vahana
वाहनSanskrit
Mount, vehicle, carrier
Lyrics
Meaning
A mount or vehicle, typically an animal or bird, used by a deity. Dancers encounter this word in epithets that identify a deity by their specific mount, such as Ganesha's mouse or Shiva's bull Nandi. It serves to describe and distinguish various divine forms.
In the songs
nandi vAhanA
Riding the bull Nandi
Krupa Samudram · Unknown
mUShika vAhana mOdaka priyam
He who rides a mouse and is fond of modakas (sweet dumplings).
Maha Ganapatim · Muthuswami Dikshitar