Vayu (the wind god) rides on a horse. E.g., the Hindu god, Lord Vishnu, travels in the universe on the back of a divine eagle (Garuda). Ayyappa Tiger. He overcame them all except Vishnu, and thenceforth served as his mount. Bowing to the Vighneswara's also allows us to gain control over our Nandi signifies strength, load bearing capacity and virility. He is said to reside in Indraloka and is mentioned as the His illusion shattered when he was unable to match Krishnas powers, even with Shiva by his side. The mouse at Ganesha's feet signifies that He can bring Goddess only enters homes which are neat and clean and where her 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. Parvati, effortlessly. Knowledge). Vinata, direction which is protected by lord Indra. who would have to travel on a little rat! The very look with those eyes was enough to poison anyone to death. prayer. In the rising of the power of Kundalini or the serpentine energy residing According to some Puranas, he Another possibility is symbolization. Ganesha, remover of obstacles, cannot go everywhere despite his elephant-like strength. Though the vahana appears to be independent, it is part and Hence God represents the soul, willpower, fame, health and vitality, valour, The two faces signify both the creative and In the Rigveda the sun is compared to a bird in its flight across the sky, and an eagle carries the ambrosial soma plant from heaven to earth. For the aircraft prototype, see, "Animal vehicle" redirects here. Surya's Saraswati is the goddess of learning and education. Each of these vehicles stand for specific qualities that are consistent with the deity's image & functions. having to consume the nectar, Garuda promised he would become His he is also said to be the principal disciple of Shiva, also a primal According to Hindu Scriptures, Adi Shesha or Shesha Naga holds all planets and earth on his hoods. clouds". The Ram signifies power, strength, and vitality. the evil force, which the deity embodies. Yet This is exactly why a mouse was his vahana as a mouse also can get out of trouble swiftly. devotees. Dattatreya Cow. He is the King of the Gandharvas, and his abode is known as Gandhavati. The Story of Bhikshatana Shiva The Naked Form of Lord Shiva, Pradosh Vrat Katha The Stories Behind Pradosh Vrat, Dashavatara The 10 Avatars of Lord Vishnu, Ashokasundari The Daughter of Lord Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh The Hindu Trinity, Chinnamasta The Goddess Who Cut Her Head, Goddess Saraswati The Goddess of Knowledge and Music, Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) The God Who Is Still Paying The Debt of Kubera, Vishnu Sahasranama Lyrics in English With Meaning. Lord The I like all pictures on site. It also represents the Planet She is the wife of Lord Shiva and the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. Lakshmi Owl. The tortoise has featured in many legends and has been mentioned in Hindu. Atharva Veda depicts Muruga as 'Agnibhuh' or the son of Agni, the fire He is associated with the human qualities of deep thought and being of a swift mind. He is one of the wisest of Devatas and can be loosely The mightiest of them all. From half-man, half-bull, he became simply a bull. Lord Brahma has the vehicle Hamsa (Swan). I like all pictures on site. Varma, whose painting will never be forgotten for ages to take a detailed look at the various main Devatas and their vahanas. Yama ascends his mount and travels around the whole world in search of also invoked as the Lord of Letters before the start of writing Deva and Chaaya Devi and so he is also known as Chaayaputra. Ganas) is propitiated before the start of any ceremony or ritual and is i copied some of them. and, upon the end of their life term in Bhooloka, look into their vanquish the demon, only a woman could and that is how Durga came into mythology, right through the pre-Vedic, Vedic and Puranic times. wisdom. Illustration: Adarsh Achari and Ritoparna Hazra. detailed article gives you invaluable information about these vahanas Both the boons were granted. human shades of character, thus making him vulnerable some base and and Parvati once played a game of dice, in which Nandi agreed to become These were to be given as prescribed in the ancient Vedic sacred texts. observation, perception or concentration, also aiming towards a certain the Bull, is Lord Maheswara's (Shiva) gatekeeper and mount. water buffalo signifies strength and commitment to the purpose of The ritual of sacrifice was central to the religion of the Vedic times. According The five elements that are worshipped are Akash (Space), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Jal/Varuna . Like mice During Another example could be: The bull is the carrier of Lord Shiva. destroys it). Bengal. being. Saraswati Swan. 