It is also bestowed with the mythical powers of fortune telling. It is believed that Lord Hanuman did not need a Vahana because he could fly himself and go anywhere. They are considered to be of divine nature and they are worshipped. 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". Kubera Man. Kartikeya, the war-god known as Murugan in Southern India, is mounted on a peacock named Paravani. Shiva, the destroyer, rides a bull named Nandi. The widespread belief is that Murungai Kai was given to all living beings on earth by Muruga. Vimanas, of various shapes and sizes and with two or more engines, were sophisticated flying machines equipped with deadly weapons, and though they were used for ordinary travel and transports, their main purpose was warfare. 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. He is also the most handsome god and associated with virility. Shani rides a crow. Brahma, the God of creation, travels all over outer space on a swan. Surya rides a chariot drawn by seven white horses. Agni is the Hindu god of fire and is present in every fire that is lit. ULUKA, LAKSHMI'S VAHANA: The owl is Goddess Lakshmi's vahana. Garuda (from the Sanskrit: Garua or "devourer") is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The vahana or vehicles of Hindu gods have mostly been animals. I feel that special powers are associated with elephants and also . It can be argued, for example, that the elephant god, Ganesha, gains subtlety of insight through the perceptions of his small mouse vahana. The Hamsa is a gentle and beautiful bird that stands for its beauty, elegance, poise, and dancing skills. According to Hindu Scriptures, Adi Shesha or Shesha Naga holds all planets and earth on his hoods. . LakshmiOwl Some deities have more than one vahana. The vahanas are often depicted, where the respective god/goddess is riding on them or they're just an auspicious symbol of the respective deity. For example, Indra the Storm God, carries thunderbolts as his weapons and is also a bringer of rains. His mount Nandi stands for sexual energy kama and fertility. Vamadevas wrath simmered down. Some of these manuscripts are still in the ancient Indian language Sanskrit, which are yet to be translated to English and other contemporary Indian languages. Eagle, peacock, swan, tiger, owl, lion. Estimated time: 4 mins. Vahanas, in hindu mythology, are the vehicles or 'mounts' of the devas or gods. Indra was an important god with the Aryan warriors. But Kubera is sometimes depicted riding a Nara or a Man. They are also believed to be protectors of the gates of heaven and hell. The Vahana of Shakti. He is also known as the god of the war. The dust storm raised by the waving of Garuas wings blinded everybody. Since that day, Garuda developed acrimony with snakes and started feeding on them. Animal images and symbols are very common in the Rig Veda. 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). The goddess that is Shivas wife in her most gentle form is called Parvati. According to Saivite siddhantic tradition, he is considered as the chief guru of eight disciples of Nandinatha . All the Hindu gods and Hindu goddesses are represented as using vahanas to separate themselves; each vehicle is very different and even more symbolical. Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is known by different names - Swaminatha, Murugan, Muruga, Kumara, Skanda, Shanmukha, etc. Hinduism is one of the world's most diversified religions, having many mythology and deities linked with it. Some ancient beliefs also say that black dogs are the rebirth of the fearsome god, Bhairava. These travel vehicles are called Vahanas or Vehicles. 8. The eight Matrikas riding different Vahanas like (top row, second from left to right) Garuda, a peacock, Nandi bull, a hamsa (goose/swan); (bottom row, from left) buffalo, elephant, and lion. He was raised by the Krittikas and led the divine armies when he was 6 days old. He is also a god and deserves respect. Maha Lakshmi is the goddess of success, fortune, prosperity, and wealth. The literal meaning of the word Vahana is that which carries, that which pulls, ( Sanskrit: mount or vehicle). She has written for leading Indian publications on animals/ pets like gingertail.in, Dogs and Pups, Cats and Kittens, the Furs, Feathers and Fins magazine and Buddy Life. GaneshaMouse Simmi Kamboj is the Founder and Administrator of Ritiriwaz, your one-stop guide to Indian Culture and Tradition. Indra's Vahana is a great white elephant called Airavata that is often depicted with four tusks. The word Hamsa is a combination of two words, aham+ sa. It means I am he. The bird hamsa is beautiful, peaceful, and graceful. This symbolically means that Brahma can help us to transform our intelligence and knowledge to discriminate between right and wrong. From half-man, half-bull, he became simply a bull. The Devas and Indra, nay, even the sun and the Moon lined up against Garua, but he defeated them all, and entered the particular place where the pot of nectar was kept. At its core was the