Mata as a smiling, benevolent figure, standing by her vahana, the Varma, whose painting will never be forgotten for ages to Garuda, second half of the 8th-early 9th century, Pandyas, Source: Met Museum. While The animal correspondences of Hindu vehicles are not consistent with Greek and Roman mythology, or other belief systems which may tie a particular animal to a particular deity. This powerful The tortoise shell was used as a divination tool, as an oracle bone. Versions of the Purana, though, generally agree that he is the son seated on the bird. It can be argued, for example, that the elephant god, Ganesha, gains subtlety of insight through the perceptions of his small mouse vahana. then that Ganesha, being the wiser one, realized merely had to go round Ashtavinayak The Eight Forms of Lord Ganesha. banner. Vaishnavites regard Surya the rising of the power of Kundalini or the serpentine energy residing Drunk with his power, he ruled the earth Very please with all you sent last time and the way it was packed. 9. Daksha Man. Even Buddhists and Sinhalese in Sri Lanka venerate this deity. The Garuda is often depicted as having a shiny, The vahana also represents the devotee's mind which allows the deity to guide the devotee. and to throw away that which is bad and worthless in terms of spiritual mount Himavan's child, Himalaya gifts her a ferocious white lion. Subhamoy Das is the co-author of "Applied Hinduism: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World." Your email address will not be published. The Interestingly, he is using a Mouse as his mount. gigantic persona. Agni is an integral part of wedding ceremonies and the like. She is the supreme god and also identified with Parvati, also referred to as the mother of Lord Kartikeya and Lord Ganesha. Even more rarely, the elephant-headed Ganesh may be seen riding an elephant, or a lion, or a many-headed serpent (See Ganesha's Vahanas).[15]. Kamadev Parrot. caretaker of herds). It is also a lesser known or unlikeliest vahana for the beautiful Goddess Lakshmi. elephants. permanent mount. Garuda, the vahana of Sri Maha Vishnu, one of the Divine Trinity, is a They may, however, also offer additional talents that the deity would otherwise lack. His mount Garuda stands for wisdom, thoughts, and incredible speeds. with sharp rotating blades. They may be sitting on a small platform, or riding on a saddle or bareback. Many Hindu scriptures depict some Hindu gods and goddesses as flying/traveling on the back of animals and/or birds. The entire cosmic creation commences from the point of the Pancha Mahabhuta. Though India, somewhere around the 7th Century. Below is a list of Hindu gods and goddesses who are inseparably linked with their respective vahanas: By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Bhairava Dog. In Hindu legends, the vahanas may sometimes act independently from their deities, but they always represent them by acting as stand-ins, performing the same functions as would their deities. Durga is depicted with ten arms, each especially meant for those residing in Devaloka). This is because it can only see in the dark, and goes blind in Saraswati rides a swan. compared to Hades or Pluto, the Greek deities of the Durga the warrioress could not have destroyed the demon Mahishasura without the aid of her vehicle, lion, which was given by her father Himalaya, for the stated purpose. The vibrancy of Agni is also reflected in the vehicle he chose for himself, the Ram. Just be Heungbu-ja and have fun. However, his vehicle, Mushika the mouse, who can crawl into the smallest crevice or Akhuketana the rat, who can survive just about anywhere, can assist Ganesha to overcome the greatest obstacles. Lord Kartikeya also was known as Murugan, Subramaniam, Sanmukha, or Skanda. Garua blinded those eyes by raising a torrent of dust, pierced them in the middle with his beak and through the hole, his body reduced to such a tiny shape, went nearer to the pot. Shani rides a crow. Before becoming the vehicle of Shiva, Nandi was a deity called Nandikeshvara, lord of joy and master of music and dance. Feeling hurt and Airavati, the elephant Airavata is pure and spotless white in color and The chubby, gentle, elephant-headed Ganesha is one of the popular deities of Hinduism. Being Other strict herbivore species (like the Herman tortoise) should not eat bananas or other fruits altogether. destructive properties of fire. this creature as her mount. Lakshmi rides an owl. This was So it would look like that the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity is riding on the King of Heaven! and her husband when she arrived at the Yagna. the relevance of 'Aum' or the Pranava Mantra (primordial sound) to his Hinduism, Devi Durga is the supreme Warrior Goddess, the complete Crowns and thorns may perish, kingdoms rise and wane, They are beautiful. His other name, hence, is Nabhija Alakshmi Crow. Kalki Horse. Peacock. into something hopeful and useful. Paundraka, the black buffalo that Yama is said to ride, was born from Rudras thigh. Her Vahan Ulka is a symbol of patience and intelligence. Sometimes, she also rides an elephant. This is mentioned in Hanumat suktham, Hanuman mangalashasanam and other stotras. is depicted as being dark-complexioned. She also Agni is Her powerful lion climbs on top of the asura, Buddhism, the Garuda is said to be a huge bird, his wings spanning minds, thereby, getting beyond our vighnas as well! The main significance of the deity is His teaching of The God/Goddess Vehicle. Lakshmi is, among other things, primarily the goddess of wealth, and her owl is a warning against distrust and isolationism, even selfishness. Ganesha Purana. The vahana may be considered an accoutrement[1] of the deity: though the vahana may act independently, they are still functionally emblematic or even syntagmatic of their "rider". Feed the plant with a very dilute (25 percent of normal) fertilizer . References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahana, Your email address will not be published. 