Mumbai: Lord Ganesha, the most worshipped deity among Hindus, is revered as the remover of obstacles and the god of new beginnings. While the mouse (mooshak) is widely known as his divine vehicle, ancient texts suggest that Ganesha has been associated with multiple vahanas across different eras. Interestingly, alongside the mouse, a lion, a peacock, and even a horse have been described as his carriers.
Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrated every year on the Shukla Paksha Chaturthi of the Bhadrapada month, marks the grand homecoming of Ganesha idols for ten days of festivities. Devotees not only worship Lord Ganesha but also place special emphasis on his vahana, the mouse, symbolising humility and control over ego. Yet, mythology reveals fascinating stories of how Ganesha’s rides evolved through the Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga.
Ganesh Chaturthi and importance of vahanas
Every Hindu god is believed to have a specific vahana, or vehicle, that symbolises their power and nature. In the case of Lord Ganesha, his vahanas have changed over different eras:
- Satya Yuga: Ganesha rode a lion, had ten arms, and was called Vinayak.
- Treta Yuga: His vahana was a peacock, and he was worshipped as Mayureshwar, with six arms and a white form.
- Dvapara Yuga: The mouse became his main vehicle, with four arms and a red complexion, known as Gajanan.
- Kali Yuga: Scriptures mention a horse as his vahana, with two arms and a smoky-grey form called Dhumraketu.
Story of how mouse became Ganesha’s vahana
Mythology narrates a fascinating tale of how the mouse came to be Lord Ganesha’s permanent vehicle. Once, a proud Gandharva named Krauncha insulted Sage Vamadeva, who cursed him to become a mouse. Transformed into a gigantic and destructive rodent, Krauncha began creating havoc in the region.
When the sages prayed to Lord Ganesha, he subdued the enormous mouse with his divine noose. The humbled mouse then begged forgiveness. To remove his pride, Ganesha made him his vahana, symbolising the victory of wisdom and humility over arrogance and chaos.