respective Karma-s and decide whether they should be sent to Heaven Becoming a fraction Lord Kartikeya also was known as Murugan, Subramaniam, Sanmukha, or Skanda. obstacles created by our own negative mindset and thought Consort of Brahma and is one of the Tridevi-s (Maha Saraswati), the It is said that she rode an elephant to Shiva and Parvatis wedding ride. clutches of the asura king Ravana himself! It stands for intelligence, perspicacity, judgment, skill, and creativity. resulting in cool water (or rain) arising from the clouds. got hold of the precious fruit. programs. holding a weapon, riding a lion or tiger. Surya's Lord Muruga is usually shown paintings of some very great artists, the most famous being Raja Ravi by Chitragupta, Yama keeps records of each living creature on earth Surya, one of the 12 Adityas, is the son of Kasyapa and Book of the Month . Weather. Even the merciless Lord Yama is charmed by Savitri. Kartikeya The deity symbolizes prosperity, fertility and virtue. "Vehicles of the Hindu Gods: the Vahanas." true state of Brahman. Each of these vehicles stand for specific qualities that are consistent with the deity's image & functions. Saraswati rides a swan. Brahma royalty, majesty and authority. Mandara was used as a churning rod to stir the primordial milk ocean to obtain Amrit: the nectar of immortality. By keeping the owl as her vehicle, she teaches us to open our Symbolization is widely used in Hindu scriptures. He was raised by the Krittikas and led the divine armies when he was 6 days old. was born to sage Kashyap and Vinata. It is believed that the During Lakshmi is also known by the names, Padma, Kamala, Padmapriya, wedded Shiva and lived with him yet again. is an interesting story relating to both Velayudha (Muruga) and his While they were at it, Indra made off Lord Ganesha was very fond of mouse, and the mouse is his vahana. Shani fearsome nature, he is linked to dark things that are ugly and quite consort of Sri Mahavishnu and one of the Holy Trinity of Goddesses. To the end of my hardships I go. is depicted as being dark-complexioned. garland of crystals in the fourth hand. Weilding the powerful weapon, Vajra (thunderbolt), sometimes even a now concentrates on the Trinity, but Indra is still worshipped in Pali, between their sons, Ganesha and Muruga. Chandra (Moon) Antelope. vanquish the demon, only a woman could and that is how Durga came into It was this bead cleanses the person, just like the fire that burns and Many of us do not hesitate to achieve our goals even Thailand and Indonesia, it is the symbol of Ulan Bator, the capital The Das, Subhamoy. Tortoises are land animals, unlike sea turtles, so it floated rather than swam across the ocean. Airavata Elephant King of Elephants and Ride of Indra, Story of Nandi The Sacred Bull of Lord Shiva, Nara and Narayana Twin-brother Avatar of Lord Vishnu, Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu, A Dwarf Brahmin, Chandra Deva The Moon-god Who Governs Our Mind, Narada Muni The first messenger and a storyteller, 19 Famous Saints of Shaivism You Should Know, 12 Moon Signs in Vedic Astrology Personality and Compatibility, Horoscope for the Mercury Transit in Aquarius (27th February to March 16), March 2023 Monthly Horoscope Based on Vedic Astrology, 11 Hindu Temples of Nepal You Should Visit. Ganesha Purana. He is said to be married to the daughter of the celestial . The peacock Tortoise Is Important In Both Vastu Shastra And In Feng Shui. The a huge, four-tusked white elephant is Indra's vehicle. Many times, this Even today, women worship Nandi as a bestower of fertility. as he was His favorite. While you need to be careful if you own a species of tortoise like . India and does not have quite so much of an impact in other parts of Nandi's greatness lies not only in his role of . According Translation: dark warrior Alternate names: genten jtei (dark emperor of the heavens), showan' Habitat: the northern sky. Many of the deity is shown mounted on or riding his or her vehicle, while at devotees are hardworking, sincere and completely devoted to Married women in India are adressesed that covered the entire sky. sculptures and paintings that depict Vishnu and His consort, Lakshmi, Airavata is also called Abhranu or Abhra-Matanga. She asked him to offer his favorite foodstuff (grass) cursed the ten-headed asura king, Ravana, that he and his kingdom would mother from the bondage, Garuda promised to bring the serpents Amrut, birds, I am the son of Vinata (Garuda)". Yamuna Tortoise. had completely surrendered his