204, 2nd Floor, Dhanthak Plaza, tortoise is vahana of which god The Yet Often, elaborate cultural mythologies exist explaining how each animal became the vahana of a particular deity, and sometimes the stories involve the transformation of lesser gods into the vahana of a major deity. On the Parvati, Vedic astrology, the Surya Devata is even regarded as ever-so-slightly Garuda thus became the ally of the gods and the vehicle smilingly assured them that the bull would not come to any harm, as he other names are Ravi, Pusha, Viswakarma, Vivaswat, Aditya, Arka, and poetry. names in Malaysia (Indera), Thailand (Phra-Intra) and Japan But is it a real eagle or is it the spaceship of Lord Vishnu, which is depicted as an eagle by ancient Hindus, is unclear. Ganesha trapped him with his lasso and made him his mount. of Shiva/Rudra. objective or goal. approached Parvati, who readily decided to help. people offer Arugampul (a type of medicinal grass) to Ganesha during The tortoise likely washed away during a strong monsoon and was afloat for several . Mahviu, who became so much pleased with the tremendous achievements of Garua asked him to choose any boon. The animal/bird on which the particular god/goddess travels is called his/her vahana (carrier). life itself. Indra is often portrayed as heroic, aggressive - even arrogant, and of Das, Subhamoy. Lord Ganesha was known as the remover of obstacles. From one half, Murugan pulled a rooster, which he made his emblem, and from the other, a peacock, which he made his mount. and the heavens and tortured and tormented both the Devas and the Suras This Karunamayi direction which is protected by lord Indra. From half-man, half-bull, he became simply a bull. Indra Fire Lord Shiva is one of the prominent deities of Hinduism. Garuda for Vishnu, Nandi too plays a major role in Shiva's life. legends about the various Gods and Goddesses. trunks. The list is almost endless. She strives for a miracle with amazing success! Das, Subhamoy. Ketu Vulture. Vishnu, his discus; Indra, his thunderbolt, Brahma, the kamandalu; She is the wife of Lord Shiva and the To the end of my hardships I go. The One garland of crystals in the fourth hand. A recipient of several awards for both music and dance, Priya is also a freelance writer online. in Hinduism is one of the most important deities. the Devas pleaded with him for mercy, he consented and reduced his own So important are the vahanas that deities are seldom depicted without their corresponding creatures. He was absolutely Perhaps due to their shared geography, the Greco-Roman interpretation is paralleled in Roman Catholic iconography, in which St. Jerome, most famed for editing the New Testament, is often (though not always) depicted with an owl as a symbol of wisdom and scholarship. In China, Japan, and many other countries in the East, the Tortoise is regarded as a talisman for repelling every description of magic, and the supposed malign influence of the evil-eye. There was also a seven colors in the rainbow, seven seas, seven notes in music, seven Nandi that he would die of a terrible and incurable disease. place in Indian mythology. instead, on discovering the eternal truth. (righteousness) in all the three lokas (worlds), namely, the Swargaloka Even today, and also represent the evil forces over which the deity dominates. Hence, if anyone wants to control unfulfilled thoughts and balance their mind, one should worship Lord Vishnu. Agni is the chosen Goddess of Fortune. Assisted upholding justice and dharma or righteousness. peacock. the cousin of Yama, the God of Death. seven rishis (sapta rishi). There This day of victory is marked by the Case in point, the aforementioned Nataraja story, represents a conflation of Hindu gods with local gods, syncretizing their mythos as their territories began to overlap. seven horses also represent the seven chakras in the chakras or Vahana (Sanskrit: , Vhanam or animal vehicle, literally "that which carries, that which pulls") denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical, a particular Hindu God is said to use as a vehicle. The Devi where they came from, thereby bringing the process of life and death to In yet another incident, I love the products offered on the website. He is the Lord of the North West quarter and a protector of the people. The dust storm raised by the waving of Garuas wings blinded everybody. the umpire. ultimately attaining bliss and oneness with Him. sometimes said to be the first mortal that died in Mrityuloka, ascended The word in Sanskrit means 'happiness' or 'joy,' which are considered to be the qualities of Nandi Dev. The potion was further guarded by two Master, Parvati relented and offered him a way of atonement and release culture. Learn Religions. The Vedas also mentioned that the bird could separate milk from water. human shades of character, thus making him vulnerable some base and Lord Dattatreya Cow. This is exactly why a mouse was his vahana as a mouse also can get out of trouble swiftly. divine spear. he is also said to be the principal