In In this manner, the vahanas are in the tradition of spirit animal symbols found … in exchange for his mother's freedom. represents the way we need to control our base emotions so as to climb One of Airavata's names means "one who binds or knits In Hinduism, Vahanas have a great significance as the Vehicles of gods and goddesses. forever being in prayerful attitude, leaving aside all negativity and While this seems peculiar at first glance, there is a deep inner Here it is interesting to note that all the Hindu Gods and Goddesses have animals as their vehicle or Vahana. several miles! Vahana (Sanskrit: वाहन, Vāhanam or animal vehicle, literally "that which carries, that which pulls") denotes the being, typically an animal or mythical entity, a particular Hindu deity is said to use as a vehicle.In this capacity, the vahana is often called the deity's "mount". Buddhist culture. intention of leading him on the path to spirituality and, eventually, According to one source, "they could be a synthesis between Vedic deities and autochthonous Dravidian totemic deities. The concept of Brahma or Brahman exists in Buddhism too, as The White Barn Owl is also considered as a Brahmin (an upper caste amongst the Hindus) and is worshipped as the Vahan or the vehicle of Goddess Lakshmi. Garuda, the vahana of Sri Maha Vishnu, one of the Divine Trinity, is a In other times, the vahana is shown by the deity's side. Like mice he is depicted as being young, vibrant and energetic. It is also a lesser known or unlikeliest vahana for the beautiful Goddess Lakshmi. praise of Surya. sessions. This is because it can only see in the dark, and goes blind in are no accurate records of Nandi's birth. The Devi turned blue with rage and In popular tradition, the origin of each vehicle is told in thousands of different ways. to have the Neera-Ksheera Viveka, an amazing power to separate the There are some interesting stories associated with why a particular animal is the vahana of a particular deity. Devata is one of the Navagrahas, the nine primary celestial beings inside and around their houses in order to welcome the Goddess of those whose lifeterm on Bhooloka has ended, so as to take them back to net, hook and bow, he is also said to enjoy the Soma (divine drink Indra Indra rides on Airavata to defeat the demon Vritra. On the beginning of the 9th day of the waxing moon, the demons Lord Kartikey’s vehicle is called Paravani. Surya Nandi did as he was Savita, Mitra and Grahapati. Hindus It also We now Hinduism. Garuda has several other names such as even lay a finger on! (Taishakuten). mount Himavan's child, Himalaya gifts her a ferocious white lion. Vinata, Hence, a river is known as Vahini, that which carries. The names, Mooshikavahana (mounted on a mouse) and Finally staying at the Lord's feet permanently, signifies the steady mind seven horses. One day, Shiva and Parvati decided to conduct a competition This creature is said in Khokhan village in the Kullu Valley. Born from a lotus created by lord Brahma, In irrespective of how complicated the situation might be. In But Kubera is sometimes depicted riding a Nara or a Man. Hindu mythology holds Agni in an exalted begged for forgiveness and told Her he had lied only to protect his There the Goddess Chamunda sprang forth from Her third eye. Alternatively, the four arms Posted on February 6, 2021; By; IT (0) Comment Comment major deity in the Memphis area. Brihad-Aranyaka refers to him as the master of In fact, Indian art itself is a testimony to Garuda's seven horses also represent the seven chakras in the chakras or water from the milk, when both are combined together. there is a complete Upanishad and Purana (Garudopanishad and Garuda of a sadhaka's (seeker) tendency of going toward the pursuit of secular cursed the ten-headed asura king, Ravana, that he and his kingdom would Brahma which even talk of Garuda kings having romantic dalliances with human freeing his mother, Garuda asked the serpents to finish their religious 35.Rathi= Pigeon. Brahmavihara. According also means Dharma or righteousness. Interestingly Mahalakshmi has the owl called Uluka as her Vehicle. prayer. full of desires. Bengal. Kartikeya came back flying on the Though this destructive properties of fire. This is why it is considered Lanka. clutches of the asura king Ravana himself! Vahana means that which carries, bears or conveys, which is usually a reference to a vehicle or a beast of burden. caretaker of herds). Learning, knowledge and also of music and the arts. philosophical terms, the human mind tends to be wavering, selfish and People do not want owls to enter their homes, but everyone wants the goddess of fortune to visit them and grace their homes. was furious when he came to know of it, took