This highly decorated brass Nandi is from Karnataka. Nandi is the sacred bull calf, gatekeeper, and vehicle (vahana) of the God Shiva. The piece is decorated with many processional ornaments including three strings of bells around its neck and an engraved blanket on the back. Also on the back is an auspicious pavithra (or pavitram) knot. This knot symbol originated in a purification ring that was made of Darbha grass and was worn in rituals and on auspicious occasions.
