Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita Govinda Hatha Yoga Pradipika Vahana is the being or object that serves as the mount or vehicle of a deity in Indian mythology. Vah in Sanskrit ...

Including:

• Vahana - Symbolism
• Vahana - Origins
• Vahana - Vahanas of some major and minor deities

Read more here: » Vahana: Encyclopedia - Vahana

vahana: (Sanskrit) "Bearing, carrying or conveying."

Each Hindu God is depicted as riding an animal or bird vahana, which is symbolic of a function of the God. For example, Siva rides the bull, a symbol of strength and potency. Karttikeya rides the peacock, mayura, emblem of beauty and regality.

(See also: Vahana, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

vahana: (Sanskrit) "Bearing, carrying or conveying."

Each Hindu God is depicted as riding an animal or bird

vahana, which is symbolic of a function of the God. For

example, Siva rides the bull, a symbol of strength and

potency. Karttikeya rides the peacock, mayura, emblem of

beauty and regality.

(See also: Vahana, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Tirumula Nayanar

Tirumula Nayanar was a great Yogi in Kailas. He had all the 8 major Siddhis through the grace of Nandi, the Vahana of Lord Siva. He was a friend of Agastya Muni

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yogis: Tirumula Nayanar

The chanting of the Divine Name or nama japa has an important place in bhakti tradition. Nama japa can be in the form of japa or stotra. Japa is silent repetition of a mantra while stotra is uttered out loud.

The sahasranama stotra is perhaps the most popular of all stotras. There are sahasranamas of most of the deities of the Hindu pantheon of which two have attained great popularity. These are the Lalita Sahasranama in praise of the Divine Mother and Vishnu Sahasranama in praise of the Lord conceived as Vishnu.

(See also: Sahasranama, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Karma Yoga Lesson VIII

The danger in Vedic ritual; Thought is beyond time; It is a sacrifice of the Mind of God; Thought the builder; The universe, of thought, of the dead that are living; Brief description of death and after; The need of interchange of intercourse with the plane of the dead.

Read more here: » Karma Yoga: Karma Yoga - Lesson VIII (of XI )

Famous yogins from different ages.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yogins: Famous Yogins - Yoga Addenda

Hinduism Lexicon on A

From aadheenam to axis.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on A

In iconography, the vahana is both the symbol and the emblem of the deity that it carries. Nandi the bull, vahana of Shiva, represents strength and virility. Parvani the peacock, vahana of Skanda, represents splendour and majesty. The swan, mount of Saraswati, represents grace and beauty. As the assistant of a deity, the vahana serves the function of doubling his or her powers. Durga the warrior could not have destroyed the demon Mahishasura without the aid of her mount, Manashthala the lion. Lakshmi, goddess of fortune, dispenses bot ...

See also:

Vahana, Vahana - Symbolism, Vahana - Origins, Vahana - Vahanas of some major and minor deities

Read more here: » Vahana: Encyclopedia II - Vahana - Symbolism

The worship of the Sacred Bull throughout the ancient world is most familiar in the episode of the idol of the Golden Calf made by Aaron and worshipped by the Hebrews in the wilderness of Sinai (Exodus). But far to the east, Shiva's holy steed (called vahana in Sanskrit) is Nandi, the Bull. A wild Aurochs bull was a terrifying creature. Killing it or taming it was a heroic feat. Aurochs are depicted in many Paleolithic European cave paintings such as those found at Lascaux and Livernon in France. Their life force ...

Including:

• Bull mythology - External link

Read more here: » Bull mythology: Encyclopedia - Bull mythology

Paramahamsa (also paramahansa) -- This is a religio/theological title associated with particular Hindu saints, by their devotees; one thus sees these religious figures referred to as -- "Ramakrishna Paramahamsa" and "Paramahansa Yogananda". Paramahamsa - Etymology. Paramahamsa is a Sanskrit word translated as "Supreme Goose." It is a title created by combining hamsa meaning goose (more precisely, the high-flying Indian goose, Anser indicus) with the superlative suffix para ...

Including:

• Paramahamsa - Etymology
• Paramahamsa - Mythology
• Paramahamsa - Theology
• Paramahamsa - Similar uses of different titles

Read more here: » Paramahamsa: Encyclopedia - Paramahamsa

'''One of the goddesses of hindu mythology. Also Mahalakshmi (or Mahalaxmi) is a temple situated in Mumbai. Image:Mahalakshmi.jpg The goddess Mahalakshmi is the first mighty depiction of Goddess Durga. Goddess Mahalakshmi is depicted as seated on a pink lotus with approximately 1000 arms each holding weapons and other miscellaneous objects. She is the consort of Lord Vishnu. She is the sister of goddesses Mahasaraswati and Mahakali. She is revered in not only India but all across the globe as ...

Read more here: » Mahalakshmi: Encyclopedia - Mahalakshmi

Tirupati is a temple town in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located in the foot hills of Tirumala Tirumala - Tirupati - General. Tirupati is one of the holiest places in Hinduism and is well known as kaliyuga vaikuntam by its devotees. Tirupati, or Aadhi Varaha Kshetra, as it is known in the Puranas (Scriptures on Hindu Mythology), is an important mountainous pilgrimage site in the Hindu world. It is dedicated to Vishnu the second deity of the Hindu Holy Trinity who assu ...

