SYMBOLS-HINDU DEITIES AND THEIR

VAHANAS

By
Prof. Kuna Yellamma
Professor (Rtd)
Department of Zoology
Sri Venkateswara University
Tirupati-517 502
&
Krottapalli Sulochana
House no: 12 B, Spring valley,
Tirumalakoti, Pennathur Road
Vellore, Tamil Nadu
 Contents

This presentation comprises of the following

topics :

1. General Introduction
2. Important Symbols and their significance in
Indian Mythology.
3. Deities –Vahanas and their significance
 General Information on Vahanas
This presentation, me as a Zoologist emphasizes the close
association between the deities and the various animals they
chose for their riding. Further, it also highlights that in God’s
creation, every living being is equal whether a small or a big
animal, including human beings .
Vahana means typically an animal or mythical entity, a particular
Hindu deity adapts as a vehicle which is also called as the Deity's
"mount". These vehicles, which are either animals or birds,
represent the various spiritual and psychological forces that carry
each deity.
The Vedic deities symbolize the forces of nature as well as inside
human beings. While discussing the symbolic significance of Vedic
deities, Rishi Aurobindo in his ”The Secret of the Vedas” says that
the Gods, Goddesses, and Demons mentioned in the Vedas
represent various cosmic powers, on one hand, and man's virtues
and vices on the other.
 1. Important Symbols and their
significance in Indian Mythology
The times immomorial,Hinduism has adopted several
iconic symbols, forming part of Hindu iconography,
with spiritual meaning based on either the
scriptures or cultural traditions. Over time, some
of the symbols, for instance the Swastika has
developed close association while others like Om
are recognized as unique representations of
Hinduism. Other aspects of Hindu iconography are
covered by the terms murti, for icons and mudra for
gestures and positions of the hands and body.
The iconography plays an important role in
identifying a the particular deity in His or Her
pictorial or sculptural forms. Further, this
symbolism is also associated with a particular
natural or human attribute, or profession.
It is important to understand the symbolism, in
order to appreciate,not only Hindu scriptures (for
instance, Puranic tales), but also both ancient and
Om or Aum

Om (or Aum) is a symbol representing a

sacred sound, syllable, mantra and an
invocation in Hinduism. AUM is considered
an original (primal) sound that rang out in
the created universe. It is the root mantra
from which all creations originated.
Mantra is a word of great power, usually a
combination of Sanskrit syllables used as
an invocation, prayer, recited loudly and
repeatedly. It is associated with Lord
Ganesha. Every sacred verse cited by
human begins with the three syllable. “A”
represents the waking state of
consciousness; “U” the state of dream
consciousness; “M” the state of deep sleep
consciousness.
Swastika

 In several major Indo-European

religions, the Swastika symbolises
lightning bolts, representing the
thunder god and the king of the gods,
such as Indra In Vedic Hinduism, Zeus in
the ancient Greek religion, Jupiter in the
ancient Roman religion, and Thor in the
ancient Germanic religion it is the
symbol of auspiciousness and good
fortune-literally, "It is well." The right-
angled arms of this ancient sun-sign
denote the indirect way that Divinity is
apprehended: by intuition and not by
intellect. Swastik symbols are integral to
every Hindu household's puja rituals.
The Swastika is revered for bringing
power (Shakti) to the house,
symbolizing the essence of life on earth
and encapsulating the essence of Indian
culture and civilization.
Sivalinga
Sivalinga a religious symbol
in Hinduism representing Shiva
as the generative power, all of
existence, all creativity and
fertility at every cosmic level
is the ancient mark or symbol of
God. This elliptical stone is a
formless form betokening
Parashiva, that which can never
be described or portrayed. The
'pitha,' pedestal, represents
Siva's manifest 'Parashakti'
(power). It is typically the
primary murti or devotional
image in Hindu temples dedicated
to Shiva, also found in smaller
shrines, or as self-manifested
natural objects
Shiva lingam stones
 also known as Shiva linga, the sacred
Hindu stones found along the Narmada
River in India., also considered to be one
of several important Kundalini crystals
used in Shaiva Tantra practices. The stone
is considered to be a powerhouse
representation of the egg (feminine) and
the phallus (male) united together to
bring forth divine creation. Shiva stones
are associated with Hindu religion, sexual
health, reproduction, fertility, intuition,
duality, potency, vision, balance, life,
feminine and masculine unity,
transformation, knowledge, power,
creation etc. This stone is also associated
with the alignment all of the chakras, the
planet earth, the elements of water, fire,
earth and wind, the astrological sign of
Scorpio,and the spirit or soul.
Tripundra