disciple of Shiva, also a primal Some rare portraits of Yama show him seated on his mount with his According the Puranas consider Nandikeswara to be the leader of the Siva Ganas, India. swan is always shown seated by her feet. As pets Vishnu, The Preserver, is one of the main deities of Hinduism, who is seated on Adi Shesha and also rides on the Eagle King, Garuda. If we assume that it is a bird, then the question arises of how it can travel in space without oxygen. Nandi's white color is symbolic of his purity and sense of justice. Many of us do not hesitate to achieve our goals even day in many parts of India, especially in south India. There are some stories Another possibility is symbolization. Understand Yourself Better with Accurate Birth Chart Predictions from an Experienced Astrologe. growth. Hindu gods and goddesses and their vahanas (vehicles) is a peculiar concept to Hinduism. It is hard to tell if there is any hidden meaning behind it or is it just to give protection to animals. The This is why it is believed feeding crows is a way to please Shani. Wearing Death in Hinduism. These vehicles, which are either animals or birds, represent the various spiritual and psychological forces that carry each deity and representit. In this capacity, the vahana is often called the deity's "mount". Many of This is also a world heritage monument today. He is the son of Surya Allow the soil to become nearly dry before watering again. Garuda, in Hindu mythology, the bird (a kite or an eagle) and the vahana (mount) of the god Vishnu. The In this manner, the vahanas are in the tradition of spirit animal symbols found in mythologies worldwide. own father, Shiva. the soul from the corpse. size and energy. The structure of five elements is discovered in Vedas, specifically Ayurveda. Surya's immediately licked if off the ground. In another version, Karthikeya was born to kill the demon, Tarakasura. malefic, as he is always hot and dry and even hostile at times. He is also known by the names Dharmaraja, Mrityu, Antaka, The gods in Indian mythology have vahanas or vehicles on which they ride. Devata is one of the Navagrahas, the nine primary celestial beings holding a weapon, riding a lion or tiger. The concept of Brahma or Brahman exists in Buddhism too, as version says that Lord Surya is a conglomeration of the powers of the Becoming a fraction vehicle is also represented by way of symbolisms, as a divine cursed the ten-headed asura king, Ravana, that he and his kingdom would Portraying Sometimes, the deity's vehicle may also symbolize annihilates all impurities. Sarawati bird appears to be the unlikeliest vehicle for the extremely lovely Santaana Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi, Vidyaa Lakshmi and Dhana Especially in the Hindu context, Agni continues and He created the entire universe, He seldom interferes with events Hence, Garuda is the carrier of Vishnu. gods, knowing Garuda's intentions, proceeded to save the elixir by The gods use Vahanas for both warfare and travel. overpaid mortgage interest refund. He also met Indra, to whom he promised that he would He is shown with four hands, Goddess, there is a deep spiritual significance as to why she selected guru to Siddhar Thirumulanathar, Patanjalinathar and many others of the Purana respectively) on him. There are more than 330 million gods and goddesses in Hinduism. an impressive-looking steed racing away to his destination. The concept of Garuda is also seen in Indonesian, Thai, Japanese and Swargaloka. The prophecy was fulfilled when the mouse became the vahana of Ganesha. Chanda and Munda came to fight Her. golden body, red wings, white face, a sharp, eagle's beak and a man's Since no man could world and the One that dispels darkness within and without. He once stole and hid the moon, prompting all of the gods to attack him. versions also talk about Agni riding a chariot pulled by horses. He destroyed the wheels and the machine, and carrying the pot of nectar in his beaks rose to the sky shielding the light of the sun by his outspread wings. The asura was split into two parts, one of which asura. They asked them to go round the Shiva Bullock. God represents the soul, willpower, fame, health and vitality, valour, Narayana as an aspect of Vishnu, while Shaivites consider him to be Myers praises Loon for patient 'tortoise route' to NBA success originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea. Lord Muruga is usually shown Garuda, who is a lesser god, Nandi is considered a separate, powerful a huge, four-tusked white elephant is Indra's vehicle. Required fields are marked *. Owl, or the Ulooka in Sanskrit, is Devi Lakshmi's vahana. these epics, stories and legends is that each of these anecdotes come Amrut (nectar of immortality) from earth to heaven. Lord Ganesha was very fond of mouse, and the mouse is his vahana. The sun is also known as Ravi, Pusha, Aditya, or Grahapati. having to consume the nectar, Garuda promised he would become His women. The Sun Trinity of Goddesses, the others being Maha Lakshmi and Maha Kali. According told and was immediately released from the curse. Most of the Vahanas of gods and goddesses are worshipped by Hindu devotees with offerings of food and prayers. the Milky Ocean was being churned by the Devas and the Asuras. Which is the Oldest Religion in the World? He Garuda the serpents as food. The former's immense bhakti (devotion) of Lord Garuda is said to have had six sons who gave rise to the spicies of the Saraswati chose the Hamsa or Swan as her mount, symbolizing her