Including:

• Tirumala - Tirupati - General
• Tirumala - Tirupati - Tirumala
• Tirumala - Tirupati - Tirupati City
• Tirumala - Tirupati - History of the Shrine
• Tirumala - Tirupati - Festivals
• Tirumala - Tirupati - Tonsure
• Tirumala - Tirupati - Some facts

Read more here: » Tirumala - Tirupati: Encyclopedia - Tirumala - Tirupati

Shiva (Sanskrit: शिव or श्रीशिव (when used to distinguish lordly status), and written Śiva in the official IAST transliteration, pronounced as "shιvə") is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Adi Sankara interprets the name Śiva to mean "One who purifies everyone by the utterance of His name" or the Pure One. That is, Śiva is unaffected by the three gunas (characteristics) of Prakrti (matter): Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Śiva is "the destroyer", ...

Including:

• Shiva - Introduction
• Shiva - Consorts and the Burning of Kamadeva
• Shiva - Other Legends
• Shiva - The Sons of Shiva
• Shiva - Attributes of Lord Shiva
• Shiva - Other Forms and Legends
• Shiva - Schools and Views of Śivaism
• Shiva - Origin Theories
• Shiva - Names of Śiva

Read more here: » Shiva: Encyclopedia - Shiva

A Theosophical definition of Vahana :

Vahana

(Sanskrit) A "vehicle" or carrier. This word has a rather wide currency in philosophical and esoteric and occult thought. Its signification is a bearer or vehicle of some entity which, through this carrier or vehicle, is enabled to manifest itself on planes or in spheres or worlds hierarchically inferior to its own. Thus the vahana of man is, generally speaking, his body, although indeed man's constitution comprises a number of vahanas or vehicles, each one belonging to  - and enabling the inner man, or manifesting spiritual or intellectual entity, to express itself on  - the plane where the vahana is native.

Vahana is thus seen to have a number of different meanings, or, more accurately, applications. E.g., the vahana of man's spiritual monad is his spiritual soul; the vahana of man's human ego is his human soul; and the vahana of man's psycho-vital-astral monad is the linga-sarira working through its vahana or carrier, the sthula-sarira or physical body. The wire which carries the current of electricity can be said to be the vahana of the electric current; or again, the intermolecular ether is the vahana of many of the radioactive forces of the world around us, etc. Every divine being has a vahana or, in fact, a number of vahanas, through which it works and through which it is enabled to express its divine powers and functions on and in worlds and planes below the sphere or world or plane in which it itself lives. (See also Soul; Upadhi)

See also: Vahana, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

vahana:

vahana (vaahana). Vehicle.

(See also: vahana, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

VAHANAS

The five vehicles or animals that carry the Boddhic manifestations: Elephant (sense of touch), Peacock (sense of taste), Horse (sight). The Creator Buddha's beast is the Flying Dragon, i.e., creation by thunder (sound). Garuda (sense of smell) is a mythical bird who brings the elixir of immortality to Vishnu's mother, then is captured by the Nagas, which are the serpents of death.

(See also: VAHANAS, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

Vahana (Sanskrit) Vehicle, carrier; a vehicle of an entity which allows it to manifest on planes inferior to its own. The human constitution is comprised of a number of vahanas, each enabling the spiritual or intellectual entity to express itself on the plane where the vahana is native. Generally, the soul is the vehicle of a monad, the ego is the vehicle of a soul, and the body is the vehicle of an ego -- of whatever type or degree.

In The Secret Doctrine, fohat is spoken of as the vahana of the "Primordial Seven"; physical forces as the vehicles of the elements; and the sun as the vahana or buddhi of Aditi (I 108, 470. 527n). Again, all gods and goddesses are "represented as using vahanas to manifest themselves, which vehicles are ever symbolical. So, for instance, Vishnu has during Pralayas, Ananta 'the infinite' (Space), symbolized by the serpent Sesha, and during the Manvantaras -- Garuda the gigantic half-eagle, half-man, the symbol of the great cycle; Brahma appears as Brahma, descending into the planes of manifestation on Kalahansa, the 'swan in time or finite eternity'; Siva . . . appears as the bull Nandi; Osiris as the sacred bull Apis; Indra travels on an elephant; Karttikeya, on a peacock; Kamadeva on Makara, at other times a parrot; Agni, the universal (and also solar) Fire-god, who is, as all of them are, 'a consuming Fire,' manifests itself as a ram and a lamb, Aja, 'the unborn'; Varuna, as a fish; etc., etc., while the vehicle of Man is his body" (TG 357-8).

(See also: Vahana, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Vahana (Sanskrit). A vehicle, the carrier of something immaterial and formless.

All the gods and goddesses are, therefore, represented as using vahanas to manifest themselves, which vehicles are ever symbolical. So, for instance, Vishnu has during Pralayas, Ananta the infinite" (Space), symbolized by the serpent Sesha, and during the Manvantaras - Garuda the gigantic half-eagle, half-man, the symbol of the great cycle; Brahma appears as Brahma, descending into the planes of manifestations on Kalahamsa, the "swan in time or finite eternity"; Siva (phonet, Shiva) appears as the bull Nandi; Osiris as the sacred bull Apis; Indra travels on an elephant; Karttikeya, on a peacock; Kamadeva on Makara, at other times a parrot; Agni, the universal (and also solar) Fire-god, who is, as all of them are, "a consuming Fire", manifests itself as a ram and a lamb, Aja, "the unborn"; Varuna, as a fish; etc., etc., while the vehicle of MAN is his body.

(See also: Vahana, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

yajna-vahana:

yajna-vahana (-vaahana). Having the Vedic rituals as one's vehicle.

(See also: yajna-vahana, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)