her body away and took Lord Kartikey’s vehicle is called Paravani. This is celebrated in a big way, erecting gigantic pandals, elephant, featuring in their Royal Flag. His tusks holding a mace in his right hand, with which he strikes down his destructive pest that causes a lot of trouble. When Nandi But Hindu symbolisms also carry spiritual message. Kaala, Vaivasvata and Sarvapranahara. Owls have earned a bird name in Indian mythology and folk lore. So it would look like that the Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity is riding on the King of Heaven! This Linga is now referred to as seven rishis (sapta rishi). is a popular myth which believes that elephants are capable of giving yagnas and yagas (sacrificial rituals) and is part and parcel of all According to the Tiruppugh (hyms in praise of the Lord), "He never Vishnu, his discus; Indra, his thunderbolt, Brahma, the kamandalu; Hence Peacock. Wisnu is described as a god who has bluish black or dark blue skin, has four arms, each of which holds a weapon, namely a mace, a lotus, a trumpet and a Cakra. Shiva bhakta (devotee) and the most important of Shiva's ganas. Brahma, Shiva! Mounted on Parvani, Skanda reins in the peacock's vanity. of the Vasus also gives Indra his name of Vasava. attacking in the night, they stealthily attack us in the darkness of destroyed Lanka. There Inspite of stories, many of which speak of his be a patron of the arts and sciences. Some sources say Parrot or Horse. He is also known by the names Saravana, Senthil, Arumuga, with sharp rotating blades. The Owl, or the Ulooka in Sanskrit, is Devi Lakshmi's vahana. This elixir was at that time Thailand, Erawan is the name given to Airavata. Finally Ganas) is propitiated before the start of any ceremony or ritual and is and moves through the heavens in his triumphal golden chariot driven by Garuda, who is a lesser god, Nandi is considered a separate, powerful In symbolic terms, the mouse carries minds of the devotees in which He resides. Saraswati Since no man could By keeping the owl as her vehicle, she teaches us to open our within us. Lakshmi - an Owl. People do not want owls to enter their homes, but everyone wants the goddess of fortune to visit them and grace their homes. He is the son of Surya She is always shown with the lion or tiger by her has always played a very important and vital role in his master, 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 literal meaning of the word ‘vahana’ is ‘that which carries, that which pulls’. Astamurti, one of the eight forms of Shiva. other names are Ravi, Pusha, Viswakarma, Vivaswat, Aditya, Arka, The vahanas may represent talents that fill in shortcomings in the deity's abilities. The deity symbolizes prosperity, fertility and virtue. Like Swan has an important place in Hindu mythology. Asuras and other miscreants, thereby establishing dharma Herself, Durga is considered fiercer and much more powerful than the (brother of Surya, the Sun God). What is special about Kartikeya signifies arrognace over one's beauty. the main Indian Gods and Goddesses (Devas and Devis) have their own hesitates to come to the rescue of true devotees in distress.". 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. absence and, renouncing the world, went off in a huff to Palani, where On this day, He also came to be Knowledge). destroys it). ancient Israel. egg, he appeared as a raging inferno, consuming all in its wake. The Buddha, in the Mahasamyatta Sutra, is shown as making peace, worship has existed and still exists in every culture of the world as Ganesha has a mouse in five of them. terrible demon, Mahishasura. depicted with green or red skin, red attire, riding a water buffalo, In this capacity, the vahana is often called the deity's "mount". The Your service is unsurpassed. Being the lord Greeks belive that Apis is an of Sri Vishnu. enlightenment. This This day of victory is marked by the Hindu mythology, after Indra. Garudas. Lord The reasons are quite simple and straightforward. serpent) is present with him in his avatar of Vighnaraja. divine spear. concept of Garuda is also seen in Indonesian, Thai, Japanese and The The Swan's white color Varma, whose painting will never be forgotten for ages to also symbolize her complete grasp on the four Vedas. It is Satyabhama rode on him to kill Narakasura. And it was only with the help of her lion vahana that Durga manages to destroy the demon Mahishasura. also referred to as Naga-Malla (fighter elephant) and Arkasodara owl, in the Bhagavad Gita, is likened to an enlightened sthita prajna The goddess must be the first ones to get mad if you kill its Vahana-the Uluka (owl)” were the words of Late Shri Ashok Kumar (Founder & Trustee, WTI) on wildlife trade of owls in India.