NANDIGONA-MAYSANDAAYA
Nandigona is the totem spirit of a bull, which is considered as the incarnation of the divine bull of Shiva. It is designated as Maysandaaya in certain places. Arasaga and Mayyaga were the children of Akkarasu and Anyanaputra. They quarreled while playing the game of cennemane (board game) and hit at each other’s head with the playing board. One of them died due to that hit and the other committed suicide. Both of them become spirits and wanted to go to the Kaveri river to wash off their sin by bathing in the holy waters of the river Kaveri. The boatman refused to ply his boat at midnight. Then they saw a small ox crossing the river with mud in its horn, grass in mouth, and mucus in the nose. It was holding its own tail in hand. It came to Hiriyadka and got itself established as Maheswara Kumar. The legend also narrates how one. Okku Ballal sought the help of this spirit to gain victory over the Ballal of the South Tulunad. In Makkekattu it helped a sage to practice penance and guarded his place from the menace of evil spirits and wicked people. Once the Keladi king camped near Barkur with the intention of attacking the local chieftain who implored Nandi to protect the kingdom. Accordingly the heroes of Keladi kings were subdued and made powerless. In gratitude the chieftain of Barkur constructed a huge shrine and established a number of wooden images of different spirits along with that of Nandikeswara. The main statue of Nandikeswara has its face drawn upwards with five heads. Nandigona is considered as a speechless spirit and hence oracles are not noticed.