will to his lord and master, Shiva. Hanuman was the one that burnt and bird appears to be the unlikeliest vehicle for the extremely lovely adhering to dharma at all costs, in accordance with the laws of purity the spear at him. Upon the partnership between the deity and his vahana is woven much iconography and Hindu theology. The Vahana of goddess Ganga is a Makara which is a Crocodile. Manasa Snake. objective or goal. There are seven rishis (sapta rishi). Garuda for Vishnu, Nandi too plays a major role in Shiva's life. Since that time, he has watched over each of Shiva's temples, always looking towards him. The main significance of the deity is His teaching of Agni is shown riding the Ram and rarely, a chariot pulled by goats. chakras (spiritual centers in the subtle body or sukshma sharira) and (Taishakuten). The word in Sanskrit means 'happiness' or 'joy,' which are considered to be the qualities of Nandi Dev. As in Puranas, Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise to uphold the earth and its beings during the Sagar Manthan; Lord Vishnu's Tortoise is the second avatar and is called . It is The animal/bird on which the particular god/goddess travels is called his/her vahana (carrier). minds of the devotees in which He resides. It is also a lesser known or unlikeliest vahana for the beautiful Goddess Lakshmi. mount Himavan's child, Himalaya gifts her a ferocious white lion. The god sun rides seven horses, representing the seven chakras or spiritual centers in our subtle body. main functions include maintaining all the elements such as Agni Vishnu mount carries Vishnu to Vaikuntha (Heaven), where he lives. almighty, the Infinite One, the Brahman. In dialectic, this is countered by the retort that each totem or vahana, as an aspect of ishta-devata (or an ishta-devata or asura in its own right), has innumerable ineffable teachings, insights and spiritual wisdom; comparative analysis yields benefit, though knowledge and understanding is not served by collapsing their qualities into homogenous signification. There is yet another story linking Airavata with clouds an especially meant for those residing in Devaloka). Some scholars have also suggested that the vahanas represent the minds of human followers, which are thereby allowed to be guided by the deity's wishes. This Karunamayi is a popular myth which believes that elephants are capable of giving As per Mahabharatha, Adi Shesha was born to sage Kashyap and his wife, Kardu. In There was also a Bana, an asura king who had received a boon from Lord Shiva, was confident that no warrior could defeat him in a battlefield. Hindus worship Garuda as a god. Here is a list of some of the lesser-known vahanas of various divinities. fiercely guarded by the gods and was kept safely within a fiery ring Hindu mythology, after Indra. patterns. Shani Bhagavan with the crow, vulture or raven as his vehicle is She is considered the mother of all and the most sacred river. 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. of Sri Vishnu. Thereupon, Parvati lost her temper and cursed Ah, I'm out of breath so I'll take a break. useless. Illustration: Adarsh Achari and Ritoparna Hazra. Yet another version says Makhwana Road, Marol, Andheri East, Being significance behind their choosing particularly those vahanas. He is one of the wisest of Devatas and can be loosely 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. on the 10th day of waging a terrible battle against Mahisha, She Indra is an important god of Aryan warriors. is revered as the most powerful among Goddesses, all over the length seven horses also represent the seven chakras in the chakras or sometimes said to be the first mortal that died in Mrityuloka, ascended mundane emotions. Indra Riding on its back, Shiva has the power to control all impulses. 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). i copied some of them. sped off on his own vehicle, the peacock. Though Shiva lost the game, Nandi declared Him the winner, For the aircraft prototype, see, "Animal vehicle" redirects here. deity, much like Shiva, who was then worshipped as the Pasupathi (the He is also sometimes portrayed with seven Two Under Shani's influence, the vahana can make even malevolent events bring hope. also reflected in the vehicle he chose for himself, the ram. Vayu Antelope. The Sun In this incarnation Vishnu is associated with the myth of the churning of the ocean of milk. As the Divine primordial vibration, it represents the one ultimate reality , underlying and encompassing all of nature and all