Quotes:Vahana: Difference between revisions
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== H. P. Blavatsky == | == [[Blavatsky, Helena Petrovna|H. P. Blavatsky]] == | ||
'''{{Style S-Small capitals|Vâhana}}'''. A vehicle, the carrier of something immaterial and formless. All the gods and goddesses are, therefore, represented as using vâhanas to manifest themselves, which vehicles are ever symbolical. So, for instance, Vishnu has during Pralayas,'' Ânanta'' the infinite” (Space), symbolized by the serpent Sesha, and during the Manvantaras — ''Garuda'' the gigantic half‐eagle, half‐man, the symbol of the great cycle; Brahma appears as Brahmâ, descending into the planes of manifestations on ''Kâlahamsa'', the “swan in time or finite eternity”; Siva (phonet, Shiva) appears as the bull ''Nandi''; Osiris as the sacred bull ''Apis''; Indra travels on an elephant; Kârttikeya, on a peacock; Kâmadeva on ''Makâra'', at other times a parrot; Agni, the universal (and also solar) Fire‐god, who is, as all of them are, “a consuming Fire”, manifests itself as a ram and a lamb, ''Ajâ'', “the unborn”; Varuna, as a fish; etc., etc., while the vehicle of MAN is his body. | '''{{Style S-Small capitals|Vâhana}}'''. A vehicle, the carrier of something immaterial and formless. All the gods and goddesses are, therefore, represented as using vâhanas to manifest themselves, which vehicles are ever symbolical. So, for instance, Vishnu has during Pralayas,'' Ânanta'' the infinite” (Space), symbolized by the serpent Sesha, and during the Manvantaras — ''Garuda'' the gigantic half‐eagle, half‐man, the symbol of the great cycle; Brahma appears as Brahmâ, descending into the planes of manifestations on ''Kâlahamsa'', the “swan in time or finite eternity”; Siva (phonet, Shiva) appears as the bull ''Nandi''; Osiris as the sacred bull ''Apis''; Indra travels on an elephant; Kârttikeya, on a peacock; Kâmadeva on ''Makâra'', at other times a parrot; Agni, the universal (and also solar) Fire‐god, who is, as all of them are, “a consuming Fire”, manifests itself as a ram and a lamb, ''Ajâ'', “the unborn”; Varuna, as a fish; etc., etc., while the vehicle of MAN is his body. | ||
{{Quote source HPB TG|Vahana}} | {{Quote source HPB TG|Vahana}} | ||
Latest revision as of 10:51, 8 October 2026
H. P. Blavatsky
Vâhana. A vehicle, the carrier of something immaterial and formless. All the gods and goddesses are, therefore, represented as using vâhanas to manifest themselves, which vehicles are ever symbolical. So, for instance, Vishnu has during Pralayas, Ânanta the infinite” (Space), symbolized by the serpent Sesha, and during the Manvantaras — Garuda the gigantic half‐eagle, half‐man, the symbol of the great cycle; Brahma appears as Brahmâ, descending into the planes of manifestations on Kâlahamsa, the “swan in time or finite eternity”; Siva (phonet, Shiva) appears as the bull Nandi; Osiris as the sacred bull Apis; Indra travels on an elephant; Kârttikeya, on a peacock; Kâmadeva on Makâra, at other times a parrot; Agni, the universal (and also solar) Fire‐god, who is, as all of them are, “a consuming Fire”, manifests itself as a ram and a lamb, Ajâ, “the unborn”; Varuna, as a fish; etc., etc., while the vehicle of MAN is his body.
Source: H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophical Glossary, art. Vahana