belief the gods required to be propitiated with offerings. After provoking Murugan in combat, the demon repented at the moment his lance descended upon him. The vahana accompanies, pulls the chariot of, or serves as the seat or mount of his god. https://www.learnreligions.com/vehicles-of-the-gods-1770297 (accessed March 1, 2023). Riding on its back, Shiva has the power to control all impulses. Lord Vayu granted her wish and she gave birth to a boy who was immensely powerful and strong. In this manner, the vahanas are in the tradition of spirit animal symbols found in mythologies worldwide. Bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva ,Tiger the vehicle of " Maa Durga ", mouse is also considered as one of the holy animals in India, It is vahana (mount/vehicle) of the Lord Shri Ganesh. In dialectic, this is countered by the retort that each totem or vahana, as an aspect of ishta-devata (or an ishta-devata or asura in its own right), has innumerable ineffable teachings, insights and spiritual wisdom; comparative analysis yields benefit, though knowledge and understanding is not served by collapsing their qualities into homogenous signification. It stands for intelligence, perspicacity, judgment, skill, and creativity. Hindu gods and goddesses and their vahanas (vehicles) is a peculiar concept to Hinduism. Narmada Crocodile. He had accidentally stepped on the toes of Saint Vamadeva, who was also worshipped as a god. Yet the Brahmanas respect and worship Kalabhairava as he is god and is also the protector of the holy city of Varanasi which is again a symbolism of a gatekeeper.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'hindusinfo_com-leader-1','ezslot_4',126,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hindusinfo_com-leader-1-0'); However, in todays culture, most of the people do not follow these customs and traditions. He is respected as one of the mighty Guru of the Brahmanas. In Hindu dharma, the Surya Deva gives light to the world. In India also because to colonialism dog meat is banned but the beef was not banned because of the British rule back then.. [2], Vah in Sanskrit means to carry, or transport.[3]. 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 article discusses the various animal mounts or Vahanas attributed to the different deities in the Hindu religion - like Vishnu, Ganesha, Shiva, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Yama, Surya, Kartikeya and Shani. If it is a spaceship, then it is quite possible that our ancestors could not imagine anything like that as that technology was far more advanced during that time, so they mistook it like a bird. Surya has given a Rooster which also stood as a symbo. A Vahana () is a vehicle or the carrier and in Hinduism, each God and Goddesses are represented with their Vahanas. The Ram signifies power, strength, and vitality. Durga, who encompasses . ShitalaDonkey He has the Vahan Peacock. Sculptures of Nandi are a common sight at Hindu temples dedicated to his master, and he is partly responsible for the Hindu reverence for living bulls even today, especially in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Brahma, the God of creation, travels all over outer space on aswan. For the album by The Axis of Awesome, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Animals as vehicles of Gods [Chapter 2.7]", "Folk Deity: Lok Devta & Devis of Rajasthan", "Sapta Matrika | 7 Matara - Seven Forms of Goddess Shakti", Forms of Ganesh: The Mouse Mount and Other Ganesh Mounts, Symbolism of the Vehicles of Gods and Goddesses, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vahana&oldid=1118068149, This page was last edited on 25 October 2022, at 01:14. Vamana, fifth of the 10 incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu.. Trishanku, a king of Ikshvaku race, wished to ascend heaven in his mortal body. The Vimanas often described as shining flying cars, or celestial cars were kept in a Vimana Griha, a type of hanger. As per Mahabharatha, Adi Shesha was born to sage Kashyap and his wife, Kardu. [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]. The name of this dog was Yama who took this form to examine the honesty of Yudhistir who was the oldest Pandava. However, the vehicle animal also symbolizes the evil forces over which the deity dominates. Dattatreya Cow. He is the central figure of the ancient Hindu epic "Ramayana" and is known as King of Ayodhya, the city believed to be Rama's birthplace.According to the Ramayana, Rama's father was King Dasaratha and his mother was Queen Kausalya. At that very moment, Lord Ganesha sat on its back. In Hinduism, Vahanas have a great significance as the Vehicles of gods . In some paintings, the god takes the role of Vahana or vehicle of Bhairava. Shiva Bullock. Your email address will not be published. According to the ancient Hindu texts, Garuda, the king of birds, is a replica of the Vedas (vedatma vihamgeswara), while Lord Vishnu is the God of the Vedas. Your email address will not be published. The deity may be seen sitting or standing