Hindu deities mount and travel on animals which are their vahana. They are always depicted with them. We must therefore respect all these animals too.
Vahanas of Hindu Deities
Hindu deities mount and travel on animals which are their vahana. They are always depicted with them. We must therefore respect all these animals too.
Deity
Vahana
Aditya
Seven Horses
Agni
Ram
Alakshmi
Crow
Ayyappan
Horse
Bahuchara Mata
Cockerel
Bhairava
Dog
Brahma
Seven Swans or Hamsa
Brahmani
Hamsa or Swan
Brihaspati
Elephant
Budha
Horse
Chamunda
Owl
Chandra
Ten White Horses, Ten Rams and Antelope
Dashaa Maa
Camel
Dhavdi
Rhinoceros
Dhumavati
Crow
Durga
Lion or Dawon
Ganesha
Rat or Mouse
Ganga
Makara (sea creature)
Hadkai Maa
Dog
Hingraj Mata
Hamsa or Swan
Indra
White Elephant and Horse
Indrani
Elephant
Jagaddhatri
Lion or Dawon
Kaalrati
Donkey
Kali (demon)
Donkey
Kalki
Horse
Kama
Parrot and Makara
Kamakhya
Snake
Kartikya
Peacock
Ketu
Eagle
Khandoba
Dog
Khodiyar
Crocodile
Khodiyar Maa
Makara
Krishna
Garuda (Humanoid Eagle)
Kubera
Horse and Man
Kaumari
Peacock
Lakshmi
Owl and Elephant
Maheshvari
Nandi Bull
Manasa
Snake
Mariamman
Lion or Dawon
Meladi Maa
Goats
Momai Maa
Camel
Narmada
Makara
Parvati
Nandi Bull and Lion or Dawon
Pushan
Goats
Rahu
Lion (blue or black)
Rati
Pigeon
Revanta
Horse
Saraswati
Hamsa or Swan Peacock
Shakti
Bull
Shani
Crow and Vulture
Shashthi
Cat
Sheetala
Donkey
Shiva
Nandi Bull
Surya
Seven Horses
Svapathi
Dog
Ushas
Seven Cows
Ushtravahini Devi
Camel
Vaishnavi
Garuda
Varahi
Water Buffalo
Varuna
Seven Swans, Tortoise and Makara
Vayu
Thousand Horses and Antelope
Vihot Mata
Water Buffalo
Vishnu
Garuda and Serpent
Vishwakarma
Elephant
Yama
Male Water Buffalo
Yamuna
Tortoise
Note:
Hanuman, the monkey god, does not have a vahana.
The depiction of a Hindu deity using an animal or mythical entity as a vahana should obviously not be a reason to justify using animals for the purpose of travelling. The depiction itself may be symbolic rather than factual with the animals being ridden representing the qualities that the particular deity has mastered. For example, Goddess Durga mastered anger & ferociousness, Lord Ganesha mastered stealth, Lord Kartikya mastered pride and arrogance, Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva mastered indolence, Lord Bhairava mastered death, and so on.
Page last updated on 29/09/21