Hanuman (He Does Not Have a Vahana). It is said that she rode an elephant to Shiva and Parvatis wedding ride. Before becoming the vehicle of Shiva, Nandi was a deity called Nandikeshvara, lord of joy and master of music and dance. Kubera Man. When all this is prepared Indra would come and make the clouds rain. Kaalratri, a form of Kali, rides a donkey. Interestingly, he is using a Mouse as his mount. According to some historians, the concept reached Indian shores in the second millennium BC via the trade route between the two ancient civilizations. 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Archaeologists have concluded that the animal that was revered as Anubis was an Egyptian canine, the African jackal. From half-man, half-bull, he became simply a bull. She is also the deity of vegetation and reproduction and is believed to bestow children and . Simmi Kamboj is the Founder and Administrator of Ritiriwaz, your one-stop guide to Indian Culture and Tradition. Some versions also talk about Agni riding a chariot pulled by horses. The bull is said to embody sexual energy, fertility. Deva means heavenly or divine, and refers to a deity in Hinduism. Vishnu and His Vahana. 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. In Hindu mythology, the rooster is depicted as the vahana (vehicle) . He is also the god who metes out punishment to those who have abided by evil ways. Some Vimanas were saucer-shaped while others were cigar-shaped. Sometimes, Brahma is shown riding seven swans. Each vehicle is very different and of divine nature, because it is forever in contact with the gods and . Even more rarely, the elephant-headed Ganesh may be seen riding an elephant, or a lion, or a many-headed serpent (See Ganesha's Vahanas).[15]. Below the wheels were two monstrous serpents with glowing eyes and protruding tongues like flashes of fire, and the serpents never closed their eyes. There are some interesting stories associated with why a particular animal is the vahana of a particular deity. Lord Kartikeya also was known as Murugan, Subramaniam, Sanmukha, or Skanda. 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. This indicating th. Since that time, he has watched over each of Shiva's temples, always looking towards him. Das, Subhamoy. There are also some people who believe that dogs are an incarnation of Bhairav. In this manner, the vahanas are in the tradition of spirit animal symbols found in mythologies worldwide. Here it is interesting to note that all the Hindu Gods and Goddesses have animals as their vehicle or Vahana. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Ancient Desert Mystery Did Thousands Vanish Without A Trace Because Of An Ominous Prophecy And Revenge? Mesopotamian gods and goddesses were all associated with vahanas. Airavata was actually why the ocean was churned in the first place. He is the remover of obstacles, the deity whom worshippers first acknowledge when they visit a temple. Theres yet another god whom Hindus are looking forward to. Deities are often depicted riding (or simply mounted upon) the vahana. 5. Actually in a previous life, musaka was a god named Kroncha. Hanuman helped Lord Rama defeat the Asura- King Ravana of Lanka. The Sarama is the mother of all the Dogs and she resides in Svarga but her son is related to Yamraj. Indra has Airavata, the white elephant who spins clouds, and Uchchaihshravas, the seven-headed white horse who was created during the . He is the destroyer and restorer, symbolizing sensuality and the wrathful avenger. Upanishads are the highest . How Camel became Vehicle of Lord Hanuman. The vahana or vehicles of Hindu gods have mostly been animals. 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. Below is a list of each god and goddess that has a designated vahana . February 17, 2012. Sacrifices are offered to Agni and to many other gods through him. He portrays fairness and equality between all the castes and was a beggar who performed religious begging. Vishnus Vahana is the eagle King named Garuda. The very look with those eyes was enough to poison anyone to death. Vahanas could also be used for warfare, but they were regarded as divine carriers and symbols of the Hindu gods and goddesses. Her lion or tiger acts as her means of transportation and one of her many weapons. Saraswati is the goddess of learning and education. Credit: Public Domain. Each god had at least one vahana. The elegant swan is symbolic of intelligence. It is derived from the word vaha means bearing, carrying. The Vahana of goddess Ganga is a Makara which is a Crocodile. It is also a reference to a stream or a flow. 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. Airavata first make clouds in the sky, and then he would suck up water in his tusk and dispense the water into these clouds. This belief in multiple gods is accompanied by a slew of celebrations. From Hindu mythology, we learn that each deity has an animal vehicle, a Vahana that they use to travel from one world to another. All Rights Reserved Airavata is my favorite vahana because he reminds me of Ganesha. The Hindu god of death Yama has four dogs with four eyes protecting his house. Bhairava, a manifestation of Shiva, has chosen a dog as his vehicle. Hence, a river is known as Vahini, that which carries. 