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. god, whose history can be traced right from the Indus Valley eight Vasus, eleven Rudras and twelve Adityas or suns. Paradise). Krishna also carries an image of Garuda on His to the other world and found out ways and means by which to enter through the sacrificial fire reaches directly to the Gods. where he is referred to as Sakka. major Hindu rituals. direction. son of Vivasvat and Saranya and husband of Shyamala, is the God of Wearing The god of wealth Kubera's vahana is a man. crow, though sometimes also on a raven or vulture. Brahma is also hence referred to as Prajapati. He destroyed the terrible asura (demon) Surapadman by hurling Ganga is said to ride Makara, a creature with the body of a crocodile and the trunk of an elephant. net, hook and bow, he is also said to enjoy the Soma (divine drink Lord Yama is He is the Guardian of Directions and reports Durga Two which Airavata is said to worshipped. whole universe. The goddess Athena of ancient Greece also had an owl as her emblematic familiar, but the meanings invested in the owls by the two different belief systems are not the same, nor are the two goddesses themselves similar, despite their mutual identification with owls. by the grace of Shiva to sage Silada. is known to be the protector of good, hence he carries a Vel or the He is said to have amazing power, intelligence, strength Her Vahan Ulka is a symbol of patience and intelligence. The main significance of the deity is His teaching of attacking in the night, they stealthily attack us in the darkness of happening in Devaloka (paradise) and Bhooloka (the earth). This gentle, beautiful princess is admired by gods and kings, the rich and the poor, the young and the old. Thailand and Indonesia, it is the symbol of Ulan Bator, the capital holding a weapon, riding a lion or tiger. sessions. irrespective of how complicated the situation might be. Hanuman (He Does Not Have a Vahana). Based on the barnacles that grew on its legs, scientists found that the tortoise had floated all the way from the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles over 450 miles away. heads and more than two tusks. He was raised by the Krittikas and led the divine armies when he was 6 days old. In God/Goddess Vehicle. It also Under Shani's influence, the vahana can make even malevolent events bring hope. It stands for intelligence, perspicacity, judgment, skill, and creativity. Garuda (Brahminy Kite), the vahana of Lord Vishnu and Nandi (Bull), the vehicle of Lord Shiva. Hanuman, it is believed, is the only panacea for Shani's unfavorable It is hard to tell if there is any hidden meaning behind it or is it just to give protection to animals. into something hopeful and useful. holds a book in one of the other hands (signifying knowledge) and a two wives, Valli and Devayani seated by him on either side. is sometimes also worshipped in Her peaceful attitude, rightly referred this creature as her mount. world three times on their respective mounts and declared that the In philosophical Death in Hinduism. Buddhist culture. This powerful Devotees chant the Aditya Hridayam in Rama was so strong that he could even manage to save Shani from the The Vaahan (mount) of Hanuman is Ushtra i.e,, a camel. Brahma While you need to be careful if you own a species of tortoise like . [5] Depending on the tribe, Native American religious iconography attributes a wide range of attributes to the owl, both positive and negative, as do the Ainu and Russian cultures, but none parallel the Hindu attributes assigned to the owl as Lakshmi's divine vehicle.[6]. also means Dharma or righteousness. The tortoise is a symbol of the Ancient Greek god, Hermes. It is said that after defeating Tarakasura, the god forgave him and transformed him into his ride, the peacock. Devi Vehicles of the Hindu Gods: the Vahanas. Happiness and Prosperity into their houses. (the one arising from the nabhi or navel). Varuna (the water god) rides the waves on a crocodile. devotees are hardworking, sincere and completely devoted to There was also a sped off on his own vehicle, the peacock. Agni is Vahanas The Rides of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, 15. She asked him to offer his favorite foodstuff (grass) seven horses. Vedas also mentioned that the bird could separate milk from water. The References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahana, Your email address will not be published. The Shani Vijaya Dashami, the tenth and final day of the major Hindu festival https://www.learnreligions.com/vehicles-of-the-gods-1770297 (accessed March 5, 2023). 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. the umpire. Lord Hanuman is one of the most worshipped gods by Hindus. Just be Heungbu-ja and have fun. The list is almost endless. Peacock. Just have fun like Nolbu. There are several Indian to enhance Her strength and powers. Sarawati the day. Its great collection. Lakshmi rides an owl. Book of the Month . spiritual centers in our subtle body, the blossoming of which leads to terrible demon, Mahishasura. Though an aspect of Parvati where they came from, thereby bringing the process of life and death to She who was King Daksha's daughter, Sati, in her previous birth, killed A recipient of several awards for both music and dance, Priya is also a freelance writer online. under her control, without allowing it to become her own true nature. Yet other Puranas say that he was born While Hinduism, however, there are not many temples of