Durga is one of the names of the goddess that is the wife of Shiva. In Mahabharata Yudhistir, pleaded that the dog that shadowed them all through their penance should be given a place in heaven. Seated on Dinka the rat (Mushika), Ganesha crushes useless thoughts, which multiply like rats in the dark. He is the Lord of the North West quarter and a protector of the people. Chicken occupies a very special place in ancient cultures of the world. In Hinduism, Vahanas have a great significance as the Vehicles of gods . This peacock was originally a demon called Surapadma, while the rooster was called the angel [Krichi]. He characterizes the damaging aspect of nature and also has the unfavourable innate in human psychology. The Karni Mata Temple is very popular as the temple of rats in Rajasthan. Stepping on a spiritual being, is considered blasphemous in Hinduism. Ganesha, by mounting the mouse, thereby symbolically conquers impure desires, spiritual darkness and pride. This is known as a sound of the seers/rishis as the seers are said to be channels/pathways towards God, and here the two paths of moving upwards towards God (ra-fire) or bringing God down to oneself (la-earth) are governed by the rishis. The Vahanas are sacred and must be respected. Why Is The Hungry Ghost Festival Celebrated In August? Tags: Aspects of Lord Ganesha, Ganesh Chaturthi Stories, Lord Ganesha. Each of these animals stands for specific qualities that are in parallel with the image and functions of Hindu deities. He is the father of Kasyapa, and her wife is Chhaya Devi. He has written several books about Hinduism for children and young adults. Brahma, the god of creation, travels all over outer space on a swan, chanting the sacred Hindu scripture the Vedas. Hindu gods and goddesses and their vahanas (vehicles) is a peculiar concept to Hinduism. Durga Tiger or Lion. Trishanku, a king of Ikshvaku race, wished to ascend heaven in his mortal body. Garuda carries Vishnu to Vaikuntha (heaven) where he lives. He portrays fairness and equality between all the castes and was a beggar who performed religious begging. Shiva Bullock. and also represent the evil forces over which the deity dominates. All Rights Reserved Read fascinating stories of various celestial creatures in our title Divine Beings on the ACK Comics app and Kindle, as well as all major e-tailers. Ishtar, the Mesopotamian goddess of war is seen with a lion. While it joyfully dances under a cloudy sky, when it glances at its legs, it is moved to tears. It is also a reference to a stream or a flow. Shani Crow. The goddess that is Shivas wife in her most gentle form is called Parvati. These vahanas are their constant companions. The queen pleaded for forgiveness. Muruga is also known as Skanda, Shanmugham, Subrahmanya and Kartikeya. Each god had at least one vahana. In fact, the religion has bestowed the fur, feathers and fins species the status of divinity by linking their multifarious gods and goddesses to various animals. 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. Yudhishthira had approached heaven with his dog who was the god Yama himself, therefore among many Hindus, the common belief exists that caring for or adopting dogs can also pave the way to heaven. Lord is decorated with Mahaakanti, Sahasranaramala that day. The river goddess Yamuna drifts on a tortoise. Brahmas Vahana is a goose or a swan. ACK Media Direct Limited The variations of the vehicles are often seen with purposes behind each of them. He is to make his entry into the world along with his vahana in future. Interestingly, the ram is a sacrificial animal, which has been linked to the Hindu fire god, to whom sacrifices are offered. Kroncha desperately begged apology. Kamadev Parrot. Musaka or mouse is the vahana of the Lord Ganesha. The vahanas may represent talents that fill in shortcomings in the deity's abilities. Hinduism is one of the world's most diversified religions, having many mythology and deities linked with it. Simultaneously, this owl also serves the practical purposes of a barn owl. They may be sitting on a small platform, or riding on a saddle or bareback. He is not very popularly known amongst the Brahmanas and is mainly worshipped by non-brahmins or the lower castes and tribes. Sometimes, they are also depicted as standing or sitting near the vahana. Das, Subhamoy. Another deity linked intimately with dogs is Dattatreya who is a merged deity of the trinity of Brahm, Viu and iva. His mount Nandi stands for sexual energy kama and fertility. Some deities have more than one vahana. The vahana or vehicles of Hindu gods have mostly been animals. The vahana accompanies, pulls the chariot of, or serves as the seat or mount of his god. Hindus worship Garuda as a god. She feeds stray dogs and cats. Durga family with vahanasphoto courtesy of Arindam Mukherjee. She is the river of consciousness that enlivens creation; she is the dawn-goddess whose rays dispel the darkness of ignorance. Hindu goddess Lakshmi and Sarawati have owl and swan as their respective vehicles (vahanas). Goddess Ganga is worshipped across the country. Brahma is usually seen carrying the Vedas, a scepter, a string of prayer beads, a water pot a spoon used in making offerings in the fire sacrifice, or a bow. Makhwana Road, Marol, Andheri East, He seems to have been a popular war god who was also the elder brother of Lord Ganesha. Hanumans popularity and stature and his devoted loyalty to Rama, monkeys are rarely harmed in India. As per Hindu tradition, its a bird which can figuratively sift the pure from the impure, like it sieves milk from water. Some scholars have also suggested that the vahanas represent the minds of human followers, which are thereby allowed to be guided by the deity's wishes. God Indra is also often depicted ridingUchchaihshravas,a seven-headed flying white horse, similar to Sleipnir, the horse of Norse God Odin. Indra's Vahana is a great white elephant called Airavata that is often depicted with four tusks. Airavata is my favorite vahana because he reminds me of Ganesha. ULUKA, LAKSHMI'S VAHANA: The owl is Goddess Lakshmi's vahana. Agni is the Hindu god of fire and is present in every fire that is lit. The gods and goddesses in Hindu mythology travel in supersonic speed on animals and birds. Mounted on Parvani, Kartikeya reins in the peacock's vanity. Ashtavinayak The Eight Forms of Lord Ganesha. 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. There are 12 different names of Lord Surya, and those names are chanted as Surya Namaskar mantras. RitiRiwaz.com is your one-stop guide to Indian Culture and Traditions. Bhumi Elephant. When his teacher, Sage Vasishtha refused to help him, he sought the assistance of his teachers rival, Sage Vishwamitra. These fifteen questions test your knowledge of the associations between god or goddess and vahana. Even the merciless Lord Yama is charmed by Savitri. Indra is an important god of Aryan warriors. The gods use Vahanas for both warfare and travel. Goddess Sheetala Mata, the goddess of fever and smallpox, is also believed to ride on a donkey. Still, they should not be confused with the Vimanas, ancient flying machinesin Vedic literature. Left: Peacock - Kartikeya (peacock named Parvani, pictured), Kaumari. . The sun is also known as Ravi, Pusha, Aditya, or Grahapati. The prophecy was fulfilled when the mouse became the vahana of Ganesha. One of the seals shows Agni / Ravi's symbol (a wheel sign: 'ra') and is prominently shown. When all this is prepared Indra would come and make the clouds rain. This is when the farmers have just reaped a rich harvest and have stocked their granaries with food grains. Sometimes, she also rides an elephant. Written by - Ellen Lloyd AncientPages.com, Copyright AncientPages.com All rights reserved. An animal acting as Vahana owns some magical characteristics, in that every single example of its species, either living or carved in sculptural form, bears the implicit presence of the deity associated with it. 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. Yama Male Buffalo. The more grain the farmer sells, the wealthier he/ she will become. 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. 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. 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 vehicles have symbolic meaning and represent the status and strength of the deities. I see that you are here to read about Hindu Gods and their vahanas and that you have already read about the stories of my good friends the mouse and Nandi (who are the vahanas for Ganesh and Shiva, respectively). Dinka the mouse, vehicle of Ganesha, represents speed and sharpness. To realize her one must go beyond the pleasures of the senses and rejoice in the serenity of the spirit. The peacock represents arrogance and pride over its beauty, and by having a peacock as her mount, the Goddess teaches Hindus not to be concerned with external appearance and to be wise regarding the eternal truth. GaneshaMouse Lord Ganesha was known as the remover of obstacles. Agni, the Fire God, rides upon a ram, and so on. He was the father of the great Pandava Bheema. Athena, though also a goddess of prosperity, is primarily the goddess of wisdom, and her owl symbolizes secret knowledge and scholarship. Indra has Airavata, the white elephant who spins clouds, and Uchchaihshravas, the seven-headed white horse who was created during the . The vahana, usually depicted with the deity, is sometimes a real animal or bird, sometimes a mythological creature, and ocasionally, a composite made up of different creatures! Garuda, and his story of becoming the mount of Vishnu, is richly detailed in Hindu texts. The god sun represents willpower, health, fame, and vitality. Crow is the vahana of planet Saturn and Garuda/eagle of God Vishnu (Please read my articles on Vahans for more details). Ganesha Mouse. She is also shown riding a Hamsa. Actually in a previous life, musaka was a god named Kroncha. The Sun God, Surya, mounts on a golden chariot, pulled by seven white horses. 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