Tripundra (Sanskrit
: त्रिपुण्ड्र tripuṇḍra "three marks")
is a Hindu Shaivite tilaka,
worn by Shaivas as an
indication of their affiliation
with Shiva. It is also one of
the tilakas worn by Smarta
Hindus.It consists of three
horizontal lines (and
sometimes a dot) on the
forehead, usually made with
sacred ash, and has spiritual
meanings in the Shaivite
traditions of Hinduism.The
Vaishnava counterpart of this
tilaka, consisting of vertical
lines, is called the Urdhva
Pundra.
Trishul
Lustrous and long Trishul with a
pointed sharp tip at the bottom
holds great significance. The
upper three sharp and pointed
faces of the trident resemble
waking, dreaming and sleeping or
the three aspects of
consciousness. Trishula,' Siva's
trident carried by Himalayan
yogis, is the royal scepter of
the Saiva Dharma (Shaivite
religion). Its triple prongs
betoken desire, action and
wisdom; 'ida, pingala and
sushumna'; and the
'gunas'--'sattva, rajas and
tamas.'
Bilva

Bilva leaf, considered

one of the sacred trees of
Hindus (known in Sanskrit
as बिल्व bilva) thus are used
in ritual rites. Bilva is
the bael tree. Its fruit,
flowers and leaves are all
sacred to Siva,
liberation's summit.
Planting Aegle marmelos
trees around home or
temple is sanctifying, as
is worshiping a Linga with
bilva leaves and water.
Hatkona

Hatkona, "six-pointed star," is

two interlocking triangles. The
symbolism of the 6 pointed Star
is a powerful Yantra symbol
known as “The Shatkona”. More
specifically it represents
Purusha (the supreme being), and
Prakriti (mother nature, or
causal matter). Their union gives
birth to Sanatkumara, whose
sacred number is six. It is known
as the Star of David in Judaism,
the Shatkona in Hinduism, and the
Seal of Solomon in Islam. The
oldest instance of the star was
found in Egypt's Heliopolis
temple, believed to be over 2000
years old.
Rudraksha seeds
Rudraksha seeds, are
prizedas the compassionate
tears Lord Siva shed for
mankind's suffering.
Saivites wear 'malas'
(necklaces) of them always
as a symbol of God's love,
chanting on each bead,
"Aum Namah Sivaya."
Rudraksha beads are
special seeds from a tree
found in Asia, mainly
Nepal and India. People
use them for meditation,
prayer, and healing.
Trikona

The triangle, is a symbol of God

Siva which, like the Sivalinga,
denotes His Absolute Being. It
represents the element fire and
portrays the process of spiritual
ascent and liberation. Trikona
signifies a triangle and is one of
the widely used mythical
geometric symbol. It is used to
assist in meditation, and in
different yantras. Different
positions of trikona (triangle) are
believed to impart different
types of properties.
Kalachakra

' In Hinduism, it refers to the

"Wheel of Time" or "Time Cycle,"
which is said to be an infinite cycle
of creation, preservation, and
destruction. In Buddhism, the
Kalachakra refers to a complex
system of philosophy, cosmology,
and meditation that is associated
with the highest level of tantra
practice. A perfect creation, in
which Time and space are
interwoven, and eight spokes mark
the directions, each ruled by a
Deity and having a unique quality.
Anjali
Anjali, the gesture of two
hands brought together near
the heart, means to "honor
or celebrate." It is our
Hindu greeting, two joined
as one, the bringing
together of matter and
spirit, the self meeting
the Self in all. The Hindu
'Namaste' is a sign of
respect for the other
person's atma. It is bowing
down to the Paramatma or
God inside everyone's atma.
Hindus believe that God
resides in each person and
 Padma

