Hindu deities have particular vehicles
or 'vahana' on which they travel. These vehicle, which are either animals or
birds, represent the various forces that he or she rides. These deities are
seldom depicted without their corresponding creatures.
Ganesh - "The remover of
obstacles", the deity whom worshippers first acknowledge when they visit a
temple. He is usually shown in sculpture
accompanied by or riding a rat. Since
rats are seen as being capable of gnawing their way through most things, the
rat symbolizes Ganesh's ability to destroy every obstacle.
Shiva - "The Destroyer", is
one of the main Deities of Hinduism, worshipped as the paramount lord by the
Saivite sects of India. Shiva is one of the most complex gods of India,
embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. He is the destroyer and the
restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent
herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger.
His guardian is Nandi (the white bull), whose statue can often be seen
watching over the main shrine. The bull
is said to embody sexual energy, fertility.
Riding on its back, Shiva is in control of these impulses.
Parvati - "Daughter of the Mountain"
- The goddess that is Shiva's wife in her most gentle form is called
Parvati. Parvati is depicted as a
beautiful woman. Her vahana is a lion.
Lakshmi - "Goddess of Fortune and
Wealth" - Lakshmi represents the beautiful and bountiful aspect of nature. 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.
To realize her, one must respect the laws of life and appreciate the
wonders of existence. Her Vehicle is the
owl.
Durga - "The Unconquerable form of
Devi" - Durga is the most splendid manifestation of Devi. Contain within
her the power of all the gods combined, she is the invincible power of Nature
who triumphs over those who seek to subjugate her. Durga is one of the names of the goddess that
is the wife of Shiva. Durga has the role
of a warrior goddess who destroys demons.
She is usually depicted with ten arms that hold the weapons of the
various gods. Durga's vahana is a lion. Her lion acts as her means of transportation
and one of her many weapons.
Vishnuu - "The Preserver" -
Vishnu's vahana is the eagle King named Garuda.
He is often shown as a winged human-shaped figure with a beaklike
nose. Garuda carries Vishnu to Vaikuntha
(heaven) where he lives.
Saraswati - "The Goddess of
Wisdom" - Saraswati, the goddess of art, music and learning, usually holds
a book and a stringed instrument called a veena. She is the river of consciousness that
enlivens creation; she is the dawn-goddess whose rays dispel the darkness of
ignorance. Without her there is only
chaos and confusion. To realize her one
must go beyond the pleasures of the senses and rejoice in the serenity of the
spirit. Saraswati's vahana is a swan.
Agni- "The God of Fire" -
Agni is the Hindu god of fire and is present in every fire that is lit. The Rig Veda signified that Agni was one of
the main gods. Agni's vahana is the ram. He is usually seen riding the ram or in a
chariot pulled by many fiery horses.
Brahma - "The God of
Creation" - The god of creation is called Brahma. Brahma is often seen on temple walls or in
wall hangings in a Hindu household.
Brahma is usually seen carrying the Vedas, a scepter, a string of prayer
beads, a water pot a spoon used in making offerings in the fire sacrifice, or a
bow. Brahma is usually portrayed with
four heads and four arms. Brahma's
vahana is a goose or a swan.
Indra - "The Storm God" -
Indra is a Vedic storm god that carries thunderbolts as his weapons and is also
a bringer of rains. Indra was an
important god with the Aryan warriors.
Indra's vahana is a great white elephant called Airavata. Airavata is often depicted with four
tusks. Bottom of Form
No comments:
Post a Comment