The Gods and Their Vahanas
- September 20, 2020
By Sanjana Kapur and Aparna Kapur
The gods in Indian mythology have vahanas or vehicles on which they ride. These vahanas are their constant companions. They represent the strength and beauty of the deity, and at times, symbolise various human traits, including those that are negative. The negative traits are those that the gods are said to overpower.
Read more such exciting stories on the ACK Comics App today :- Click now
To receive more such stories in your Inbox & WhatsApp, Please share your Email and Mobile number.
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. Here is a list of some of the lesser-known vahanas of various divinities.
- Vayu, the wind god, is depicted riding a deer.
- Bhairava has a dog as his mount.
- Varuna’s vahana, Jaladhi, was born from Rudra’s earwax and has the divine power of movement.
- Agni, the fire god, rides a ram.
- Kaalratri, a form of Kali, rides a donkey.
- Kama and his wife, Rati, have the parrot as their vahana. Rati is sometimes shown riding a pigeon.
- The god of wealth Kubera’s vahana is a man.
- With a pot of water in her hand, Yamuna is depicted riding a tortoise.
- Saraswati rides a swan. It is said that she rode an elephant to Shiva and Parvati’s wedding ride.
- The Ashwini Kumaras are said to ride horses, although the Rig Veda also mentions the donkey as their vehicle.
- Durga travels on a fierce tiger.
- Ganga is said to ride Makara, a creature with the body of a crocodile and the trunk of an elephant.
- Shani rides a crow. This is why it is believed feeding crows is a way to please Shani.
- Surya rides a chariot drawn by seven white horses.
- Lakshmi rides an owl. Sometimes, she also rides an elephant.
- Paundraka, the black buffalo that Yama is said to ride, was born from Rudra’s thigh.
- Goddess Shashthi, the protector and benefactor of children, is often symbolized riding a cat.
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.
To receive more such stories in your Inbox & WhatsApp, Please share your Email and Mobile number.
Related Articles
Comic of The Month
The Sons of Rama
The story of Rama and Sita was first set down by the sage Valmiki in his epic poem 'Ramayana.' Rama was the eldest son of Dasharatha, the king of Ayodhya, who had three wives - Kaushalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra. Rama was the son of Kaushalya, Bharata of Kaikeyi and Laxmana and Shatrughna of Sumitra. The four princes grew up to be brave and valiant. Rama won the hand of Sita, the daughter of King Janaka. Dasharatha wanted to crown Rama as the king but Kaikeyi objected. Using boons granted to her by Dasharatha earlier, she had Rama banished to the forest. Sita and Laxmana decided to follow Rama. While in the forest, a Rakshasi, Shoorpanakha, accosted Laxmana but had her nose cut off by him. In revenge, her brother Ravana, king of Lanka, carried Sita away. Rama and Laxmana set out to look for her and with the help of an army of monkeys, defeated Ravana. On returning Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, Rama banished Sita because of the suspicions of his subjects. In the ashrama of sage Valmiki, she gave birth to her twin sons, Luv and Kush.
20 Minute Read