Padmal, the otus flower, personifies

perfection of beauty, associated
with Deities and the chakras,
especially the 1,000-petaled
'sahasrara.‘ In Hinduism, the
lotus represents spiritual
enlightenment, beauty, fertility,
purity, prosperity and eternity. It
is said that there's a lotus flower
in every Hindu's heart, and that
Sahasradala Padma when this lotus blooms, the person
achieves enlightenment. The lotus is
also an important symbol in the
Hindu tantric tradition. it also
symbolizes spirituality,
fruitfulness, wealth, knowledge and
illumination, purity of heart and
mind. Further, Lotus is recognized
as the National Flower.
Vata

The banyan tree, symbolizes

Hinduism, which branches out in
all directions, draws from many
roots, spreads shade far and
wide, yet stems from one great
trunk. Siva as Silent Sage sits
beneath it. Otherwise known as
the tree of life, is a symbol
of life and fertility. Hindu
women who hope to have children
worship the banyan tree and
married women present offerings
to the tree of life to pray for
their husbands and sons to have
long lives.
Gove
In Hinduism, the cow is
considered a sacred animal and
symbolizes wealth, strength and
motherly love. It is believed to
be the earthly representative of
the divine and nourishing Mother
Goddess, who represents fertility
and bountifulness. Their milk is
believed to have a purifying
effect on human bodies. Go, the
cow, is a symbol of the earth,
the nourisher, the ever-giving,
undemanding provider. The cow and
bull and ox had an important
ritualistic function in the Vedic
sacrifice, which was the centre
of the Vedic religion,
Konrai
Golden Shower, blossoms are
the flowering symbol of Siva's
honeyed grace in our life.
Associated with His shrines
and temples throughout India,
the [Cassia fistula is lauded in
numberless Tirumurai
hymnsnown as konna in
Kerala, India and is a sacred
flower of the Hindu Vishu
festival. It is recognized as
National flower of Thailand..
Called konna in Kerala, India
and is part of Hindu Vishu
festival..
Homakunda

The fire altar, is the symbol of ancient

Vedic rites. It is through the fire
element, denoting divine
consciousness, that we make offerings
to the Gods. Hindu sacraments are
solemnized before the homa fire. In
the Vedic Hindu tradition, fire is used
as a medium to invoke the presence of
God. In a homa, the priest first
meditates on the Lord and energizes
the space. This energy is transferred to
the air element by the chanting of
mantras, which in turn energizes the
fire in the homa kunda – the sacred fire
receptacle.
Kalasha

 A husked coconut, circled by five

mango leaves on a pot is used in puja
to represent any God, especially Lord
Ganesha. The Kalash holds deep
symbolism in Hindu
rituals, representing abundance,
prosperity and spiritual purity. It is
filled with water from the sacred
Ganga river, symbolizing the divine
energy that sustains life. The Kalash
is revered as a vessel for the divine
and is placed atop a bed of rice
during ceremonies. Breaking a
coconut before His shrine is the ego's
shattering to reveal the sweet fruit
inside.
Kuttuvilak
u
 The standing oil lamp, symbolizes the
dispelling of ignorance and awakening of
the divine light within us. Its soft glow
illumines the temple or shrine room,
keeping the atmosphere pure and serene.
Light also symbolizes knowledge and
that is why in almost all inaugural
functions we light the Kuthu vilakku
(vilakku meaning 'deepam' or 'lamp'), a
type of oil lamp with 5 to 9
spouts, symbolizing Knowledge
removing ignorance. Kuthu Vilakku have
been used in Hindu temples and homes in
Tamil Nadu for centuries as a source of
light during religious ceremonies and
rituals.
Kamandalu
 In Hinduism, the Kamandalam
holds immense symbolic
significance. It represents purity,
austerity, and detachment, all
essential attributes for spiritual
growth. The water-filled
kamandalu, which is invariably
carried by ascetics, is stated to
represent a simple and self-
contained life. It symbolizes his
simple, self-contained life, his
freedom from worldly needs, his
constant 'sadhana' and 'tapas‘ and
his oath to seek God everywhere.
Tiruvadi

