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Nandi the Bull is always the observer (mind)...just watching Shiva and what He does.
If you ever go to a Shiva temple, you'll see Nandi the Bull facing the door, watching who comes and goes...just being Nandi.
Often Nandi is seen watching the Shiva Lingam...he is positioned facing it. Nandi is the 'eyes of Shiva'.
Nandi represents a few things...firstly, our own mind or our conscious awareness, just noticing what is going on around us...noticing the play of Shiva...of Consciousness within and without all matter. Just seeing Shiva and going 'ohkay, so that's what He is doing...cool!"
Next, being a bull, Nandi also represents stubbornness or bull-headedness. Quite a few times, Nandi has assumed human form, gone off on his own, charging in to delicate situations where angels fear to tread...thinking he knows everything...thinking he is acting for Shiva...and so he makes a right blunder of things and so, it's up to Shiva to undo it all, to set things right again...and tell Nandi to "just sit and watch me, like a good bull".
It's debatable as to who is the biggest 'gossip' in the Deva realms...Nandi or Narada Muni. lol
Also, Nandi's four legs/feet represent the 4 pillars of Dharma being austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truth. Or the 4 yugas, being the ages of mankind and the subsequent erosion of Dharma within them.
So, Shiva riding the bull means that He has conquered the observing mind, he has conquered stubbornness, rage, pride and is fully established within the 4 pillars of Dharma, directing and controlling them.
Om Namah Shivaya
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