Project Idea: Vahanas of the Gods

One of the distinctive features of the Hindu gods and goddesses is their vahanas or "vehicles," the animals that they ride on. (And, yes, the word vahana is related to the English word "vehicle" from Latin veho, as Sanskrit, English, and Latin are all members of the Indo-European language family.)

Research Tip: Start with the Wikipedia article which has a big table listing all the gods and their vahanas. The two most famous vahanas have articles of their own: Garuda and Nandi. Some of the vahanas are familiar animals from nature, while others are mythological or symbolic creatures like the makara and the hamsa.

Past Projects:

• Vahana Therapy: Ganesh's Guide to Happiness
• Mysterious Museum: The Vahanas' Stories
• Hindu Gods and Their Vahanas