 First worn by mendicants,or religious men,

padukas have been part of Indian costume
since at least the seventh century. In modern
times, padukas are rarely worn, yet they are
still valued as symbols of religious devotion.
They are often given as gifts or worn at
religious ceremonies. The sacred sandals
worn by saints, sages and satgurus, symbolize
the preceptor's holy feet, which are the
source of his grace. Prostrating before him,
we humbly touch his feet for release from
worldliness. Its significance in Hinduism is
linked to the epic Ramayana. Paduka can
also refer to the footprints of deities and
saints that are venerated in symbolic form
in houses and purpose-built temples.
Dhvaja

 'flag,' is the saffron/

orange or red banner
flown above temples, at
festivals and in
processions. It is a
symbol of victory, signal
to all that "Sanatana
Dharma shall prevail."
The saffron color
betokens the sun's life-
giving glow.
Seval

Seval is the noble red

rooster who heralds each
dawn, calling all to awake
and arise. He is a symbol of
the imminence of spiritual
unfoldment and wisdom. As a
fighting cock, he crows from
Lord Skanda's battle flag.
Kartikeya (Sanskrit: कार्त्तिके य,
IAST: Kārttikeya), also
known as Skanda,
Subrahmanya, Shanmukha and
Murugan (Tamil: முருகன்), is
the Hindu god of war.
Deities–Vahanas and their
significance
 Each deity's vahana is a symbolic representation of his or her "power“. In
this manner, the vahanas are in the tradition of spirit animal symbols found
in mythological world.
 Some scholars have also suggested that the vahanas represent the minds of
human followers, which are thereby allowed to be guided by the deity's
wishes.
 The vahanas may wear a saddle upon which the deity rides or they may pull
a chariot driven by the deity.
 Interesting point is that they also possess additional talents that the deity
would otherwise lack. Sometimes the stories involve the transformation of
lesser gods into the vahana of a major Deity.
 The vahanas may represent talents that fill in shortcomings in the deity's
abilities. It can be argued, for example, that the elephant god, Ganesha,
gains subtlety of insight through the perceptions of his small mouse
vahana. And it was only with the help of her lion vahana that Durga
manages to destroy the demon Mahishasura. In this manner, the vahanas
are in the tradition of spirit animal symbols found in mythologies
worldwide.
 Hindu Gods, Deities, Mythological Figures and Their Associated Symbols
God or deity Associated symbols Note
Chariot (Ratha) of seven lions, Sri Supreme goddess
Adi Parashakti Chakra in Shaktism
Lotus, swan (hamsa), Vedas, garland of
Brahma beads (akshamala) Creator
Shesha, shankha, chakra, gada, lotus, Ga
Vishnu ruda, color blue Preserver
Shiva Linga, Nandi, third
eye, trishula (trident), crescent-
moon, rudraksha, cobra, drum, tiger skin
Shiva , vibhuti Destroyer
Goddess of
White lotus, swan, peacock, veena, color learning, music,
Saraswati white and art
Goddess of
prosperity,
Red lotus, elephant, shower of wealth, love, and
Lakshmi gold, kumbha, owl, peacock feather fortune
Goddess of
courage,
Lion, Nandi, trident, chakra, gada, fertility, and
Parvati padam, couch, cross bow, khadag power
King of the devas
Indra Thunderbolt (vajra), rainbow, clouds and Svarga
God of duty and
contracts
Varuna Noose (pasha) King of the waters
 King of the
netherworld,
Yama Noose (pasha), danda (rod), buffalo God of death
Chariot, sun-rays, the colour of The god of the
Surya gold sun
Garland of severed human Fierce
heads, scimitar, khanda, khapar, manifestation
Kali khadag, trident of Parvati
Bow and arrow, the colour blue, Embodiment of
Rama royal panoply Righteousness
God of
The colour blue, cow, Compassion,
flute, Sudarshana Chakra, milk, love, yoga,
Krishna peacock feather Svayam Bhagavan
God of wisdom,
auspiciosness,
Ganesha Aṅkuśa, mouse, modak, Aum good fortune
God of war and
commander-in-
chief of the
Murugan Peacock, vel, rooster flag gods
God of
strength,
courage, and
Hanuman gada devotion
 List of Hindu Deities who are inseparably
linked with their respective vahanas

