The answer can be that it is a divine bird and not like ordinary eagles, so it can travel in space. Hinduism is one of the world's most diversified religions, having many mythology and deities linked with it. When it comes to What are the Hindu funeral rituals? It is interesting to note that such a small mouse can carry the weight of such a huge god. Animal images and symbols are very common in the Rig Veda. VishnuEagle The Symbolism of Goddess Saraswati's Veena. The Story of Bhikshatana Shiva The Naked Form of Lord Shiva, Pradosh Vrat Katha The Stories Behind Pradosh Vrat, Dashavatara The 10 Avatars of Lord Vishnu, Ashokasundari The Daughter of Lord Shiva, Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh The Hindu Trinity, Chinnamasta The Goddess Who Cut Her Head, Goddess Saraswati The Goddess of Knowledge and Music, Lord Venkateswara (Balaji) The God Who Is Still Paying The Debt of Kubera, Vishnu Sahasranama Lyrics in English With Meaning. Hindu Gods and Goddesses have a particular Animal or Bird in which they travel. Reason for Owl as vahan of Mata Lakshmi. He is usually shown in sculpture accompanied by or riding a rat. The vahana, the mount or vehicle of a deity, serves the function of doubling a deity's powers. Some deities have more than one vahana. Also, lets keep in mind that the goddess rides a tame lion. Vishnu mount carries Vishnu to Vaikuntha (Heaven), where he lives. One of these vehicles is a Dog but which Hindu God rides on it? It is interesting how each of them has its significance and meaning. 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". These vehicles are generally the endangered species that Hindus wanted to protect, i.e. Garuda (from the Sanskrit: Garua or "devourer") is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology. One of these vehicles is a Dog but which Hindu God rides on it?The Hindu deity Kala Bhairavas vehicle is a dog. His mount Garuda stands for wisdom, thoughts, and incredible speeds. Required fields are marked *, Powered byWPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress, October 3, 2015 1 comment. In Sanskrit, Vah means to ride along with the land. There are also some people who believe that dogs are an incarnation of Bhairav. It discusses the symbolization of the Vahanas in Hindu art as well as their philosophical and spiritual significance. There are also a few beliefs and superstitions linked with dogs in India among the Hindus. Dogs in Hindu Religion is mainly associated with Bhairava form of Hindu God Shiva. Learn Religions. This is exactly why a mouse was his vahana as a mouse also can get out of trouble swiftly. Some ancient beliefs also say that black dogs are the rebirth of the fearsome god, Bhairava. In Sanskrit, 'vah' means to carry or to transport. Airavata is often depicted with four tusks. Surya rides a chariot drawn by seven white horses. 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]. There are some interesting stories associated with why a particular animal is the vahana of a particular deity. Vishnu, The Preserver, is one of the main deities of Hinduism, who is seated on Adi Shesha and also rides on the Eagle King, Garuda. Some feel that the mouse is representative of the egoistic mind, as it can metaphorically gnaw on the virtues of man. The brother of Skanda was Ganesha the elephant God. Born to Vinata and bearing the power of Kashyapa's penance, the demigod is anguished to find that his mother is enslaved by the cruel Kadru. This peacock was originally a demon called Surapadma, while the rooster was called the angel [Krichi]. In Hinduism, he is the God of Oceans. Upon the partnership between the deity and his vahana is woven much iconography and Hindu theology. Sometimes, they are also depicted as standing or sitting near the vahana. The monkey god Hanuman is one of the most widely worshipped gods in all of India. Stepping on a spiritual being, is considered blasphemous in Hinduism. He is known by various names like Murugan, Shanmukha, Kumaraswamy, etc. A bull works hard and expects very little, but if it gets angry, then it is hard to control it. Join our community today and explore the depths of spirituality, philosophy, and Vedic lifestyle. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. 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. As Bhoodevi, the earth-goddess, she nurtures life; as Shreedevi, the goddess of fortune, she bestows power, pleasure, and prosperity on those who deserve her grace. He is one of the eight attendants on Lord Shiva and also at times is thought of as one of his aspects.He is popularly worshipped among the Tantrikas and is also worshipped in Vajrayana Buddhism as Heruka Bhairava or Yamntaka. A Vahana () is a vehicle or the carrier and in Hinduism, each God and Goddesses are represented with their Vahanas. The bull being a strong animal symbolizes virility. Each of these animals stands for specific qualities that are in parallel with the image and functions of Hindu deities. Illustration: Adarsh Achari and Ritoparna Hazra. Muruga is also known as Skanda, Shanmugham, Subrahmanya and Kartikeya. It is said that she rode an elephant to Shiva and Parvatis wedding ride. 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. Lord Ganesha was very fond of mouse, and the mouse is his vahana. The baby Ayyappa was forsaken on the river banks and was found by a childless king. Without her, there is only chaos and confusion. Shitala Devi Donkey. Mumbai 400059, Maharashtra, India 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. Lord Kartikeya also was known as Murugan, Subramaniam, Sanmukha, or Skanda. Illustration: Shivam Pathania. 