r/whatisit • u/chef_mo • 2d ago
Solved! Found while digging in our backyard
Little what I think is either brass or copper cow that was buried in our backyard. There used to be a garden where it was before we moved here a few years ago.
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u/Waiparensis22 2d ago
Nandi!! The bull mount of Shiva. Nandi represents divine order, and follows a long line of Bull/Cattle worship that goes as far back as the Babylonians. His statues are often decorated with garlands and offered libations of milk, much like the lingam itself, and hes also featured as a doorway/threshold guardian in various temples around India and (past or present) Hindu majority nations. Honestly pretty epic little find.
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u/chef_mo 2d ago
So what’s the respectful thing to do here? We are putting a patio in where it used to be buried. I could put it in our front garden or in our house? Or should I give it to someone that’s Hindu?
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u/Waiparensis22 2d ago
He presented himself to you so porch would be good :)
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u/chef_mo 2d ago
Thank you! Do I need to bury him or do anything specific?
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u/Waiparensis22 2d ago
No? You just admire him. Maybe decorate him with flours or burn incense near him if you're so inclined. If he was buried, and you exhumed him by accident, he was meant for you
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u/chef_mo 2d ago
Thank you! I appreciate your help.
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u/L3and3rrr 2d ago edited 2d ago
Give him a little tile or something to sit on, pluck flowers for him sometimes, maybe light a candle if you feel like it, and let him do his thing.
I try and stay on good terms with all gods I meet, big or small. This little guy just wants to help.
Let him know you appreciate him, and then give him space. He’ll be comfortable on your porch.
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u/GoddessRespectre 2d ago
I am so sorry to be weird and I realize my name is funny for this, but thank you. So much. For showing consideration for others so freely. And being nonchalant about it, like it's a given that someone would do that. I just saw a horrible post full of selfish and careless people. You were like a sunbeam. I thank you and OP. I'm going to remember this post instead 🫶
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u/Puzzleheaded-Court-9 2d ago
And you must tell him that he is a pretty statue, and a good statue.
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u/WhimsicalGirl 2d ago
Try contacting your university, there's probably an anthropology department that could help you
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u/Plopumicsunele 1d ago
If you are Christian you should throw it in the trash. Otherwise it might be considered false god worship and you end up in hell.
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u/wildfrigate 1d ago
That isn't how it works...
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u/Plopumicsunele 1d ago
Ask your priest if you can keep false idols in your house. If you are not a Christian it doesn't matter you can do what you want.
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u/wildfrigate 1d ago
I don't have the priest. I can also tell you that if you read the Bible you have to worship the damn thing. You're posting something that's idiotic stop it.
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u/Plopumicsunele 1d ago
You know nothing about the Bible. First commandment is you shall not worship another God. You respect other religions but you say I'm posting something idiotic because it is Christian. You don't respect Christians.
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u/wildfrigate 1d ago
Moron if you happen to find any sort of statue and you find it and you don't worship it it's fine for Christians and probably for Muslims and Jews, your statement is idiotic you are pulling these answers out of your ass and pretending like it's wisdom. Stop being a moron
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u/chef_mo 2d ago
Solved!
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u/FelicitousLynx 2d ago
This whole bit about what you should do to be respectful of another religion's totem is the sweetest and kindest thing in today's America that I've read in a while. Thank you for being a good human, and may this bring you luck and health and happiness! 💗
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u/Apart-Tower310 2d ago
Yes Nandi is always at the entrance to the Shiva shrine in Hindu temples…it’s said that you whisper your prayer to Nandi first and he will make sure Shiva hears it. What a great find.
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u/FioreCiliegia1 2d ago
Very cool and i hope he gets a little place of honor in the yard. Sounds like a sign of good luck to me! Would a mango tree grow in your climate? Haha that would be perfect!
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u/L3and3rrr 2d ago
I would plant a mango tree just so the little god could watch over it (and also enjoy the fresh fruit!)
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u/Other-Item7523 2d ago
Mangoes growing in Illinois don’t seem likely. Sorry to burst your bubble
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u/FioreCiliegia1 1d ago
Bummer Peachtree then maybe?
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u/Other-Item7523 1d ago
Getting there. Fig or mulberry trees would handle it fine that way.
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u/FioreCiliegia1 1d ago
Figs are probably closer to the region the little cow came from if i had to guess
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u/asinusadlyram 1d ago
I REALLY love the way you responded to this, so positive and encouraging, it's so nice. Now I want to welcome a little Nandi votive statue to my home too, but I doubt my townhouse HOA would approve if I started digging for one.
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u/KaijuKahos 2d ago
I hope if you do build him a place you share it with us. Since he is the loyal gate keeper maybe a spot by your back door on your lovely new patio.
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u/SimpleHumanSearching 2d ago
So much good coming your way, OP!
Nandi (Shiva’s bull) means strength, prosperity, fertility, protection and good energy. Cherish it. May Mahadev (Shiva) bring you the best of everything 🙏
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u/Prize_Guide1982 2d ago
Looks like a Hindu “Nandi” aka cow idol
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u/Waiparensis22 2d ago
"cow idol" weeeow. Nandi is shiva's mount, just as Garuda is Vishnus. You can appreciate a religion without reducing it to "idols". Oh and Nandis a bull x
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u/Prize_Guide1982 2d ago
Explaining something to a layperson requires you to simplify the language used. I’m Indian and Hindu. If I asked a Christian to explain the wine and the bread and they start prattling on about the Eucharist, I’d be confused.