 Aditya— seven horses  Shani— the crow

 Agni— the ram  Sheetala—the donkey
 Brahma—seven swans  Shiva— Nandi, the bull
 Durga— the lion  Varuna— seven swans
 Ganesha—the mouse  Vayu— a thousand horses
 Indra— the elephant  Vishnu— Garuda, the eagle &
 Kartikeya—the peacock Adi Shes ha--- the serpent
 Lakshmi— the owl  Vishwakarma—the elephant
 Saraswati—the swan or  Yama— the male buffalo
the peacock
 Shakti— the bull
Surya Dev

Surya is the Sun, ruler of intellect, source of

truth. He is 'pingala' (yellow) and lights the day.
Regularly practicing Surya Namaskar can help
with weight loss and keeping a healthy body
weight. This is because Surya Namaskar is a
holistic exercise that burns calories, boosts
metabolism and improves digestion. Surya
graha provides life, force and energy and is the
indicator of paternity characters like honours,
status, prosperity, ego, power etc.In ones
Horoscope ,Strong Sun provides an individual
with qualities like prosperity, wealth, good
fortune, wisdom, Good aspiration, good intellect.
weight and maintain a balanced body weight.
Chandra Dev

Chandra is the moon, ruler of the watery

realms and of emotion, testing place of
migrating souls. He is the 'ida' (white) and
lights the night. Chandra (Sanskrit: चन्द्र,
romanized: Candra, lit. 'shining' or 'moon'),
also known as Soma (Sanskrit: सोम), is the
Hindu god of the Moon, and is associated
with the night, plants and vegetation. He is
one of the Navagraha (nine planets of
Hinduism) and Dikpala (guardians of the
directions).
Moon is strongest when it's opposite to
Sun and aspected by benefic planets like
Jupiter, mercury or Venus. A strong Moon is
an indicator of good health. It supports the
immunity of the body. A strong Moon
promises a healthy mind to take the right
decisions in a tough times
Agni Deva-Ram (Goat)

Agni, the god of fire, is one of

Hinduism’s most important gods.
Every time a fire is ignited, it
manifests itself. God Agni is often
seen riding a ram or a chariot
drawn by goats. Agni is also said
to be riding a chariot drawn by
horses in certain tales. The Ram is
a symbol of strength, energy, and
power. Agni’s vigour is
represented in the Ram, the
vehicle he chose for himself.
Brahma—seven swans

 Chariot. Represents Intelligence,

perspicacity, judgement, skill and
creativity The word “Hamsa” is a
combination of two words, “aham”+
“sa.” It means “I am he.” The hamsa
bird is lovely, serene, and graceful. It
indicates that Brahma is the creator
and master of all the beauty and grace
of the world. The ability of the bird to
separate milk from water is also noted
in the Vedas. This metaphorically
suggests that Brahma can assist us in
transforming our intelligence and
knowledge so that we can distinguish
between right and wrong.
Durga—the Lion
 Parvati , goddess is Shiva’s wife in her
most gentle form. Parvati is portrayed as
a beautiful woman on Her Vahana, the
lion. She is associated with protection,
strength, motherhood, destruction, and
wars. Durga's legend centres around
combating evils and demonic forces that
threaten peace, prosperity, and dharma,
representing the power of good over evil.
According to legend, Durga was created
for the slaying of the buffalo demon
Mahishasura by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva,
and the lesser gods, who were otherwise
powerless to overcome him. Embodying
their collective energy (shakti), she is both
derivative from the male divinities and the
true source of their inner power.
Ganesha—the mouse

 Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेश, IAST: Gaṇeśa), also

spelled Ganesh, and also known
as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one
of the best-known and most worshipped
deities in the Hindu religion. Devotion to
Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to
Jains and Buddhists and beyond India.
Although Ganesha has many attributes, he is
readily identified by his elephant head and
four arms. He is widely revered, more
specifically, as the remover of obstacles and
thought to bring good luck. As the god of
beginnings, he is honoured at the start of
rites and ceremonies. While scholars differ
about his origins, dating him between 1st
century BCE and 2nd century CE, Ganesha
was well established by the 4th and 5th
centuries CE, during the Gupta period and
had inherited traits from Vedic and pre-Vedic
precursors. Hindu texts identify him as the
son of Parvati and Shiva of the Shaivism
tradition.
Indra—the elephant Iravata
 Lord Indra is regarded as one of
the most powerful Gods in the
ancient Vedic hymns of the Rig
Veda. In later myths his
supremacy is overshadowed by
Vishnu and Shiva. However,
Indra is still revered as the King
of the Gods and holds an
important position in
 Lord Indra, the storm god,
wields thunder and is a rain god.
His Vahana Airavata, a large
white elephant is frequently
depicted with four tusks.
Kartikeya – Peacock

