Animals have a special place in Hindu mythology. One comes across various animals
in Hindu mythology some, which have been personified and given a form as the
centuries passed. These animals have been symbolic as the vehicles and carrier
of various gods or one, which have helped the gods in various times. Some
of the appear as independent divine creatures and are worshipped in various ways.
The various animals in Hindu Mythology:
AIRAVATA the elephant - vehicle of Indra
AKUPARA the tortoise - on which Earth or Prithvi rests
ANTELOPE - vehicle of Vayu and Chandra
ARVA, mythical being half horse and half bird - one of the horses of the moon
BUFFALO - vehicle of Yama
CERBURA - the three headed infernal dog of the Krishna legend
CROW - vehicle of Shani
DOG and HORSE - vehicle of Shiva as Bhairava
GARUDA the king of birds - half man and half eagle or vulture, vehicle of Vishnu
JAMBAVANT, the king of bears - ally of Rama
KAMADHENU - the cow of plenty
MAKARA or JALAMPA the mythical sea monster - vehicle of Varuna (god of water)
MOUSE - vehicle of Ganesha
NANDI the bull - vehicle of Shiva and Parvati
PARAVANI the peacock - vehicle of Kartikeya
PARROT - vehicle of Kamadeva
RAM, the he-goat - vehicle of Agni
SARAMA - dog of Indra
SHESHNAG or ANANTA the infinite - the king of Nagas, vehicle of Vishnu or the
bed on which Vishnu rests
SWAN - vehicle of Saraswati and Brahma
TARKSHYA - winged horse personifying the sun
TIGER and LION - vehicle of Parvati as Kali and Durga
UCHCHAIH-SRAVAS - the eight headed king of horses produced during the churning
of oceans
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