Vehicles (वाहन) of Shiva family

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Sunil Nakum

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Dec 4, 2019, 5:04:24 AM12/4/19
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नमस्ते विदवेभ्यो,

For a kids toy project, we are working on different vehicles/mounts or iconography relevant to the Shiva family. It will shape into something like what we earlier worked on for Dashavatara wooden puzzle, the final outcome can be seen here.

Vahana (vehicles) or Iconography associated with Shiva family,
1. Shiva - Nandi / Nag
2. Ganesha - Mouse
3. Kartikeya/Skanda/Murugan – Peacock

4. Parvati - Lion or Tiger?
I have confusion about the vehicle of Aadi Shakti in the form of Goddess Parvati, as she is represented with both Lion & Tiger as her mount. Also in her nine different forms of Navadurga her mount changes, mostly Lion,Tiger and Bull but as a special case of Godess MahaKali she is seen riding a Donkey (Navadurga by Gita Press, Gorakhpur).
Is there any concrete reference to zero-in whether it should be Lion or Tiger or both for Ma Parvati?

5. Ashoka Sundari - ?
She is often depicted iconographically as seated on a lotus.. (Wikipedia)
As per Vamakeshvara Tantra,
Ashoka Sundari (Tripura Sundari) is said to have Bull as her mount, a snake as a garland around her neck, etc.
Since Bull or Snake will be same as in case of Shiva, we are looking for any other iconography related to her. This leaves only one option of Lotus, in my knowledge. Any information or pointers regarding this will be very helpful.

धन्योस्मि |
सुनील 

K S Kannan

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Dec 4, 2019, 5:16:34 AM12/4/19
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Have you heard this verse?

अत्तुं वाञ्छति वाहनं गणपतेर् आखुं क्षुधार्तः फणी,
       तं च क्रौञ्चरिपोः शिखी च, गिरिजा-सिंहोऽपि नागाननम्, ।
गौरी जह्नु-सुताम् असूयति, कलानाथं ललाटानलो
      - निर्विण्णः स पपौ कुटुम्ब-कलहाद् ईशोऽपि हालाहलम् !! ॥


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Dr. K.S.Kannan  D.Litt.

​Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Chair Professor, IIT-Madras.

Senior Fellow, ICSSR, New Delhi.

Academic Director, Swadeshi Indology.

Member, Academic Council, Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthana.

Nominated Member, IIAS, Shimla.

Former Professor, CAHC, Jain University, Bangalore.

Former Director, Karnataka Samskrit University, Bangalore.

Former Head, Dept. of Sanskrit, The National Colleges, Bangalore.

Sunil Nakum

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Dec 4, 2019, 7:03:35 AM12/4/19
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Namaskar Professor Kannan,

Thank you for the quick and crisp response.
No, I did not come across this before, moreover I could not get the source of this verse. I'll dig deeper into it, please share the source in case you have it handy.
So this verse is giving support to Lion as mount to Gauri.

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K S Kannan

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Dec 4, 2019, 7:06:57 AM12/4/19
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I suppose you grasped the meaning (and the humour) of the verse.


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Sunil Nakum

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Dec 4, 2019, 7:17:22 AM12/4/19
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Yes, Sir with the help of Google!

“His snake, stricken with hunger, tries to eat Ganesa’s mouse.
Kartikeya’s peacock tries to eat the snake, and Gauri’s lion tries to eat Ganesa himself.
Gauri envies Ganga, and the fire on his forehead envies the moon.
Disturbed by household quarrel, Lord Siva drank poison!”


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Sunil Nakum

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Jan 24, 2020, 1:30:12 AM1/24/20
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Dear all,

The concept design is ready and now I'm looking for a suitable name. Since, it is about the Vahana's of Lord Shiva Family, I'm pondering on following options, please provide your valuable feedback/suggestions.

शिव + वाहन (Shiva + Vahana) - vehicles of shiva
पशुपति (Pashupati) - lord of animals

To my choice a name (that too of a toy) suites best in single word, so I'm left with only one option of Pashupati. Kindly suggest for any other possibilities.