Murugan, Subramaniam,
Sanmukha and Skanda were
all names given to Lord
Kartikeya. He is Lord Shiva’s
and Goddess Parvati’s second
child. He is also referred to as
the deity of war. Kartikeya is a
famous deity in India’s
southern states. He is the
epitome of perfection, a
fearless leader of God’s army
who was created to win over
asuras. He is the owner of the
Vahan Peacock.
Saraswati–Swan

 Saraswati, the goddess of art,

music and learning, is frequently
depicted with a book and a veena,
a stringed instrument. She is the
dawn-goddess whose beams
dispel the darkness of ignorance.
she is the river of consciousness
that animates creation.
 The Vahana of Saraswati is a
peacock or a swan, which
represents arrogance and vanity in
its beauty. The Goddess instructs
Hindus not to be concerned with
outward appearances and to be
wise about everlasting truths by
having a peacock as her mount.
Lakshmi–Ulka (Owl)

 Maha Lakshmi is the Hindu

goddess of fortune, wealth,
and happiness. Her Vahan is
Ulka an Owl which represents
patience and intelligence.
Goddess Lakshmi has the
ability to not only bestow
prosperity on her devotees,
but also to remove bad omens
and misfortune from their
lives. As a result, her
association with the owl also
represents her power to ward
off bad omens and bad luck.
Durg–Tiger

 Devi’s unconquerable form is Goddess

Durga. Durga is shown as a warrior woman
riding a tiger and wielding several weapons
and mudras (symbolic hand motions).
Durga riding a tiger symbolises Her
limitless power, which she utilises to
safeguard virtue and punish evil. Her tiger
serves as both a mode of conveyance and a
weapon. Durga Puja is celebrated with
great enthusiasm all over India and
particularly in West Bengal. It marks the
victory of Goddess, Durga over the demon
king Mahishasura. The festival signifies the
triumph of good over evil, light over
darkness, and the power of the divine to
protect the world.
Shani–Vulture, Crowand Raven

 In Hindu Astrology, Lord Shani refers to

the planet Saturn, which is one of the nine
heavenly objects known as Navagraha. He
appears as a black figure with a sword in
his right hand, seated atop Vulture, Crow,
or Raven, and is one of the Puranas’ most
worshipped deities. He is also known by
the names Ara, Kona and Kroda.
Portraying Shani Bhagavan with the crow,
vulture or raven as his vehicle is symbolic
of his own fearful appearance. It also
symbolises planet god suppressing thie
very or undesirable tendencies. It also
demonstrates how Shani’s beneficent
influence may transform the evil
monster into something cheerful and
useful.
Sheetala Mata-Donkey

 The goddess Sheetala

Mata, who is associated
with fever and smallpox,
is also said to ride a
donkey. On her quest to
provide relief to the
children, Shitala Mata
holds a broom in one
hand and a Kalash (water
jug) in the other.
Shiva–Nandi (The Bull)

 One of Hinduism’s most well-known deities is

Lord Shiva. He is the wrathful avenger, the
destroyer and restorer, a symbol of sensuality.
Nandi, his mount, represents kama, as well as
fertility. Shiva wields complete control over all
impulses when riding on its back. Only Lord
Siva can assist us in controlling and
transforming these forces. They’re frequently
symptoms of too much tamas in the body.
You can get rid of them by invoking and
worshipping Shiva. As a result, Shiva may turn
a raging bull into the peaceful and
enlightened Nandi. Shiva is also thought to be
a healer. The Vedas refer to him as a
supernatural healer, emphasising his power
over death caused by snakebites, natural
disasters, and diseases, etc. As a result,
persons suffering from chronic diseases or
physical afflictions can pray to him for relief or
protection against bodily toxins, agony,
suffering, and death.
Varuna

