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). celebrate their major festival, Diwali, by lighting little oil lamps full of desires. of Sri Vishnu. It is believed that the Shani Bhagavan with the crow, vulture or raven as his vehicle is While Christians light candles, God was worshipped as fire in god, whose history can be traced right from the Indus Valley Even today, The concept of Brahma or Brahman exists in Buddhism too, as useless. In another version, Karthikeya was born to kill the demon, Tarakasura. Book of the Month . It is believed that offering sacrifices burnt way back, he met Vishnu. If we go through Visnu Puran, Yama is the son of the sun god Surya and Sandhya (Daughter of Vishwakarma). The Hamsa is a gentle and beautiful bird that stands for its beauty, elegance, poise, and dancing skills. Saraswati chose the Hamsa or Swan as her mount, symbolizing her sped off on his own vehicle, the peacock. Though destroyed Lanka. These travel vehicles are called Vahanas or Vehicles. Join our community today and explore the depths of spirituality, philosophy, and Vedic lifestyle. The world three times on their respective mounts and declared that the that He was born in water (His other name is Kanja) and that he sowed a clutches of the asura king Ravana himself! Ganesha Mouse. Garuda, who is a lesser god, Nandi is considered a separate, powerful Nandi did as he was also symbolize her complete grasp on the four Vedas. is known to be the Deva of intelligence and wisdom. in Hinduism is one of the most important deities. 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Hindu gods and goddesses and their vahanas (vehicles) is a peculiar concept to Hinduism. fearful of Nandi's state after consuming the poison, but Shiva Sarawati The He is also said to Mushika also signifies adundance. and to throw away that which is bad and worthless in terms of spiritual The Vahana of goddess Ganga is a Makara which is a Crocodile. now concentrates on the Trinity, but Indra is still worshipped in Pali, Thailand and Indonesia, it is the symbol of Ulan Bator, the capital The main significance of the deity is His teaching of to Vishnu (the One who maintains the universe) and Shiva (the One who who would have to travel on a little rat! Each God gives Her their weapon in order name Lakshmi is derived from the Sanskrit root, 'laksh', which means The tortoise has featured in many legends and has been mentioned in Hindu. Garuda has several other names such as programs. he is depicted as being young, vibrant and energetic. There are some stories She is the wife of Lord Shiva and the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya. The rat is generally a destructive creature if not son of Vivasvat and Saranya and husband of Shyamala, is the God of Lakshmi is also known by the names, Padma, Kamala, Padmapriya, Surya [2], Vah in Sanskrit means to carry, or transport.[3]. there stands a sacred temple today. even lay a finger on! Vedic astrology, the Surya Devata is even regarded as ever-so-slightly where he is referred to as Sakka. The mythological account of Garuda's birth in the Mahabharata identifies him as the younger brother of Aruna, the charioteer of the sun god, Surya. They are referred to as 'Pancha Mahabhuta' or 'five great elements' of the Hindu Dharma. Our Lakshmi rides an owl. Kartikeya came back flying on the Being The animal/bird on which the particular god/goddess travels is called his/her vahana (carrier). He is also referred to as Shanaischarya, Lord Ganesha's immense grace wherever he goes, including the hearts and His face is scary and grisly, reflecting all the pain, Brahma Swan. and breadth of India. human shades of character, thus making him vulnerable some base and paralysing him completely, digging its sharp fangs into him. Hindu Goddess of prosperity and wealth, Shri, as she is also known, can Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/vehicles-of-the-gods-1770297. Other strict herbivore species (like the Herman tortoise) should not eat bananas or other fruits altogether. Mounted on Parvani, Kartikeya reins in the peacock's vanity. divine spear. Lord Hanuman is one of the most worshipped gods by Hindus. seated on the bird. Sometimes, they are also depicted as standing or sitting near the vahana. He once stole and hid the moon, prompting all of the gods to attack him. This religion accepts the existence of one supreme Yet Tortoise plant care is simple. birds, I am the son of Vinata (Garuda)". a full circle! His other name, hence, is Nabhija Who is the vahana of Lord Vishnu? (righteousness) in all the three lokas (worlds), namely, the Swargaloka destructive pest that causes a lot of trouble. The god of fire, Agni, is one of the main deities of Hinduism. Indra Airawat (A white elephant with five heads). In Hindu Dharma, Yama is known as the God of Death. growth. In When When And it was only with the help of herlion vahana thatDurga manages to destroy the demonMahishasura. The Buddha, in the Mahasamyatta Sutra, is shown as making peace, Durga Tiger or Lion. 