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. Deities are often depicted riding (or simply mounted upon) the vahana. When his teacher, Sage Vasishtha refused to help him, he sought the assistance of his teachers rival, Sage Vishwamitra. Indra has Airavata, the white elephant who spins clouds, and Uchchaihshravas ("OOCH-chai-SHRAH-vahs"), the seven-headed white horse who was created during the churning of the Ocean of Milk. Indra is an important god of Aryan warriors. Durga Lion Bats are the primary animals that help to disperse seeds and aid pollination in temperate and tropical forests. . ACK Media Direct Limited The Ashwini Kumaras are said to ride horses, although the. Different gods have different vahanas (animal vehicles). Worship of Bhairava. They have the same purpose as todays modern world vehicles suitable for traveling by air or land, or water. Mounted on Parvani, Kartikeya reins in the peacock's vanity. Limited time offer - Save 30% off all videos, use code: 30OFFVIDEO. This animal appears terrifying too, with protruding teeth and a menacing expression. Your email address will not be published. 5. He put a curse on them which clipped their wings. The eagle, as we all know, preys on snakes too. Why is Goddess Durga Known as Mahishasura Mardini? 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 . 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. Estimated time: 4 mins. When the elephant is the vehicle that Shani Dev comes on riding, it is considered ominous. An animal acting as Vahana owns some magical . For example, Indra the Storm God, carries thunderbolts as his weapons and is also a bringer of rains. The name, Varuna, means "he who covers." Das, Subhamoy. In Sanatana dharma many things spiritually mean a lot than literal meaning. I am the mythical eagle who has the body of a man, and the wings and beak of an eagle. There are many statues of various Vahanas in Hindu templesand these beings are considered to be secondary deities. In Hinduism its also considered the supreme of all 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. Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, wealth and prosperity mounts the wise old white owl. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. These were to be given as prescribed in the ancient Vedic sacred texts. Does Celtic Art Have Links With Iron Age Art Of The Eurasian Steppes? The widespread belief is that Murungai Kai was given to all living beings on earth by Muruga. Vamadevas wrath simmered down. The vahana also represents the devotee's mind which allows the deity to guide the devotee. 3.other birds used as a mode of transport in mythology : Kartikeya the cock was a subdued demon. However, the vehicle animal also symbolizes the evil forces over which the deity dominates. Vahanas could also be used for warfare, but they were regarded as divine carriers and symbols of the Hindu gods and goddesses. The scientific truth however is that peacocks do have sexual intercourse. He is the central figure of the ancient Hindu epic "Ramayana" and is known as King of Ayodhya, the city believed to be Rama's birthplace.According to the Ramayana, Rama's father was King Dasaratha and his mother was Queen Kausalya. There are some interesting stories associated with why a particular animal is the vahana of a particular deity. Available for both RF and RM licensing. However, after the rishi recovered his temper, he promised Mushika that one day, the gods themselves would bow down before him. She is also the dog of the Gods who assisted Lord Indra to regain his stolen holy cows. 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 . Lord Shani refers to the planet Saturn and is one of the nine heavenly objects as Navagraha in Hindu Astrology. Some versions also talk about Agni riding a chariot pulled by horses. They may, however, also offer additional talents that the deity would otherwise lack. SaraswatiSwan Before becoming the vehicle of Shiva, Nandi was a deity called Nandikeshvara, lord of joy and master of music and dance. Varuna's vahana, Jaladhi, was born from Rudra's earwax and has the divine power of movement. The vibrancy of Agni is also reflected in the vehicle he chose for himself, the Ram. Many Hindu deities are associated with a 'vehicle' or 'vahana,' a being which the deity would 'ride.'. He holds a trident symbolic of the capturing and control over the mind, body and tongue. Agni, the Fire God, rides upon a ram, and so on. Certain ceremonies involve dogs in practices like giving food to dogs for particular doshas or problems in astrology.. He is also the most handsome god and associated with virility. Written by - Ellen Lloyd AncientPages.com, Copyright AncientPages.com All rights reserved. Land, or water mounted upon ) the vahana himself, the Ram pollination in temperate and tropical forests help. 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Particular doshas or problems in Astrology rival, Sage Vasishtha refused to help him, he promised Mushika one... That Shani Dev comes on riding, it is hard to control it was... Which Hindu God rides on it? the Hindu deity Kala Bhairavas vehicle a. Carry or to transport, lets keep in mind that the deity would otherwise.... Traveling by air or land, or water Hindu Art as well their... Of doubling a deity called Nandikeshvara, lord of joy and master of and...