Introduction
In our epics and Puranas, we read about different deities. The deities appear on earth for their devotees, they fight wars and they bless the devotees. And when they perform all these duties, their loyal associate is the Vahana or mount. The Vahana is also an integral part of the iconography of the deity. Both Vedic and Puranic deities have a Vahana associted with them.
Vahana (lit. ’that which carries’) or vahanam 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”. Deities are often depicted riding (or simply mounted upon) the vahana. Other times, the vahana is depicted at the deity’s side or symbolically represented as a divine attribute.
Backstories of the Vahanas
Every Vahana has a backstory of own. Vishnu’s Vahana Garuda is the half-brother of the Devas, Gandharvas, Daityas, Danavas, Nāgas, Vanara and Yakshas. He is the son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata. There is a story associated with Garuda where he went to heaven to get the Amrit Kalash for his half brothers, the Nagas; in order to free his mother Vinata from slavery. That is when Vishnu saw his bravery and the honesty. And that’s how Garuda became the Vahana of Vishnu.
Ganesha’s Vahana, the mouse named Mushaka, got connected to him when Ganesha was a child. While Ganesha was still a child, a giant mouse began to terrorize all his friends. Ganesha trapped him with his lasso and made him his mount. Mushika was originally a gandharva, or celestial musician. After absent mindedly walking over the feet of a rishi (sage) named Vamadeva, Mushika was cursed and transformed into a mouse. However, after the rishi recovered his temper, he promised Mushika that one day, the gods themselves would bow down before him. The prophecy was fulfilled when the mouse became the vahana of Ganesha.
Shiva’s Vahana Nandi was earlier a deity called Nandikesvara. Folk lores in parts of Madhya Pradesh describe Nandi as the son of the sage Shilada. Shilada underwent severe penance to have a boon– a child with immortality and blessings of Shiva, and received Nandi as his son. Legends say that Nandi was born from a yajna performed by Shilada. Nandi grew up as an ardent devotee of Shiva and he performed severe penance to become his gate-keeper, as well as his mount, on the banks of river Narmada. Locals identify this site Tripur Tirth Kshetra in present-day Nandikeshwar Temple, in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Kartikeya, the war-god known as Murugan in Southern India, is mounted on a peacock named Paravani. This peacock was originally a demon called Surapadma, while the rooster was called Krichi. After provoking Murugan in combat, the demon repented at the moment his lance descended upon him. He took the form of a tree and began to pray. The tree was cut in two. From one half, Murugan pulled a rooster, which he made his emblem, and from the other, a peacock, which he made his mount. In another folklore, Karthikeya was born to kill the demon, Tarakasura. He was raised by the Krittikas and led the divine armies when he was 6 days old. It is said that after defeating Tarakasura, the god forgave him and transformed him into his ride, the peacock.
Indra’s Vahana Airavata is said to be son of Varuna, the God of oceans. Airavata arrived on earth during Samudra Manthana. When all the jewels discovered in Samudra Manthana were being distributed, Indra received Airavata.
True meaning of Vahana
The word वाहन comes from Sanskrit verb वाह which means to carry. So what did these Vahanas used to carry? In Indian ancient literature, we can’t take everything literally. Most things mentioned in Puranas were symbolic. And in my opinion, the Vahanas also have a symbolic interpretation. Vahan in Sanskrit means carrier. But what were these creatures carrying? Were they carrying the deity, by being their vehicle? Or were they carrying the thoughts of the deity by being their messengers?
If you observe closely, the Vahan of a deity is very similar to characteristics of the deity. So Shiva’s Vahan Nandi has strength and virility like Shiva; Vishnu’s Vahan Garuda has Power and close observation like Vishnu. Ganesha’s Vahan Mushaka has speed and sharpness. Saraswati’s Vahan Hamsa has wisdom, grace and beauty.
Was this a way, used by the storytellers, to tell us the characteristic of the deity? Was it a symbolic representation of the qualities possessed by the deity? Were the Vahanas intended to be the messenger of the qualities of deity, and not the transporters as we see them today?
In Vedic texts, we don’t see any mention of Vahanas. We see only references of chariots drawn by horses. The concept of Vahanas of a deity comes from Puranas, where most mentions were symbolic. However, the western people and some Indian “scholars” have translated everything in Puranas in literal terms. And maybe that’s why we fail to understand the real significance.
What do you think Vahan means? The transporter or the messenger? Let me know in comments.
Dr Janki Thaker
Guest Author