Nandini - The Divine Cow

Nandini is the daughter of Kamadhenu, a celestial cow belonging to the devas. She was gifted to Maharishi Vasishta by Lord Indra. Nandini had mystical powers and fulfilled all the wishes of her master.The desire to own Nandini changed the fortunes of King Kaushika and Dyaus,one of the eight Vasus(Minor Gods) transforming them into Vishwamithra and Bhishma respectively.Read on to know thier stories!

King Kaushika :

King Kaushika once took refuge in Vasishta's ashram along with his huge army.Maharishi Vasishta received his guests happily and made sure that all their needs were fulfilled.King Kaushika was astonished to see his whole army being fed in a small ashram and enquired about how this was possible. Maharishi Vasishta told him that everything was provided by Nandini,the divine cow.

The king was impressed and dreamt of what he could achieve if Nandini was his.He requested Maharishi Vasistha to send Nandini with him in exchange for a great deal of wealth but Maharishi Vasistha refused.He tried to take away Nandini forcefully but realised that it was a futile task for none of his weapons could withstand the might of Vasishta and Nandini.

This made King Kaushika realise that rishis were much more powerful than kings.He gave up his kingdom and did penance for several years to please the Gods and get boons to avenge Maharishi Vasishta. It was this desire which led him to eventually become a Brahmarishi known by the name Vishvamithra. However,he had attained  great inner peace by then and no longer desired the divine cow.

Brahmarishi Vishvamithra is the comopser of the vedic hymn  "Gayatri Mantra".

Dyaus :

The eight vasus once visited Bhulokha along with their wives.One of them,namely Dyaus tried to steal Nandini to please his wife.On seeing this through his divine vision,Maharishi Vasishta cursed all the eight Vasus to be born as humans.They were born as the sons of Ganga and King Santhanu.Seven of them were liberated from the curse by Ganga, who drowned her newly born sons in the river.But Dyaus,born as Bhishma had to live a lifetime as a mortal to atone for his sin.

It is believed that keeping an idol of Kamadhenu and Nandhi in our  homes will bring prosperity, peace and happiness. 

Sources:

http://www.apamnapat.com/articles/StoriesFromMahabharata600.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamadhenu

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishvamitra

http://ancientindians.in/rshis-rishis-rushis/vasishtha/

http://hindumythologyforgennext.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/king-dileepa-and-nandini.html

http://www.vishnugaruda.com/products/homas/gomatha-pooja