Ganesh and his Vahan

Ganesh is the son of Adiyogi Shiv and Parvati. Ganesh is propitiated and invoked at the beginning of every puja as he is Vignaharta, the remover of obstacles, and the deity for auspiciousness, wisdom and prosperity.

In Hindu mythology, deities are depicted with their vahans, or vehicles. Vishnu is shown flying on the Garuda, or celestial eagle, Indra riding his white elephant Airavat, and Ganesh's vahan is a mouse. These vehicles are either birds or animals and symbolise the characteristics and qualities of the deity. Vishnu is the preserver and sustainer of the world and has to move from place to place, hence, he flies on Garuda. Indra is the lord of the rains; Airavat's responsibility is to reach the watery astral regions with his seven trunks, suck up water and spray it into the clouds, to rain down on earth.

Ganesh's mount, the giant mouse Mushika, is mentioned in the Matsya Puran, Brahmanand Puran and Ganesh Puran. The mouse is a symbol of our wavering, wandering and restless mind. Ganesh riding the mouse represents his full control over his senses, mind and emotions. These are also the qualities of an enlightened person who is not affected by the vicissitudes and calamities of life and functions with awareness and intelligence. Hence, Ganesh is depicted anthropomorphically with an elephant head, which symbolises his enlightenment.