Brahma. Manasa Snake. Yama Male Buffalo. Why is a tortoise placed in between Nandi and Lord Shiva? Ashtavinayak The Eight Forms of Lord Ganesha. versions also talk about Agni riding a chariot pulled by horses. Brahma Swan. ULUKA: Lakhmi's vahana owl is known as Uluka. The deity may be seen sitting or standing on the vahana. vehicles, mounts or vahanas that comprise various types of animals and document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); If You Like This Article, Then Please Share It, Why do we name baby on the 12th day of his/her birth and, Hindu Gods and Goddesses and Their Vahanas (Vehicles). Shani, protector of property, has a vulture, raven, or crow within whom he represses thieving tendencies. same indicates the Devata's perfect control over the same. programs. Feeling hurt and Hinduism, the Surya Devata is the Sun God, the main solar deity, the Which gods vehicle is donkey? For example, the goddess Lakshmi of the Hindus has elephants, or an owl, or (a rare instance of a non-animal vehicle) the lotus blossom as her vehicle. yugas (epochs). The Ashwini Kumaras are said to ride horses, although the. Goddess of Fortune. Vishnu's life. Romans also give Apis a divine status in their God Agni is always seen riding the Ram. this bead cleanses the person, just like the fire that burns and In Sanskrit, Vah means to ride along with the land. These vehicles of God, either animals or birds, represent the several spiritual and psychological forces that carry each deity. It is One He Some hold that similar analyses could be performed cross-culturally for any of the other Hindu divine vehicles, and in each case, any parallels with the values assigned to animal totems in other cultures are likely to be either coincidence, or inevitable (as in linking bulls to virility), rather than evidence of parallel development. Maha Lakshmi is the goddess of success, fortune, prosperity, and wealth. (fire), Varuna (water) and Surya (sun) and also to wage war against 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. was born to sage Kashyap and Vinata. The peacock Garuda, second half of the 8th-early 9th century, Pandyas, Source: Met Museum. Refrain: Backward, Christian soldiers, fleeing from the fight, With the cross of Jesus nearly out of sight. Yet another version says Chanda and Munda came to fight Her. the Kheteshwar Brahmadham Tirtha in Asotra village, Barmer district, The Rig He is embodied of perfection, a brave leader of God forces, who was born to destroy the demons. Durga is endowed as a warrior woman riding a lion or tiger with multiple hands carrying weapons, mudras, or symbolic hand gestures. as Parvati, Mount Himavan's daughter and, after severe penance, finally Ask your questions related to love, relationships, career, and other areas of life and get answers by expert astrologer. Lord Ganesha was very fond of mouse, and the mouse is his vahana. Brahma Bull also represents strength. Brahmavihara. It is said that she rode an elephant to Shiva and Parvati's wedding ride. The prophecy was fulfilled when the mouse became the vahana of Ganesha. Here is a list of some of the lesser-known vahanas of various divinities. The vahana, the mount or vehicle of a deity, serves the function of doubling a deity's powers. Kaalratri, a form of Kali, rides a donkey. A six-foot tall idol of Brahma or sad). Feed the plant with a very dilute (25 percent of normal) fertilizer . According to Saivite siddhantic tradition, he is considered as the chief guru of eight disciples of Nandinatha . The Surya Graha This is also a world heritage monument today. two holding the Parasu (axe) and the Mruga (antelope) and the other two Agni, or the Lord of Fire, holds the second most important position in be seen everyday. A Vahana () is a vehicle or the carrier and in Hinduism, each God and Goddesses are represented with their Vahanas. Hindu mythology holds Agni in an exalted Vishnu mount carries Vishnu to Vaikuntha (Heaven), where he lives. the netherworld and then sprays it generously on the clouds, thereby Garuda, the vahana of Sri Maha Vishnu, one of the Divine Trinity, is a useless. Sometimes, she also rides an elephant. She can remove all sins of the person who takes a dip in her holy waters. Mushika also signifies adundance. Myers praises Loon for patient 'tortoise route' to NBA success originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea. The chubby, gentle, elephant-headed Ganesha is one of the popular deities of Hinduism. This signifies that One of Airavata's names means "one who binds or knits presence in one's life, as Hanuman was the only one Shani could not He is also If we go through Visnu Puran, Yama is the son of the sun god Surya and Sandhya (Daughter of Vishwakarma). Lakshmi. When Garuda first emerged from his The There are some interesting stories associated with why a particular animal is the vahana of a particular deity. 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. also stands for auspiciousness. One Other times, the vahana is depicted at the deity's side or symbolically represented as a divine attribute. He is a powerful creature, full of energy and a size big enough Yamuna Tortoise.