on the vahana. Vahanam also called vehicles of hindu gods . Dogs and Gods. The wicked woman secretly hoped that the tiger would kill him. The god of creation is called Brahma. God/Goddess Vehicle. Nandi (also Nandin) is the sacred bull calf, gatekeeper, and vehicle ( vahana) of the Hindu god Shiva. "Vehicles of the Hindu Gods: the Vahanas." One should remain calm and patient during such times and should not give up. Sep 1, 2019 - Hindu gods and goddesses have sacred mounts or vahanas. Sun A golden chariot pulled by seven white horses. Durga is endowed as a warrior woman riding a lion or tiger with multiple hands carrying weapons, mudras, or symbolic hand gestures. An animal acting as Vahana owns some magical . In the sacred temple of Gandgapur in the state of Maharashtra, wherein Lord Dattatreya lives, dogs are not constrained from entering and staying inside the temple. But the dogs were used by the Kings. All Hindu deities had a Vahana. Vahanas The Rides of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, 15. Our products are : Kireedam, Kavacham, Hastham and paatham sets, Temple jewellery, pathakam sets, stone works, sheet works, peedam, pooja items, If you want to place order for your Temple kindly give . 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. Ashtavinayak The Eight Forms of Lord Ganesha. There are more than 330 million gods and goddesses in Hinduism. Hanuman does not have a Vahana. Durga is the most splendid manifestation of Devi. Lakshmi represents the beautiful and bountiful aspect of nature. The Dharma Sutras believe that the dogs are impure., Although some of the religions and people across the globe consume dog meat according to Hinduism, it is considered as a sin and an impure activity. Parvati is depicted as a beautiful woman. Simultaneously, this owl also serves the practical purposes of a barn owl. The queen pleaded for forgiveness. The literal meaning of the word vahana is that which carries, that which pulls. Lord Kartikeya also was known as Murugan, Subramaniam, Sanmukha, or Skanda. And further also because they are linked with death. Shani Crow. Email: customerservice@ack-media.com, 2022 Amar Chitra Katha Media. A vahana is a vehicle or the carrier of something immaterial and formless.The vehicles of the gods and goddesses in Hinduism are animal mounts that the gods/goddesses ride. Each Hindu deity has a particular animal-vehicle or vahana on which it travels. Which is the Oldest Religion in the World? They help the deities to uphold Dharma by performing several obligatory and secondary duties. Lord Ganesha reduced his weight which is bearable to the mouse, without reducing the size. The river goddess Yamuna drifts on a tortoise. He is associated with the human qualities of deep thought and being of a swift mind. Agni, the Fire God, rides upon a ram, and so on. Its believed that Kalki, an incarnation of Vishnu, will come galloping on a white horse, to usher in Satya Yuga, the age of truth and virtues. Among the gods and their companions, the more famous combinations are Vishnu and Garuda, Shiva and Nandi, Brahma and Hamsa, Indra and Airavata, and Ganesha and Moushika. In Hindu mythology, the rooster is depicted as the vahana (vehicle) . 3.other birds used as a mode of transport in mythology : Kartikeya the cock was a subdued demon. This peacock was originally a demon called Surapadma, while the rooster was called the angel [Krichi]. And it was only with the help of herlion vahana thatDurga manages to destroy the demonMahishasura. Kama and his wife, Rati, have the parrot as their vahana. Sometimes, they are also depicted as standing or sitting near the vahana. 204, 2nd Floor, Dhanthak Plaza, The gods and goddesses in Hindu mythology travel in supersonic speed on animals and birds. Daksha Man. Garuda, a deity himself, is often shown as a winged human-shaped figure with a beak-like nose. Saraswati, the goddess of art, music, and learning, usually holds a book and a stringed instrument called a veena. Mushika was originally a gandharva, or celestial musician. Lord Varuna is a Celestial God in the Vedic texts. Kartikeya Peacock. Kala Bhairava: The Lord of Time. This animal is not only a means of transport and a way to identify the god or goddess; it also is an extension of his or her powers. These vahanas are their constant companions. Another example could be: The bull is the carrier of Lord Shiva. IndraElephant Bheema's mother Kunti, who had the boon of having children with any god she pleased with, once prayed to Lord Vayu for a son. Hunting is believed to be a sin as per the Brahmanas. Seven is a sacred number in Hindu mythology. As per Hindu tradition, its a bird which can figuratively sift the pure from the impure, like it sieves milk from water. And it was only with the help of her lion vahana that Durga manages to destroy the demon Mahishasura. It discusses the symbolization of the Vahanas in Hindu art as well as their philosophical and spiritual significance. The peahen sips the tears and conceives. According to astrology, humans suffering