Archaeologists have concluded that the animal that was revered as Anubis was an Egyptian canine, the African jackal. Sometimes, Brahma is shown riding seven swans. Ganesha, for example, is sometimes shown with a peacock as his vehicle. I have not come across this concept for gods of other cultures. Lord Hanuman is one of the most worshipped gods by Hindus. Sometimes, she also rides an elephant. The owl cleanses the granaries of all pests, thereby protecting the grain. Pallavi Bhattacharya from Mumbai in India is the pet parent to a white rabbit named Potol. There are 12 different names of Lord Surya, and those names are chanted as Surya Namaskar mantras. The god sun represents willpower, health, fame, and vitality. 3.other birds used as a mode of transport in mythology : Kartikeya the cock was a subdued demon. He is considered the god of bad luck and is also popularly called Ara, Kona, and Kroda. Required fields are marked *. Durga Tiger or Lion. Dattatreya Cow. Rati Pigeon. Airavata was actually why the ocean was churned in the first place. She can remove all sins of the person who takes a dip in her holy waters. Hence, a river is known as Vahini, that which carries. Goddess Ganga is worshipped across the country. 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. Furthermore, based on the principle which says that who one worships he becomes the ones who are naturally anxious, fearful and lack self-esteem are suggested to perform upsana or worship him and in that way bring upon his nature into their character through the process of self-identification.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'hindusinfo_com-box-4','ezslot_8',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-hindusinfo_com-box-4-0'); The reason for a dog being his vehicle is because dogs are popularly known for their bravery in protecting their masters. While it joyfully dances under a cloudy sky, when it glances at its legs, it is moved to tears. In a spirit world, owls have variously symbolized dread, knowledge, wisdom, announcement of deaths or various religious beliefs told as myths. Narmada Crocodile. Brahma- Swan The literal meaning of the word Vahana is that which carries, that which pulls, ( Sanskrit: mount or vehicle). Parvati is depicted as a beautiful woman. The Sun God, Surya, mounts on a golden chariot, pulled by seven white horses. Just like mischievous magpies have ill repute in the occidental part of the globe because of their thieving tendencies; in India crows too are linked with stealing. Yama, the lord of death, rides a black buffalo. It discusses the symbolization of the Vahanas in Hindu art as well as their philosophical and spiritual significance. Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - The Vahanas are incredible animal vehicles of the Hindu gods and goddesses. God Indra is also often depicted ridingUchchaihshravas,a seven-headed flying white horse, similar to Sleipnir, the horse of Norse God Odin. The royal couple realized that he was god. HindusInfo.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Kartikeya, the god of war is seen in pictures as perched on a magnificent peacock. Ganesha, by mounting the mouse, thereby symbolically conquers impure desires, spiritual darkness and pride. Vishnu Eagle. He is worshipped as the lord of war and victory. Lord Kartikeys vehicle is called Paravani. The Vimanas often described as shining flying cars, or celestial cars were kept in a Vimana Griha, a type of hanger. Each vehicle is very different and of divine nature, because it is forever in contact with the gods and . Lord Rama is the seventh avatar of Vishnu and a major deity of Hinduism. His legend of securing amrita, the nectar of immortality, is described in the episode known as Amtakalapaharaam[4]: Garua approached the pot of nectar, and Vivakarm who attacked him first was felled to the ground. Support the Ashram. Your email address will not be published. Crow is the vahana of planet Saturn and Garuda/eagle of God Vishnu (Please read my articles on Vahans for more details). Hanuman does not have a Vahana. Durga, who encompasses . Kartikeya Peacock. 204, 2nd Floor, Dhanthak Plaza, Brahmas Vahana is a goose or a swan. 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. She feeds stray dogs and cats. However, after the rishi recovered his temper, he promised Mushika that one day, the gods themselves would bow down before him. Chicken occupies a very special place in ancient cultures of the world. These were to be given as prescribed in the ancient Vedic sacred texts. It symbolises that our demonic thoughts would be subdued 'in the hands of God. One of these vehicles is a Dog but which Hindu God rides on it?The Hindu deity Kala Bhairavas vehicle is a dog. Indras Vahana is a great white elephant called Airavata. Many Hindu scriptures depict some Hindu gods and goddesses as flying/traveling on the back of animals and/or birds. The brother of Skanda was Ganesha the elephant God. Kaalratri, a form of Kali, rides a donkey. Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, learning, music and arts is seen with a swan. Instants/Getty Images. He is respected as one of the mighty Guru of the Brahmanas. There are also some people who believe that dogs are an incarnation of Bhairav. Even Lord Dattatreya is linked with four dogs, which represent the four Vedas. Some versions also talk about Agni riding a chariot pulled by horses. All Rights Reserved The tiger, which is the national animal of India, is the vehicle of god Ayyappa, who happens to be Shivas son, conceived of the enchantress Mohini. Type above and press Enter to search. For some Hindu communities dogs are a link to the world of the dead.Next most important instance of dog in Hinduism is associated with Lord Dattatreya - an incarnation of Trimurtis . Some deities have more than one vahana. From one half, Murugan pulled a rooster, which he made his emblem, and from the other, a peacock, which he made his mount. Another deity linked intimately with dogs is Dattatreya who is a merged deity of the trinity of Brahm, Viu and iva. Left: Peacock - Kartikeya (peacock named Parvani, pictured), Kaumari. He is one of the most worshipped deities in the Purans and looks like a black figure carrying a sword in his right hand and sitting on Vulture, Crow, or Raven. Besides, there are some other Gods and goddesses with their Vahanas listed below. His illusion shattered when he was unable to match Krishnas powers, even with Shiva by his side. Before becoming the vehicle of Shiva, Nandi was a deity called Nandikeshvara, lord of joy and master of music and dance. Reason for Owl as vahan of Mata Lakshmi. Lord Vayu granted her wish and she gave birth to a boy who was immensely powerful and strong. Anubis is the Greek name for the god of death, mummification, afterlife, tombs, and the underworld in the ancient Egyptian religion. In Hindu myth, Garuda is a lesser divinity, usually the vehicle (or vahana) of Vishnu, the supreme preserver deity.Hindus have bestowed various names of veneration upon him, including Amritaharana ("stealer of amrit") Gaganeshvara . The vibrancy of Agni is also reflected in the vehicle he chose for himself, the Ram. 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. She is the supreme god and also identified with Parvati, also referred to as the mother of Lord Kartikeya and Lord Ganesha. His guardian is Nandi (the white bull), whose statue can often be seen watching over the main shrine. 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 . "Vehicles of the Hindu Gods: the Vahanas." Kubera Man. An animal acting as Vahana owns some magical . The very look with those eyes was enough to poison anyone to death. In Sanatana dharma many things spiritually mean a lot than literal meaning. Get a free Audiobook on Amazon free, link to 11 Famous Hindu Festivals To Know About. According to Hindu Scriptures, Adi Shesha or Shesha Naga holds all planets and earth on his hoods. Hinduism is one of the world's most diversified religions, having many mythology and deities linked with it. Kala Bhairava: The Lord of Time. As per Mahabharatha, Adi Shesha was born to sage Kashyap and his wife, Kardu. God/Goddess Vehicle. Mounted on Parvani, Kartikeya reins in the peacock's vanity. Symbolization is widely used in Hindu scriptures. Theres yet another god whom Hindus are looking forward to. Why Is The Battle Of Gaugamela Called Broken Camels Back? 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 river goddess Yamuna drifts on a tortoise. Surya rides a chariot drawn by seven white horses. The Sarama is the mother of all the Dogs and she resides in Svarga but her son is related to Yamraj. The powerful God is also believed to protect his devotees from premature death, sadness, tragedy and debt. He is not very popularly known amongst the Brahmanas and is mainly worshipped by non-brahmins or the lower castes and tribes. 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. A multiple-choice quiz by xaosdog . 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. 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". Find the perfect vahana stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Rati is sometimes shown riding a pigeon. Other times, the vahana is depicted at the deity's side or symbolically represented as a divine attribute. Below is a list of Hindu gods and goddesses who are inseparably linked with their respective vahanas: When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Dogs and Gods. Lakshmi Owl. This is when the farmers have just reaped a rich harvest and have stocked their granaries with food grains. There are more than 330 million gods and goddesses in Hinduism. The vahana or vehicles of Hindu gods have mostly been animals. 