Sacred Animal and Birds-

Some of the animals regarded as sacred have already been mentioned in connection with the deities to whom they are specially dear, and in whose worship they participate. They are regarded as vehicle upon which these Gods and goddess travel. Thus Indra rides upon the Elephant Airavata, Siva on the bull Nandi ; Yam on a Buffalo, as Durga on a Tiger; Agni on a ram; Vayu on an antelope; Ganesa on a rat. Virbhadra, ,the emanation of Siva which destroyed Daksa’s sacrifice, rode on a dog, and Kamadeva traveled either on the monster or a parrot. The jackal is regarded as a representative of Durga, who in this form assisted in preserving Krsna, on the night of his birth, from kamsa’s anger. Monkeys, as a representatives of Hanuman, are very commonly worshipped by some, by others is regarded as unclean.

                        Amongst birds, the goose is the vehicle of Brahma, the peacock that of Kartikya, Sani rides upon a vulture; the wagtail, represent Vishnu , because the mark on its throat is thought to resemble the Salagrama; the owl, too, is worshipped at the festivals. The cow, though not regarded as the vehicle of any deity, is worshipped too. Brahma is said to have created cows at the same time; cow is used to provide milk, as offerings, whilst cow- dung is necessary for various purifying ceremonies. Regular worship of the cow takes place yearly, at employed at the worship of images; the horns and bodies of the cows are painted, and they are then bathed in the rivers. Some people are said to worship the cow Dailey. Where as Suparna is a mythical beings, half- man and half eagle, of Vishnu, Though not strictly divine, he worshipped together with his lord.