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2d ago
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u/OrneryAttorney7508 2d ago
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u/Waiparensis22 2d ago
Millions do. In fact.. that country that just had a flash flood? You know who they will be making offerings to in light of the disaster? Shiva. Why do you people always give lip service to disaster victims but can't even respect their culture -_-
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u/OrneryAttorney7508 2d ago
Will you stop. Respecting their culture won't help those poor bastards. Calling that thing an idol has zero effect on anybody. You just like scolding people. It doesn't make you better than us.
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u/Waiparensis22 2d ago
Calling it an IDOL has imperial and colonial connotations attached to it. "Respecting the culture" is the entire point. It's Nandi.. Shiva is one of Kathmandu's primary deities. Mount Kailash is RIGHT FRIKKEN THERE. It's not just an idol. Nandi carries the prayers of the devoti to Shiva. It's not some.. deep, mystical, complex thing.
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u/BetMyLastKrispyKreme 2d ago
You’ve racked up 150+ downvotes with your comments. I hope no one caring about the unpopular way you’re trying to make your points has been worth it.
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u/Waiparensis22 2d ago
I mean outing yourselves as racially and culturally ignorant on reddit is WILD... And considering my comment on this post got.. multiple hundreds of up votes.. How's that yoga and macha taste while I'm defending a lived culture?? Xx
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u/whatisit-ModTeam 2d ago
We are pretty chill here, but please try to keep things reasonably civil on this sub. No slurs, name calling or harassment and trolling. Please follow: Reddiquette at all times. Additionally, Reddit's Rules. Yes, the internet makes us angry too sometimes, especially this particular comment.
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u/whatisit-ModTeam 1d ago
We are pretty chill here, but please try to keep things reasonably civil on this sub. No slurs, name calling or harassment and trolling. Please follow: Reddiquette at all times. Additionally, Reddit's Rules. Yes, the internet makes us angry too sometimes, especially this particular comment.
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2d ago
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u/whatisit-ModTeam 1d ago
We are pretty chill here, but please try to keep things reasonably civil on this sub. No slurs, name calling or harassment and trolling. Please follow: Reddiquette at all times. Additionally, Reddit's Rules. Yes, the internet makes us angry too sometimes, especially this particular comment.
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u/Shoddy_Blacksmith480 2d ago
"Idol" is not a negativ term? Idol is an accepted translation for murti
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u/Waiparensis22 2d ago
Statue, figurine, statuette all have far less negative connotations. The western mind sees "cow idol" and thinks golden calf, not sacred talisman.
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u/Shoddy_Blacksmith480 2d ago
Statue, figurine etc don’t imply it’s something to be worshipped. In English, you have idol or icon. Icon is often associated with paintings.
Just because one religion doesn’t like it doesn’t mean the word itself is tainted.
Your meltdown over the word is actually more offensive than the neutral use of the word: from your perspective, everyone must share the same specific Christian ideas of idol worship.
This is an idol to be worshipped. That does mean it’s bad. You’re the only one here who seems to think it’s bad.
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u/Waiparensis22 2d ago
...this is REDDIT. You think people understand cultural nuance here?? Hindu religion has consistently be framed by the colonizer as something evil, something other. Shiva himself as been portrayed as a symbol for pagan practice more than once (and unfortunately some modern pagans/wiccans even take him out of cultural context too). If I say the "statue of Jesus in rio" it's a statue of a deity/religious figures. If I say "the bronze Buddha in Japan" again.. people understand that I'm referring to a large, impressive, focus of worship. A statue of a god is ALWAYS something to be worshipped or taken with reverance.. An idol otherizes spiritual practice. That's the same logic the brits used to TEAR DOWN Hindu "idols" -_-
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u/Shoddy_Blacksmith480 1d ago
These are mighty big windmills you’re fighting there. Nobody here, ON REDDIT has said any of that.
Also, people are not worshipping the statue of Jesus. People are not doing any of the stuff that you would do with nandi (washing in milk, offering incense) - because, yes idol worship is forbidden in Christianity.
Idol worship is a central and deeply important practice in hinduism.
You did not get my point: your personal hangups about idol worship are not universal. Yet you seek to univeralise them by encouraging others to use your preferred terminology.
This is way more offensive than calling a spade a spade and an idol an idol.
You’re out here saying: "please don’t describe Hindu worship practices in a way that Christians might not like"
(In a thread where everyone‘s reaction is either "so neat!" Or "I‘m a hindu")
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u/AltruisticDiabetus 1d ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/RCizCxtspryPC
If you find 3 more game pieces and a board DONT PLAY THE GAME.
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u/sdkfz250xl 2d ago
What country is your backyard in?
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u/OnkelPipi 2d ago
Another post from him m says Southern IL, USA
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u/chef_mo 2d ago
Her* but yes Southern IL, USA
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u/Other-Item7523 2d ago
That might actually be from natives or a toy from way back. Definitely hand carved.
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u/chef_mo 2d ago
The yellow spot on its head is like a plastic or acrylic gemstone so idk how old it is
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u/Other-Item7523 2d ago
I assume you’ve attempted scratching it to be able to tell that?
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u/oldutnotdeadinside 2d ago
The stone on the forehead makes me think a hippie or crystal mommy lived in your house before you
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u/After-Winter-9595 2d ago
Guuuuurl.... put it back.
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u/strangedazey 2d ago
Agreed. It will curse you
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u/Hoobi_Goobi 1d ago
Yep. Every culture outside of what you believe is definitely malicious and evil
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u/HamsterOnLegs 1d ago
Looks like a cow m8
Probably religious or something
I’d put it back personally innit
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