Regards,
Sunil

rniyengar

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Jan 24, 2020, 1:41:23 AM1/24/20
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How about "Nandi"


On Friday, January 24, 2020 at 12:00:12 PM UTC+5:30, Sunil Nakum wrote:
Dear all,

The concept design is ready and now I'm looking for a suitable name. Since, it is about the Vahana's of Lord Shiva Family, I'm pondering on following options, please provide your valuable feedback/suggestions.

शिव + वाहन (Shiva + Vahana) - vehicles of shiva
पशुपति (Pashupati) - lord of animals

To my choice a name (that too of a toy) suites best in single word, so I'm left with only one option of Pashupati. Kindly suggest for any other possibilities.

Regards,
Sunil

On Wed, Dec 4, 2019 at 5:47 PM Sunil Nakum <sunil...@gmail.com> wrote:
Yes, Sir with the help of Google!

“His snake, stricken with hunger, tries to eat Ganesa’s mouse.
Kartikeya’s peacock tries to eat the snake, and Gauri’s lion tries to eat Ganesa himself.
Gauri envies Ganga, and the fire on his forehead envies the moon.
Disturbed by household quarrel, Lord Siva drank poison!”


धन्योस्मि |
सुनील 

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--
Dr. K.S.Kannan  D.Litt.

​Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Chair Professor, IIT-Madras.

Senior Fellow, ICSSR, New Delhi.

Academic Director, Swadeshi Indology.

Member, Academic Council, Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthana.

Nominated Member, IIAS, Shimla.

Former Professor, CAHC, Jain University, Bangalore.

Former Director, Karnataka Samskrit University, Bangalore.

Former Head, Dept. of Sanskrit, The National Colleges, Bangalore.

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--
Dr. K.S.Kannan  D.Litt.

​Sant Rajinder Singh Ji Maharaj Chair Professor, IIT-Madras.

Senior Fellow, ICSSR, New Delhi.

Academic Director, Swadeshi Indology.

Member, Academic Council, Veda Vijnana Shodha Samsthana.

Nominated Member, IIAS, Shimla.

Former Professor, CAHC, Jain University, Bangalore.

Former Director, Karnataka Samskrit University, Bangalore.

Former Head, Dept. of Sanskrit, The National Colleges, Bangalore.

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Sunil Nakum

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Jan 24, 2020, 5:26:31 AM1/24/20
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Dear RNI Sir,

Thank you for responding, yes "Nandi" is a part of it so can't name the whole.

I'm looking for a general (Sanskrit) term that would represent (devine) Vehicles or cover the whole of Lord Shiva family, specifically their Vahana-s.

With lesser choices because of my limited knowledge of Shastra, I'm inclined for "पशुपति (Pashupati)" because,
Pahsu - perfectly fits for the bird/animal as their divine vehicles
Pati - in this context means Shiva, so it covers the entire family

I'm sorry for not posting the design picture here. There is no secret about it, as it will be published on our website but it will take time, till we iron out any manufacturing issues.

Regards,
Sunil

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Narenthiran R

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Jan 24, 2020, 6:56:07 AM1/24/20
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Dear Sir,
I hope the following two articles may be useful to start your research.

1.       Waghorne, Joanne Punzo. Vahanas: conveyers of the gods pp. 15-28 In Living wood : Sculptural traditions of southern India‎. Edited by George Michell.Bombay : cMarg Publications‎,1992

2.       Smith, H.D. Vahanas in the cultic art of South Indian Temples. Pp. 12-29  In  Proceedings of the Seminar on Temple Art and Architecture held in March 1980. Edited by K.K.A. Venkatachari . Bombay : AIRI, 1980


Thanks

Narenthiran, R.



On Wed, Dec 4, 2019 at 3:34 PM Sunil Nakum <sunil...@gmail.com> wrote:
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shankara

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Jan 24, 2020, 7:28:03 AM1/24/20
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Namaste,

'Sivakutumbam' is the word used for Siva's family. Or you may consider its Hindi translation 'Shiv Parivar'.

regards
shankara


Sunil Nakum

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Jan 28, 2020, 1:48:51 AM1/28/20
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नमस्ते,

Thank you Narenthiranji and all for taking your valuable time out and responding to my trivial queries.
Shankaraji, the 'Sivakutumbam' is a good choice.

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