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Other names: Nandrai, Nandji

During the time of Nandbaba, Vaishyas had four occupations – farming, cattle grazing, business and lending money on interest. Nandbaba was a cowherd and he used to graze cattle. There is a mention of Nandbaba’s two brothers –Upnand and Mahanand.

Nandbaba was an expert cowherd that is why he had become the leader of all the cowherds. In those times, one cowherd had thousands of cows. Gokul was spread in 84 Kosh (One Kosh is approximately 2 miles). Cowherds used to dwell where water and grass was easily available. On the banks of River Yamuna, there was a huge jungle and Gokul was in this jungle.

Nandbaba had a Kshatriya friend named Vasudev. They were best of the friends. When the atrocities of Kans rose out of control, Vasudev along with Rohini sent all his queens to Nandbaba’s place. Balram was born at Nandbaba’s place and Krishna also was delivered to Nandbaba’s house immediately after his birth. This way Nandbaba was a fatherly figure for Balram and Krishna. He raised them both and took good care of them. For betterment of Balram and Krishna, he made Vrindavan his residence. Krishna carried on all his Leelas (acts) there.

Once on the occasion of Shivaratri, Nand Baba and all other Gopas drove their carts with families and reached Ambikavan on a pilgrimage tour. There they took bath in the river Saraswati and with devotion worshiped lord Shiva and Parvati. They also observed day long fast and decided to pass their night on the bank of Saraswati. But a huge python inhabited that place. During the night the python emerged and caught hold of Nand's leg. Nandbaba cried loudly. All the Gopas gathered around him. He cried again: "Kanhaiya, This snake is all set to strangulate me. Save me."

Lord touched the python with his feet and instantaneously the python vanished. In its place appeared a Gandharva (celestial musician). He said: "O Lord, I was a Vidyadhar named Sudarshan. I was so much obsessed with my beauty, youth, luxury and comforts that I used to insult others. One day I had derided at the ugly appearance of the sage Angira. So indignantly he cursed me to become a python. But, pleased by my realization of mistake, he had told that when God himself would touch me, I would regain my original appearance." Thereafter, Sudarshan went round the God, worshiped Him and with his permission, departed to his abode. Then Nandbaba realized that Krishna is no ordinary person. He is “Purna Purshottam (God)”.

In Kans’s assembly Nandbaba was also present. When Krishna went to Mathura with Akoor, he did not meet Nandbaba but when he killed Kans and crowned Ugrasen as the King, and then Nand and Vasudev met. Nandbaba returned to Gokul on the day of the solar eclipse, he took Krishna on his lap and kissed him and was satisfied. He felt as if he had met God and experienced paradise of his lifetime.