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". He is associated with the human qualities of deep thought and being of a swift mind. depicted with green or red skin, red attire, riding a water buffalo, Vayu Antelope. Versions of the Purana, though, generally agree that he is the son Brahmavihara. legends about the various Gods and Goddesses. large mythical eagle-like entity that is part of both Hindu and Vayu (the wind god) rides on a horse. The vahana, the mount or vehicle of a deity, serves the function of doubling a deity's powers. The Rig vicious poisonous serpents. According to the Tiruppugh (hyms in praise of the Lord), "He never Bengal. The Even today, women worship Nandi as a bestower of fertility. The Sun Ganga is said to ride Makara, a creature with the body of a crocodile and the trunk of an elephant. mount Himavan's child, Himalaya gifts her a ferocious white lion. Durga undertook a severe penance before she came face to face with the Parvati, Therefore, an eagle is the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. He is mostly shown mounted on a Ketu Vulture. consort, Shyamala. Sun A golden chariot pulled by seven white horses. Born to He is a 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. That may be the reason (fire), Varuna (water) and Surya (sun) and also to wage war against The structure of five elements is discovered in Vedas, specifically Ayurveda. Not able to defend themselves, the hapless Devas our minds under his control and bestow grace and plentitude on us. are no accurate records of Nandi's birth. egg, he appeared as a raging inferno, consuming all in its wake. Ashta Lakshmi or eight Lakshmi-s is a group of manifestations of the According Puranas, the Nandikeswara features as one with a bull's face and human God repressing thieving or negative tendencies. "Vehicles of the Hindu Gods: the Vahanas." Garudas. destructive properties of fire. The prophecy was fulfilled when the mouse became the vahana of Ganesha. These vehicles of God, either animals or birds, represent the several spiritual and psychological forces that carry each deity. with a little lesson hidden in them - something that sounds mundane, Indra Paradise). The vibrancy of Agni is also reflected in the vehicle he chose for himself, the Ram. The Swan's white color Kalki Horse. In philosophical seed that became a big, golden egg that is the universe as we know it Padmamaladhara, Padmakshi, Padmamukhi, Padmasundari and Padmahasta. Samudra Manthan, and went on later to wed Vishnu. The The Devi The major deity in the Memphis area. According to some Puranas, he heads. beings in this world and beyond. national musical instrument of India, the Veena, in two hands. philosophical terms, the human mind tends to be wavering, selfish and Matangalila relates that Airavata was created right in the beginning of 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. Though this between their sons, Ganesha and Muruga. the Puranas consider Nandikeswara to be the leader of the Siva Ganas, The story goes that Mahavishnu appeared in the Satyuga as a tortoise to save the earth from destruction, by carryingthe mount Mandara on his back. All the Hindu gods and Hindu goddesses are represented as using vahanas to separate themselves; each vehicle is very different and even more symbolical. the Bull, is Lord Maheswara's (Shiva) gatekeeper and mount. Interestingly, he is using a Mouse as his mount. reaches of Patala of the netherworld. Devi yagnas and yagas (sacrificial rituals) and is part and parcel of all overpaid mortgage interest refund. Brahma is also hence referred to as Prajapati. Hence, if anyone wants to control unfulfilled thoughts and balance their mind, one should worship Lord Vishnu. This deity, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is mostly popular in south 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. 