Vâhana

Symbolism

In the iconography, the vâhana is at the same time the symbol and the emblem of the divinity whom it carries: force and virility of Nandi the bull, vâhana of Shiva, splendor and majesty of Parvanî the peacock, vâhana of Skanda, grace and beauty of the swan, vâhana of Sarasvatî.

As an assistant of the divinity, the vâhana has as a function to redouble or duplicate its capacities. Durgâ the warlike one manages to embank the Mahîshâsura demon only thanks to the assistance of its mounting, the Manashthâla lion. Lakshmi, goddess of fortune, exempts at the same time material and spiritual richnesses when it overlaps its vâhana, the Ulûkâ owl. Ganesh, that-which-remove-the-obstacles, cannot penetrate everywhere in spite of its éléphantesque force, whereas its carrier, the small Mûshika mouse, is able to slip into the least interstices and to come to end of the most resistant obstacles. It is also Mûshika which, without never pointing out itself, carries the blessings of the divinity in each recess of the spirit.

As an animal, the vâhana symbolizes the forces lower than the divinity dominates and subjugates by overlapping them. Gone up on Parvanî, Skanda attaches the incorrigible vanity of the peacock. Sat on Mûshika, Ganesh is of all its weight on the futile thoughts which pullulate like rats in the black. Shanî or Saturn, from which one of the attributes is to protect the goods, has as a mounting a corbel of which it represses the instincts pilferers. The influence of the divinity on this bird of ill omen makes that even the events malefic can become carrying light.

The tradition also says that any human being has for task and a destiny to become the vâhana the Divine one.

Origins

The vâhana of the same divinity can vary according to the sources, the times and the places. The origin of each one is told in thousand manners in the popular traditions.

Whereas Ganesh was still child, a gigantic mouse started to terrorize all its entourage. Ganesh caught it with its lasso and made of it its mounting. Mûshika was in the beginning a Gandharva or celestial musician. Having had misfortune to go inadvertently on the feet of the Rishi Vâmadeva, it had to undergo its curse and was transformed into mouse. However, once it had controlled its anger, the wise one promised to him that one day the gods themselves would incline themselves in front of him. What arrived when its way crossed that of Ganesh.

Murugan, the form first of Skanda in India of the South, like is assembled to him on a peacock. This one was in the beginning a demon called Surapadma. One day, having caused Murugan with the combat, the demon, repenting at the time when the lance of Murugan moved on him, took the shape of a tree and started to request. The transpierced tree fell in two halves. Murugan drew from cock, of which it made its standard, and other a peacock, of which it made its mounting.

Before becoming the vâhana of Shiva, Nandi was a divinity called Nandikeshvara, Seigneur of the joy and Master of the music and the dance. Then, without it being known why, its name and its functions were transferred to Shiva under its aspect from Nâtarâja and, of man with head of bull, it became simple bull. Since this time, devoted forever to Shiva, it takes care, sitted in front of each one of its temples, the glance inlassablement turned towards him.

Vâhana of some major and minor Hindu divinities

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