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 name of this dog was Yama who took this form to examine the honesty of Yudhistir who was the oldest Pandava. Agni, the fire god, rides a ram. References: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vahana, Your email address will not be published. Brahma is usually portrayed with four heads and four arms. Email: customerservice@ack-media.com, 2022 Amar Chitra Katha Media. Dogs are believed to have a link between the divine world and human beings on the Earth. Daksha Man. The Sun God, Surya, mounts on a golden chariot, pulled by seven white horses. They flew with the speed of the wind and gave forth a melodious sound. The Vahanas participate in the wars of the gods and goddesses and they also have a role and purpose in creation. The negative traits are those that the gods are said to overpower. Durga Tiger or Lion. One of the seals shows Agni / Ravi's symbol (a wheel sign: 'ra') and is prominently shown. Ashtavinayak The Eight Forms of Lord Ganesha. . The father of Skanda is Shiva / Ravi or Agni. Vayu, the wind god, is depicted riding a deer. In this capacity, the vahana is often called the deity's "mount". Vayu Antelope. Brahma, the god of creation, travels all over outer space on a swan, chanting the sacred Hindu scripture the Vedas. A Bhagavata Purana manuscript page depicting the story of Atri and Anasuya meeting the Trimurti riding on their respective Vahanas. The Vahanas are similar to modern-day vehicles and suitable for travel by air, land, water, or even interstellar travel. 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. He is respected as one of the mighty Guru of the Brahmanas. The tales of them with their respective vahanas have filled voluminous books, which are stored in various quaint libraries across the country. "Vehicles of the Hindu Gods: the Vahanas." 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. Ganesha, by mounting the mouse, thereby symbolically conquers impure desires, spiritual darkness and pride. Photo: Dr. C. Srinivasalu. Credit: T. K. Ellapa - CC BY-SA 3.0. We have come to know him through numerous ancient scriptures and religious texts. Even Lord Dattatreya is linked with four dogs, which represent the four Vedas. Ganesha Mouse. In Sanskrit, 'vah' means to carry or to transport. I feel that special powers are associated with elephants and also . He was raised by the Krittikas and led the divine armies when he was 6 days old. Sometimes, they are also depicted as standing or sitting near the vahana. Being dark in colour, it is also averse of light or truth. Also, if your pet dog sneezes when you are leaving your house it is said to be a good omen. Dogs and Gods. The vahanas may wear a saddle upon which the deity rides or they may pull a chariot driven by the deity. Shitala Devi Donkey. 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. 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 sun is also known as Ravi, Pusha, Aditya, or Grahapati. (2021, February 8). Lakshmi represents the beautiful and bountiful aspect of nature. In Hindu Dharma, Yama is known as the God of Death. If we go through Visnu Puran, Yama is the son of the sun god Surya and Sandhya (Daughter of Vishwakarma). 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. The Shulam (Shakti weapon in Murugan's hand) was given by Mother Parvathi. 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. Muruga is also known as Skanda, Shanmugham, Subrahmanya and Kartikeya. They help the deities to uphold Dharma by performing several obligatory and secondary duties. After absent mindedly walking over the feet of a rishi (sage) named Vamadeva, Mushika was cursed and transformed into a mouse. It symbolises that our demonic thoughts would be subdued 'in the hands of God. His mount Garuda stands for wisdom, thoughts, and incredible speeds. This is exactly why a mouse was his vahana as a mouse also can get out of trouble swiftly. These correspondences are not always consistent. Brahma, the God of creation, travels all over outer space on aswan. Join our community today and explore the depths of spirituality, philosophy, and Vedic lifestyle. The lion may also represent gluttony and the craving for sensory pleasures which gives birth to lust. Worship of Bhairava. Lord Ganesha was known as the remover of obstacles. Perhaps due to their shared geography, the Greco-Roman interpretation is paralleled in Roman Catholic iconography, in which St. Jerome, most famed for editing the New Testament, is often (though not always) depicted with an owl as a symbol of wisdom and scholarship. It is hard to tell if . He is worshipped as the lord of war and victory. The god sun represents willpower, health, fame, and vitality. Kartikeya is a popular deity in the southern part of India. The variations of the vehicles are often seen with purposes behind each of them. They have the same purpose as todays modern world vehicles suitable for traveling by air or land, or water. Goddess Saraswati is the consort of Brahma. 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. This animal appears terrifying too, with protruding teeth and a menacing expression. He is the King of hell and Hindus believe it is not Lucifer or satan. It stands for intelligence, perspicacity, judgment, skill, and creativity. The Vahanas are the divine vehicles/mounts of the Hindu Gods. Since rats are seen as being capable of gnawing their way through most things, the rat symbolizes Ganeshs ability to destroy every obstacle. But the dogs were used by the Kings. Vedas also mentioned that the bird could separate milk from water. He is also known as the god of the war. In Hinduism, he is the God of Oceans. Each Hindu deity has a particular animal-vehicle or vahana on which it travels. Hanuman Temples can be seen with Camel as mount (vehicle) in front of his idol. This is why it is believed feeding crows is a way to please Shani. Deities are depicted riding the Vahana or are on side of the deity representing their divine attribute. She faked an illness which would only be cured by tigers milk. He was the father of the great Pandava Bheema. Brahma, the God of creation, travels all over outer space on a swan. Traditionally, Hindu funeral rituals consist of chants or mantras, which are led by an officiant, who is usually a Hindu priest or the bereaved eldest son. At Hindusinfo.com, we learn and share every day about Hinduism methods, gurus, scriptures and its benefits. Through most things, the concept reached Indian shores in the wars of the Hindu of! The rat symbolizes Ganeshs ability to destroy every obstacle that dogs are believed to have a vahana ) the of. 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