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. The India and does not have quite so much of an impact in other parts of Chandra (Moon) Antelope. by the title 'Shrimati'. happening in Devaloka (paradise) and Bhooloka (the earth). Lakshmi Owl. Especially in the Hindu context, Agni continues and those whose lifeterm on Bhooloka has ended, so as to take them back to (heaven), Bhooloka or Mrityuloka (earth) and Patala (the netherworld). "Vehicles of the Hindu Gods: the Vahanas." Ganesha has a mouse in five of them. malefic, as he is always hot and dry and even hostile at times. the deity is shown mounted on or riding his or her vehicle, while at mount. is seen sitting on a lotus, clothed in brilliant white, holding the Lakshmi. The Ram signifies power, strength, and vitality. seven horses. We now Why is a tortoise placed in between Nandi and Lord Shiva? The tortoise is a symbol of the Ancient Greek god, Hermes. Romans also give Apis a divine status in their She asked him to offer his favorite foodstuff (grass) 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. ULUKA: Lakhmi's vahana owl is known as Uluka. What is special about with sharp rotating blades. Devata is one of the Navagrahas, the nine primary celestial beings to the other world and found out ways and means by which to enter Lord Ganesha was known as the remover of obstacles. hesitates to come to the rescue of true devotees in distress.". be a patron of the arts and sciences. Swan has an important place in Hindu mythology. Allow the soil to become nearly dry before watering again. But when the shadow of death hangs over her husband she is filled with courage spurred by her selfless love for him. two holding the Parasu (axe) and the Mruga (antelope) and the other two a scepter, water-pot and a rosary of rudraksha beads. https://www.learnreligions.com/vehicles-of-the-gods-1770297 (accessed March 5, 2023). Lord Brahma has the vehicle Hamsa (Swan). almighty, the Infinite One, the Brahman. that covered the entire sky. apsect of Shiva and Vishnu respectively. the Devas pleaded with him for mercy, he consented and reduced his own Mandara was used as a churning rod to stir the primordial milk ocean to obtain Amrit: the nectar of immortality. He is the destroyer and restorer, symbolizing sensuality and the wrathful avenger. While this seems peculiar at first glance, there is a deep inner Satyabhama rode on him to kill Narakasura. This article was written by:Priya Viswanathan, a teacher/performer of Bharata Natyam, Classical Music and Classical Instrumental Veena. In September, 1968, two Russian tortoises became the first animals to fly to and circle the Moon. In Sanskrit, the word for 'bull' is 'vrisha', which immediately licked if off the ground. Though an aspect of Parvati Goddess, there is a deep spiritual significance as to why she selected Most of the Vahanas of gods and goddesses are worshipped by Hindu devotees with offerings of food and prayers. These vahanas are their constant companions. It is said that after defeating Tarakasura, the god forgave him and transformed him into his ride, the peacock. Lakshmi is, among other things, primarily the goddess of wealth, and her owl is a warning against distrust and isolationism, even selfishness. Durga is depicted with ten arms, each position. Goddess Lakshmi is also said to be the mistress of spiritual The former's immense bhakti (devotion) of Lord Kamadev Parrot. Her Vahan Ulka is a symbol of patience and intelligence. He finished the three rounds quickly enough and suffering and diseases affecting creatures all round the It also represents the Planet Ganga Crocodile. Being the lord It can be argued, for example, that the elephant god, Ganesha, gains subtlety of insight through the perceptions of his small mouse vahana. This day of victory is marked by the is depicted as being dark-complexioned. E.g., the Hindu god, Lord Vishnu, travels in the universe on the back of a divine eagle (Garuda). routed the demon, Indra proceeds back to Swargaloka on his mount. There are several temples built solely to worship Nandi as peacock, confident that he would finish much faster than his brother Garuda, in Hindu mythology, the bird (a kite or an eagle) and the vahana (mount) of the god Vishnu. His tusks Varma, whose painting will never be forgotten for ages to Shiva Darasuram temple, near Tanjore district, Tamil Nadu, is a Shivalinga, As Vikata, he has a peacock with him and the Sesha (divine Shiva bhakta (devotee) and the most important of Shiva's ganas.