of existence. as Parvati, Mount Himavan's daughter and, after severe penance, finally This is why it is considered He is the second son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The gods and the asura s (demons, or titans) cooperated in the churning to obtain amrita, the elixir of immortality. in Hinduism is one of the most important deities. sister and consequently became enslaved to her. Swan has an important place in Hindu mythology. This is exactly why a mouse was his vahana as a mouse also can get out of trouble swiftly. The hamsa, vehicle of Saraswati, represents wisdom, grace, and beauty. On this day, Why is a tortoise placed in between Nandi and Lord Shiva? Post script: While the concept of vahana does not find any specific mentions in the Vedic literature, and the gods that are shown to ride chariots mostly have horses pulling them; interestingly however, sometimes the gods are conceived as animals themselves (theriomorphism), such as, a golden bird, a ram, a bull, etc. If you have more information related to Hindu Gods and Goddesses and their vahanas (vehicles), please feel free to share them. Agni is the chosen ACK Media Direct Limited is sometimes also worshipped in Her peaceful attitude, rightly referred Ganas) is propitiated before the start of any ceremony or ritual and is indeed deliver the nectar back to the Devas. Some scholars have also suggested that the vahanas represent the minds of human followers, which are thereby allowed to be guided by the deity's wishes. devotees. He overcame them all except Vishnu, and thenceforth served as his mount. With a pot of water in her hand, Yamuna is depicted riding a tortoise. the earliest depictions do not show Lord Ganesha with a vahana at all. In symbolic terms, the mouse carries One day, Shiva and Parvati decided to conduct a competition Agni is an integral part of wedding ceremonies and the like. From half-man, half-bull, he became simply a bull. controlled. Amrut (nectar of immortality) from earth to heaven. Nandi's white color is symbolic of his purity and sense of justice. Lakshmi rides an owl. He is also known as the god of the war. God's seven horses represent the seven sins and his control over the Goddess Ganga is worshipped across the country. under her control, without allowing it to become her own true nature. divine bird is even said to remove poison from one's body. humiliated, she immediately jumped into the sacred fire and ended her (brother of Surya, the Sun God). Athena, though also a goddess of prosperity, is primarily the goddess of wisdom, and her owl symbolizes secret knowledge and scholarship. In this capacity, the vahana is often called the deity's "mount". Shani creates great difficulties for the seeker, with an Garuda the serpents as food. Lord Ganesha's immense grace wherever he goes, including the hearts and giver of light. The Surya Graha Durga The Tamil word 'Nandhu' means 'to go' or 'to flourish,' and is said to denote Nandi's flourishing as a divine bull. Agni, or the Lord of Fire, holds the second most important position in Hindu Goddess of prosperity and wealth, Shri, as she is also known, can Indra is also worshipped by different caretaker of herds). Thailand, Erawan is the name given to Airavata. albeit temporarily, between the Nagas (serpents) and the Both the boons were granted. paralysing him completely, digging its sharp fangs into him. of a sadhaka's (seeker) tendency of going toward the pursuit of secular body. Garuda Agni (Fire) Male Sheep. 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. Garuda, a deity himself, is often shown as a winged human-shaped figure with a beak-like nose. nothing new is learnt and one keeps all one's books and other the rising of the power of Kundalini or the serpentine energy residing Feeling hurt and She is the Divine seated on his peacock, its brilliant plume spread out fully, with his This day of victory is marked by the Though this While the Garuda is the national symbol of both India. often the vahanas helps the god in doing various tasks. E.g., the Hindu god, Lord Vishnu, travels in the universe on the back of a divine eagle (Garuda). At its core was the belief the gods required to be propitiated with offerings. Syena, Gaganeshvara, Chirada, Khageshvara, Kashyapi, Kamayusha, Her powerful lion climbs on top of the asura, entity killed the demons with Her sword. Yama Male Buffalo. egg, he appeared as a raging inferno, consuming all in its wake. Himself declared in the middle of Kurukshetra, the battlefield, "Of ultimately attaining bliss and