 Varuna, in the Vedic phase of Hindu

mythology, the god-sovereign, the
personification of divine authority. He is
the ruler of the sky realm and the
upholder of cosmic and moral law (rita),
a duty shared with the group of gods
known as the Adityas (see Aditi), of
whom he was the chief. What is the
power of Varuna?
 In the ancient Indian text, the Rig Veda,
Varuna was noted for his all-knowing
role as lord of the Cosmos. The text
describes him as putting "strength in
horses" and "will power in hearts,"
along with spreading air over the whole
of creation. Conversely, the Upanishad
cites Varuna primarily as a water
deity.15 Dec 2022
Vayu-Antilope

 Vayu (Sanskrit
pronunciation: [ʋaːjʊ],
Sanskrit: वायु, IAST: Vāyu),
also known as Vata and
Pavana, is the Hindu god of
the winds as well as the
divine messenger of the
gods. In the Vedic scriptures,
Vayu is an important deity
and is closely associated with
Indra, the king of gods.He is
the Hindu god and divine
messenger of the gods.
Vishnu – Garuda and Adi Shesha
 Vishnu, often known as “The
Preserver,” is a Hindu god who sits atop
Adi Shesha and rides on Garuda, the
Eagle King. Though no list can be
uncontroversially presented as
standard, the "most accepted list found
in Puranas and other texts is [...]
Krishna, Buddha." Most draw from the
following set of figures, in this
order: Matsya; Kurma; Varaha;
Narasimha; Vamana; Parashurama;
Rama; Krishna or Balarama; Buddha or
Krishna; and Kalki.Garuda was
immensely powerful and was so huge
that he could even block the sun. The
earliest mention of Garuda is in the
Vedas, by the name Syena.. Adi Shesha
or Shesha according to Hindu
scriptures, carries all of the planets and
the earth on his hoods
Viswakharma

 Lord Vishwakarma, riding on elephant as his

vahana suggests His association with Indra or

Bishapati. Hindu mythology regards

Vishwakarma as the universe's divine

architect. He built and fashioned a multitude

of divine weapons, including Lord

Shiva's Trishul, Lord Vishnu's Sudarshana

Chakra, Lanka King Ravana's Pushpaka

Vimana and Indra's Vajra, Dwarka, Lord

Krishna's domain, and the Maya Sabha for

the Pandavas. rihaspati.

Yama–Buffalo

 Yama is renowned as the God of

Death in Hinduism. He rides the
Buffalo as his Vahana, with fiery
eyes, a club, and a noose in his
hands. According to the Vishnu
Puran, Yama is the son of the sun
god Surya and Sandhya (Daughter
of Vishwakarma).
 Yama, the god of death in Hinduism
is the Guardian of the South, which
represents the cardinal direction of
death and the underworld. Yama is
also noted as the god of Dharma,
which is the fulfillment of one's
individual cosmic duty in Hinduism.
References :

Harshananda, Swami (1995). Principal Symbols of World Religions. Mylapore,

Chennai: Sri Ramakrishna Math. p. 7. ISBN 81-7120-176-8.

Jump up to:a b c Harshananda, Swami (1995). Principal Symbols of World Religions.

Mylapore, Chennai: Sri Ramakrishna Math. p. 9. ISBN 81-7120-176-8.

Srinivasan, Doris (1997).

Many Heads, Arms, and Eyes: Origin, Meaning, and Form of Multiplicity in Indian Art.
BRILL. pp. 157–168. ISBN 978-90-04-10758-8.

Jump up to:a b Srinivasan, Doris (2001). "Many Heads, Arms, and Eyes: Origin,
Meaning, and Form of Multiplicity in Indian Art". Journal of the American Oriental
Society. 121 (2): 279–280.

Kanagasuntheram, R (2003). "Science and Symbolism in Saivaism (Hinduism)"

(PDF). Science and Symbolism in Saivaism (Hinduism). 1: 7.

“Lotus flower, Hindu God's favorite flower". Lotus Sculpture. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
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