SEVERAL OTHER ‘Animal associates’ OF DIVINITY.

 SEVERAL OTHER ‘Animal associates’ OF DIVINITY.

We had made an observation on several animals that have been characterized as ‘vehicles’ or ‘vauhans’ of Almighty. Lord Subrahmanya- the brother of lord Vinayaka, and his chariot is said to be the bird -Peacock. Unlike his brother Vinayaka , Subrahmanya uses a non-mammalian system -   The Pea cock -a bird capable of performing captivating spread of  brilliant plumage in display and a vibrant dance when the weather is somewhat cool. The plumage is a delight by its sheer colouration so typical of peacock. Curiously, a single or a few feather tips are presented as decorative elements on Lord Krishna’s crown.

Though venerated as incarnations of God, both Rama and Krishna are not suggested to have a carrier each, because, they are described to have been born as Men with some divine mission.  

Another feature of special significance is the portrayal  of several animal forms in the Epic Ramayana, while Mahabharatha has innumerable human characters and perhaps just one elephant by name Aswathaama with no other significant reference to animal forms.

Ramayana is replete with instances of mammal participants such as Primates chiefly represented by Hanuman, Vaali,  Sugreevaa, Angadha and a whole range of them and so on; other hierarchical representations include the mighty Jaambavan- A Bear form, said to possess immaculate wisdom. The Fighter bird - Jataayu [a mega eagle or Falcon or Vulture] suggested to have physically engaged Raavanaa when he was abducting Sita on his flying chariot and the bird dropped dying from the sky.  

A tiny Squirrel is a participant in the construction of ‘Sethu’ - the bridge to the then Lanka. [Stands a parallel to Lord Ganesha’s vauhan]. Lord Shiva has Bull as his carrier. While Lord Shiva has a live snake forming a collar on His neck.  Thus nearly all animals are provided places of value in Epics and given prominence in sculptures to remind us of the divinity that goes with them.  Ramaayanaa also accords, prominence and value to social positions like Boatman [Shri. Guha] and an unknown Washer man[ on whose purported doubt] Lord Rama dictates Sita to go through Fire test establishing her complete innocence [I refrain from any other usage as I deem it an unpleasant description of someone of the stature of Sita].         

As iterated earlier, all these stand testimony to ‘our way’ of conferring security on to a variety of animals and plants.    

Prof. K. Raman