandikeshwara) inspire and illumine our intellect.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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ॐ🔊OmThe primordial sound of the Absolute

तत्पुरुषाय🔊TatpurushayaTo that Supreme Being / divine person

विद्महे🔊VidmaheMay we know, may we realize

चक्रतुण्डाय🔊ChakratundayaTo the one with a curved/discus-like face (an epithet of Nandi, the bull-faced attendant of Shiva)

धीमहि🔊DhimahiMay we meditate upon

तत्🔊TatThat (divine power)

नः🔊NahOur, for us

नन्दिः🔊NandihNandi / Nandikeshwara, the sacred bull and foremost devotee-attendant of Shiva

प्रचोदयात्🔊PrachodayatMay (he) inspire and illumine (our intellect)

Benefits of Chanting Nandikeshwara Gayatri Mantra (Nandi Gayatri)

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Invokes the grace of Nandi, the gateway to Lord Shiva

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Traditionally chanted before Shiva worship to gain the Lord's audience

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Bestows steadfast devotion, patience and dharmic strength

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Considered protective, as Nandi guards Shiva's abode

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Cultivates the ideal of the perfect, surrendered devotee

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Aids focus and inspires the intellect toward the divine

How to Chant Nandikeshwara Gayatri Mantra (Nandi Gayatri)

Repetitions108times

Best TimeMonday mornings, Pradosha, and before any Shiva puja; at dawn

Chant before beginning Shiva worship, ideally while seated before or beside the Nandi murti that faces the Shiva Lingam. Repeat 3, 11 or 108 times. Maintain the bhava of humble surrender, since Nandi embodies the ideal devotee. Whispering one's prayer into Nandi's ear before darshan of the Lingam is a cherished temple custom that this Gayatri complements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nandi is the divine bull who serves as Lord Shiva's vahana (mount), chief attendant and gatekeeper. As Nandikeshwara he is regarded as the foremost of Shiva's devotees and a guru of Shaiva knowledge. Every Shiva temple has a Nandi facing the sanctum, and devotees honour him before approaching the Lord.

Nandi is the doorway to Shiva. By first invoking and saluting Nandi — the perfect devotee and guardian — one seeks his grace and 'permission' to approach the Lord. The Nandikeshwara Gayatri is the formal Gayatri-invocation used for this purpose.

'Chakratunda' is an epithet used in Nandi's Gayatri, referring to his distinctive bull/curved face. The deity-Gayatris each insert such a descriptive epithet in the 'Dhimahi' line to identify the form being meditated upon — here, Nandi.