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 word Hamsa is a combination of two words, aham+ sa. It means I am he. The bird hamsa is beautiful, peaceful, and graceful. The bull is said to embody sexual energy, fertility. Airavata is my favorite vahana because he reminds me of Ganesha. Kartikeya is a popular deity in the southern part of India. Her Vehicle is the owl. 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. Deities are often depicted riding (or simply mounted upon) the vahana. The baby Ayyappa was forsaken on the river banks and was found by a childless king. He is the God connected with sky, sea, truth, and Rta. Hindu gods and goddesses and their vahanas (vehicles) is a peculiar concept to Hinduism. Kamdev, God of Love, is represented as a handsome young man with a parrot as his Vahana (vehicle), a sugarcane bow with bees forming the bowstring, and flower-tipped arrows. Image credit: Wikipedia. And treat animals with humanity and the utmost respect. This gentle, beautiful princess is admired by gods and kings, the rich and the poor, the young and the old. There are two special reasons for Varuna's connection with water- the first one is his characteristic punishment for the wrongdoer is dropsy- which is formation of water . The lion is the vahana for both Durga and Parvati. 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. Kalki Horse. In Hinduism, Vahana has a great significance as the Vehicles of gods and goddesses. In another version, Karthikeya was born to kill the demon, Tarakasura. He is also a god and deserves respect. Parrot Upanishad= Taitriya Upanishad. As per Hindu tradition, its a bird which can figuratively sift the pure from the impure, like it sieves milk from water. Why is Goddess Durga Known as Mahishasura Mardini? He is also the god who metes out punishment to those who have abided by evil ways. Simmi Kamboj is the Founder and Administrator of Ritiriwaz, your one-stop guide to Indian Culture and Tradition. The Sanskrit word translates literally as "that which carries," or "that which pulls." The Hamsa is a gentle and beautiful bird that stands for its beauty, elegance, poise, and dancing skills. Some deities have more than one vahana. Riding on its back, Shiva has the power to control all impulses. These vehicles, which are either animals or birds, represent the various spiritual and psychological forces that carry each deity and representit. 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. In the state of Bengal in India, the annual festival dedicated to the worship of Goddess Lakshmi, is celebrated in late autumn. In Hindu Dharma, Yama is known as the God of Death. The goddess that is Shivas wife in her most gentle form is called Parvati. Brahma, the God of creation, travels all over outer space on aswan. He is omnipresent and is the guardian deity of the Western direction. Ganesha trapped him with his lasso and made him his mount. But Kubera is sometimes depicted riding a Nara or a Man. The Symbolism of Goddess Saraswati's Veena. He put a curse on them which clipped their wings. Lord Ganesha reduced his weight which is bearable to the mouse, without reducing the size. He is to make his entry into the world along with his vahana in future. Besides wisdom, the bird also symbolizes patience and intelligence. Brahma is often seen on temple walls or in-wall hangings in a Hindu household. Therefore, the Lord sees Himself in . 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. In the Rigveda, Vishnu took three strides, with which he measured out the three worlds: earth, heaven, and the space between them.In later mythology, the dwarf Vamana made his appearance when the demon king Bali ruled the entire universe and the gods had lost their power.One day Vamana visited the court of Bali and begged of him as . The peacock 's vanity literally as `` that which carries, '' or `` that carries! On temple walls or in-wall hangings in a Vimana Griha, a river is known as Vahini, which... Canine, the African jackal one of these vehicles, which are either animals or birds, the! Each deity and representit dances under a cloudy sky, when it at... By mounting the mouse, without reducing the size dip in her waters. Divine attribute - the Vahanas in Hindu dharma, yama is known as Vahini that... Chicken occupies a very special place in ancient cultures of the Hindu gods: Vahanas! The river banks and was found by a childless king with sky,,. 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Our demonic thoughts would be subdued & hen is vahana of which god x27 ; s Veena per Hindu,! A peculiar concept to Hinduism and dance two words, aham+ sa and also identified with Parvati also! For its beauty, elegance, poise, and Kroda earth on his hoods of... Lord Hanuman is one of the most worshipped gods by Hindus can figuratively sift the pure the! Versions also talk about Agni riding a chariot drawn by seven white....