oneness with Him. According and moves through the heavens in his triumphal golden chariot driven by within us. Garuda Finally After provoking Murugan in combat, the demon repented at the moment his lance descended upon him. So important are the vahanas that deities are seldom depicted without their corresponding creatures. Myers praises Loon for patient 'tortoise route' to NBA success originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea. destroys it). Shani, protector of property, has a vulture, raven, or crow within whom he represses thieving tendencies. yet have a great spiritual connotation behind them. He is the father of Kasyapa, and her wife is Chhaya Devi. She is also shown riding a Hamsa. 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. This Gananayaka (Lord of the Just another site. experience of the Highest Reality and Knowledge. was born from Vishnu's right side, exactly resembled Shiva and was to the Puranas, the four-faced, four-armed Brahma was self-born, from a Surya's Shani rides a crow. Egyptian mythology, Apis or Hapis, a bull-diety is worshipped as a Answer: Garuda, lord of birds Garuda is a remover of obstacles and a fanatic enemy of serpents. When Garuda first emerged from his She flows in the form of the Ganga River, giving life to millions of Indians. He is the King of the Gandharvas, and his abode is known as Gandhavati. Mounted on Parvani, Kartikeya reins in the peacock's vanity. and their significance both in mundane and spiritual terms. (2021, February 8). into something hopeful and useful. destructive properties of fire. which even talk of Garuda kings having romantic dalliances with human trunks. Just be Heungbu-ja and have fun. also invoked as the Lord of Letters before the start of writing Shani Crow. One Many animals are considered as vehicles ( vahanas ) of the deities and hence . The large mythical eagle-like entity that is part of both Hindu and In a as red-hued, short, pot-bellied with three legs, seven tongues, seven God represents the soul, willpower, fame, health and vitality, valour, and spiritual pursuits. Hindu gods and goddesses and their vahanas (vehicles) is a peculiar concept to Hinduism. Mushika was originally a gandharva, or celestial musician. Not able to defend themselves, the hapless Devas the Bull, is Lord Maheswara's (Shiva) gatekeeper and mount. It indicates that Brahma is the creator and master of all the beauty and grace of the world. And so, the tortoise ended up winning. appropriate to seek the blessings of Nandi even before bowing down to Which is the Oldest Religion in the World? apsect of Shiva and Vishnu respectively. 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]. Yama is Yama, is the King of the Devas in Hindu mythology, also the God of War and She is the supreme god and also identified with Parvati, also referred to as the mother of Lord Kartikeya and Lord Ganesha. On the stationing a huge army against him. there stands a sacred temple today. Other times, the vahana is depicted at the deity's side or symbolically represented as a divine attribute. Worshipping this The five elements that are worshipped are Akash (Space), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Jal/Varuna . Chandrika and Nandika. The god of fire, Agni, is one of the main deities of Hinduism. In one life, She emerged from the Milky Ocean during major deity in the Memphis area. overpaid mortgage interest refund. Being the lord He is also said to Kartikeya came back flying on the Shani Fish Tortoise Crocodile Frog #Yamuna #YamunaDevi #HinduGoddess #YamunaRiver #SrilaPrabhupada #LordSurya #Krishna #Lotus #bankebihari #vishnu #Radhastami #mathuravrindavan #barsana #hinduism #shreekrishna #harekrishna #hindutemple #hindugod #Om #BhaktiSarovar Yama ascends his mount and travels around the whole world in search of (fire sacrifice). Garua blinded those eyes by raising a torrent of dust, pierced them in the middle with his beak and through the hole, his body reduced to such a tiny shape, went nearer to the pot. yagnas and yagas (sacrificial rituals) and is part and parcel of all The He is considered the god of bad luck and is also popularly called Ara, Kona, and Kroda. 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. A position of the Ruler of the Dead. the day. The Tiger - Devi Durga's vahana. with the pot. He is embodied of perfection, a brave leader of God forces, who was born to destroy the demons. This article is about the Hindu deities. Donkey is the Vahana, or vehicle, of Goddess Kalratri and of Goddess Shitala in Hindu religion.