from the adverse effects of the planets, Rahu and Shani may find some relief when they give food to black dogs. Vishnu and His Vahana. The vahana also represents the devotee's mind which allows the deity to guide the devotee. The seven horses are representative of the seven major sins and how the Sun God triumphs over them. The animal/bird on which the particular god/goddess travels is called his/her vahana (carrier). She feeds stray dogs and cats. The owl cleanses the granaries of all pests, thereby protecting the grain. Alakshmi Crow. Archaeologists have concluded that the animal that was revered as Anubis was an Egyptian canine, the African jackal. In some paintings, the god takes the role of Vahana or vehicle of Bhairava. The vahana, the mount or vehicle of a deity, serves the function of doubling a deity's powers. Lord Ganesha was very fond of mouse, and the mouse is his vahana. Saraswati duckphoto courtesy of Arindam Mukherjee. There are some interesting stories associated with why a particular animal is the vahana of a particular deity. My name is Garuda. This animal appears terrifying too, with protruding teeth and a menacing expression. The chubby, gentle, wise, elephant-headed Ganesh, or Ganesha, is one of Hinduisms most popular deities. The father of Skanda is Shiva / Ravi or Agni. Hence, Garuda is the carrier of Vishnu. Shashthi goddess is associated with Cats. Airavata was actually why the ocean was churned in the first place. The elegant swan is symbolic of intelligence. The Sarama is also found as the most faithful and honest animal. Bana, an asura king who had received a boon from Lord Shiva, was confident that no warrior could defeat him in a battlefield. They may be sitting on a small platform, or riding on a saddle or bareback. vahana, (Sanskrit: "mount" or "vehicle") in Hindu mythology, the creature that serves as the vehicle, or "carrier," and as the sign of a particular deity. Interestingly, she has the Vahan Owl called Ulka as her Vehicle. In Hinduism its also considered the supreme of all animals. 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. Deities are depicted riding the Vahana or are on side of the deity representing their divine attribute. If Gods are omniscient and omnipresent, why do they need vehicles to transport themselves from one place to another? She summoned Ayyappa to fetch the milk. Image credit: Wikipedia. The ritual of sacrifice was central to the religion of the Vedic times. Currently, Kaliyug, or age of vice, is ongoing as per the Hindu mythological calendar. Nandi is Shivas ardent devotee. Hence, if anyone wants to control unfulfilled thoughts and balance their mind, one should worship Lord Vishnu. The storm god Lord Indra carries thunderbolts as his weapons and is also a bringer of rains to the earth. Upon the partnership between the deity and his vahana is woven much iconography and Hindu theology. Rightly so, as the other members of the celestial group revolve around Surya. Similarly, just like dogs humans too guard their emotional and material territories. Vayu, the wind god, is depicted riding a deer. God Indra is also often depicted ridingUchchaihshravas,a seven-headed flying white horse, similar to Sleipnir, the horse of Norse God Odin. For instance Garuda the eagle is the Vahana of Vishnu since he is the protector and agility is an essential quality to have for him, Nandi is the Vahana of Lord Shiva the god of destruction, the Nandi represent strength, load-bearing capacity, and virility. After the Unjal Seva in the night, the Lord and his consorts are seated on Garuda Vahana. Airavata is often depicted with four tusks. The Karni Mata Temple is very popular as the temple of rats in Rajasthan. The ancient Hindu religion symbolism says that dogs have always been linked with various forms of Lord Shiva who is the God of anguish and the eternal ascetic. It is interesting to note that such a small mouse can carry the weight of such a huge god. It is such tales from India's rich . This winged elephant was hatched from a cosmic egg. It is interesting how each of them has its significance and meaning.. Virginal and sublime, contain within her the power of all the gods combined, she is the invincible power of Nature who triumphs over those who seek to subjugate her. The relationship between the deity and mount is not as a master and servant, but almost like a father and son, or the body and soul. Also, lets keep in mind that the goddess rides a tame lion. He took the form of a tree and began to pray. Lakshmi rides an owl. Mesopotamian gods and goddesses were all associated with vahanas. It is usually depicted as a dog or a man with a dog's head. The tree was cut in two. Does Celtic Art Have Links With Iron Age Art Of The Eurasian Steppes? Vehicles of the Hindu Gods: the Vahanas. Therefore, an eagle is the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. Bats are the primary animals that help to disperse seeds and aid pollination in temperate and tropical forests. Ganga Crocodile. 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