In the Footsteps of Nandi
Story by Manish Chaudhary
In a peaceful Himalayan village, surrounded by tall trees and snowy mountains, lived a young boy named Ved. He was just ten years old, but very different from other children. While others played games, Ved would sit quietly in front of a small Shivling under a banyan tree. Nobody had taught him about Lord Shiva, but his heart was naturally drawn toward Him.
Ved’s parents were simple potters. Though they were poor, they never stopped Ved from praying. His mother often said, “Shiv is taking care of him.” More than anything else, Ved loved the stories of Nandi—the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. He heard from passing saints that Nandi was not just Shiva’s ride, but His most faithful devotee. Nandi waited patiently in front of the temple, always looking at Mahadev, never asking for anything. This touched Ved deeply.
Ved made a promise to himself: “I want to be like Nandi. I will not ask for anything. I will only serve and love Mahadev.”
Every Monday, Ved kept a silent fast. He cleaned the temple, washed the Shivling with river water, and sat silently like Nandi, facing the shrine. People laughed at him and said he was too young for this. But Ved just smiled and continued.
As time passed, Ved’s devotion grew stronger. His eyes were calm and full of peace. The villagers started saying that he looked just like the Nandi statue—always silent, always still, always watching.
One day, a terrible storm hit the village. A flood came rushing down from the mountains. Everyone ran to save their homes and animals. But Ved ran toward the temple. When he reached, he saw that the floodwater might wash away the Shivling. He stood in front of it with open arms, trying to stop the water and broken branches.
A large branch hit him and cut his forehead. Blood flowed, but he did not move. He kept standing like Nandi—still and strong.
Then something amazing happened.
A bright golden light appeared from the sky. The storm calmed. The air felt warm and quiet. And then Lord Shiva appeared.
He stood tall, wearing tiger skin, with a crescent moon on His head. His eyes looked at Ved with love.
Ved fell at His feet and said, “Bhole Baba, I don’t want anything. I just want to serve You like Nandi.”
Lord Shiva smiled and touched his head.
“You didn’t ask for anything. You gave everything. Just like Nandi,” Mahadev said. “From today, you will forever walk in the footsteps of Nandi. In every lifetime, wherever I am, your soul will be there too.”
After that night, Ved was never seen again. Some say he became one with Shiva. The villagers built a statue of a boy next to Nandi in the temple, facing the Shivling.
Even today, people in that village tell the story of Ved, the boy who loved Mahadev without asking for anything. They say, “He became eternal—just like Nandi.”