Bull Temple, also called Nandi Temple, is located in the historic and green
area of Basavanagudi in Bangalore. The temple is built for Nandi, Lord Shiva’s
sacred bull. It is not only a place of worship but also a cultural and
architectural landmark that draws tourists and history lovers.
The Legend of the Temple
A popular story says that long ago, a wild bull used to roam the peanut and
groundnut fields of Basavanagudi, destroying farmers’ crops. The farmers could
not control it, so they prayed for help. Lord Shiva is said to have guided them
to place a trident (or iron plate) on the bull’s forehead. When they did this,
the bull turned into stone and stopped growing.
The grateful farmers then built a temple around the sacred bull. Even today,
during the festival called Kadalekayi Parise (or Parishe), usually in November
or December, people offer the first groundnut harvest to Nandi.