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. They are considered to be of divine nature and they are worshipped. and also represent the evil forces over which the deity dominates. The vahana accompanies, pulls the chariot of, or serves as the seat or mount of his god. The bull is said to embody sexual energy, fertility. Kamadev Parrot. ULUKA, LAKSHMI'S VAHANA: The owl is Goddess Lakshmi's vahana. He was the father of the great Pandava Bheema. 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 . The god of creation is called Brahma. Lakshmi rides an owl. 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. He is also the god who metes out punishment to those who have abided by evil ways. Shitala is prayed to with the hope that shell ward off chicken pox, measles and sores. He lords over and is the personification of love, lust, and sensuality. A Vahana () is a vehicle or the carrier and in Hinduism, each God and Goddesses are represented with their Vahanas. Another possibility is symbolization. It is interesting how each of them has its significance and meaning.. This winged elephant was hatched from a cosmic egg. Material - Copper (or) Brass with gold coated. And it was only with the help of herlion vahana thatDurga manages to destroy the demonMahishasura. Brahma is usually portrayed with four heads and four arms. The Sarama is also found as the most faithful and honest animal. Saraswati is the goddess of learning and education. Hanuman helped Lord Rama defeat the Asura- King Ravana of Lanka. Parrot Upanishad= Taitriya Upanishad. Bhairava's vahana (vehicle) is Shwaswa, the dog. We provide you with information on various aspects of the great Indian culture and its diversity. 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. At its core was the belief the gods required to be propitiated with offerings. Lord Ganesh was very intelligent, and he could find ways out of any trouble. Both the boons were granted. Also, he is seen playing with a snake which shows the overcoming of fear, the mace portrays the overpowering of opposition, challenges and antagonists. 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. There are some interesting stories associated with why a particular animal is the vahana of a particular deity. They are also believed to be protectors of the gates of heaven and hell. 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. Lord Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is known by different names - Swaminatha, Murugan, Muruga, Kumara, Skanda, Shanmukha, etc. The river goddess Yamuna drifts on a tortoise. He is considered the god of bad luck and is also popularly called Ara, Kona, and Kroda. In Hinduism, Vahana has a great significance as the Vehicles of gods and goddesses. Brahma, the God of creation, travels all over outer space on aswan. Nandi is Shivas ardent devotee. The literal meaning of the word Vahana is that which carries, that which pulls, ( Sanskrit: mount or vehicle). Etymology and other names. LakshmiOwl Durga Maa is depicted as riding on a lion or a tiger. They flew with the speed of the wind and gave forth a melodious sound. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/vehicles-of-the-gods-1770297. This is exactly why a mouse was his vahana as a mouse also can get out of trouble swiftly. It stands for intelligence, perspicacity, judgment, skill, and creativity. Being dark in colour, it is also averse of light or truth. In Hindu iconography, positive aspects of the vehicle are often emblematic of the deity that it carries. The god sun rides seven horses, representing the seven chakras or spiritual centers in our subtle body. 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. He returned victoriously on a female tiger along with her cubs, carrying a pot full of milk. He had fathered winged white elephants as well. Vayu (the wind god) rides on a horse. Hinduism is one of the world's most diversified religions, having many mythology and deities linked with it. Agni (Fire) Male Sheep. GaneshaMouse Vishnu, the Preserver/Protector mounts an eagle-like creature called Garuda. It is also a reference to a stream or a flow. The hamsa, vehicle of Saraswati, represents wisdom, grace, and beauty. By mounting the crow, Shani is said to suppress pilfering habits in people. Sometimes, she also rides an elephant. Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, wisdom, learning, music and arts is seen with a swan. Subhamoy Das is the co-author of "Applied Hinduism: Ancient Wisdom for Today's World." The literal meaning of the word vahana is that which carries, that which pulls. He seems to have been a popular war god who was also the elder brother of Lord Ganesha. This belief in multiple gods is accompanied by a slew of celebrations. 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. 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. He is the remover of obstacles, the deity whom worshippers first acknowledge when they visit a temple. 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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. He put a curse on them which clipped their wings. Currently, Kaliyug, or age of vice, is ongoing as per the Hindu mythological calendar. In some paintings, the god takes the role of Vahana or vehicle of Bhairava. Saraswati rides a swan. The god of fire, Agni, is one of the main deities of Hinduism. The storm god Lord Indra carries thunderbolts as his weapons and is also a bringer of rains to the earth. ACK Media Direct Limited Agni, the fire god, rides a ram. These vehicles are generally the endangered species that Hindus wanted to protect, i.e. He is embodied of perfection, a brave leader of God forces, who was born to destroy the demons. https://www.learnreligions.com/vehicles-of-the-gods-1770297 (accessed March 1, 2023). The lion is the vahana for both Durga and Parvati. The Symbolism of Goddess Saraswati's Veena. Paundraka, the black buffalo that Yama is said to ride, was born from Rudras thigh. Lord is decorated with Mahaakanti, Sahasranaramala that day. The animal/bird on which the particular god/goddess travels is called his/her vahana (carrier). The vibrancy of Agni is also reflected in the vehicle he chose for himself, the Ram. Vayu, the wind god, is depicted riding a deer. 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. Since rats are seen as being capable of gnawing their way through most things, the rat symbolizes Ganeshs ability to destroy every obstacle. Eagle, peacock, swan, tiger, owl, lion. 1) Elephant. Some feel that the mouse is representative of the egoistic mind, as it can metaphorically gnaw on the virtues of man. The scientific truth however is that peacocks do have sexual intercourse. And further also because they are linked with death. Durga family with vahanasphoto courtesy of Arindam Mukherjee. But the dogs were used by the Kings. Ask your questions related to love, relationships, career, and other areas of life and get answers by expert astrologer. The Rig Veda signified that Agni was one of the main gods. "Vehicles of the Hindu Gods: the Vahanas." If Gods are omniscient and omnipresent, why do they need vehicles to transport themselves from one place to another? Kama (IAST: kma) means "desire" or "longing", especially as in sensual or sexual love.The name is used in Rig Veda (RV 9, 113. Kamadeva is a name of Vishnu in Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana (SB 5.18.15), and also . Dattatreya Cow. She had a passion for writing about India's lifestyle, culture, tradition, travel, and is trying to cover all Indian Cultural aspects of Daily Life. Two terrific wheels were rotating round the pot and they would cut into mince-meat anybody who tried to lay hands on the pot and a machine circled the wheels. The gods and goddesses in Hindu mythology travel in supersonic speed on animals and birds. Emblem Symbol Logo Logotype Monogram Sign Mark Motif Insignia Trademark Semiotics Heraldry Identity Stamp Brand Service India Tag Label Wordmark Certain ceremonies involve dogs in practices like giving food to dogs for particular doshas or problems in astrology.. "Hey! Indra's Vahana is a great white elephant called Airavata that is often depicted with four tusks. Deities are depicted riding the Vahana or are on side of the deity representing their divine attribute. The sun god, Surya, mounts on a golden chariot, pulled by seven white horses. The powerful God is also believed to protect his devotees from premature death, sadness, tragedy and debt. She is usually depicted with ten arms that hold the weapons of the various gods. 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. In Bihar snd Jharkhand bats are believed to be a form of the Goddess Lakshmi. While it joyfully dances under a cloudy sky, when it glances at its legs, it is moved to tears. 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 . Credit: Public Domain - Right: Crow - Shani (planet Saturn in vedic astrology), Alakshmi, Dhumavati (pictured). Forces, who was also the elder brother of Lord Ganesha of perfection, a leader! 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