Mushak (Mouse) - Vahan (vehicle) of Lord Ganesh

Lord Ganesha is incomplete without his small, cute vehicle (Vahan) a mouse (Mushak) on which he rides everywhere. But why lord Ganesha choose Smaller Animal for his vehicle? Well he is a God of knowledge.

The word Vahan is taken from the word Vru – Vaha which means transport. And every God has their own vehicle on which they ride and in our religion, these vahans are also worshipped. As we all know that the rat is very quick, alert and can travel through all the crevices. This symbolically states that every creation whether it is big or small, holds an equal value in the eyes of the creator.

It is believed that the mouse is a symbol of all pervasive omniscient Brahman. As it is considered as the creature of the dark underground, he travels all under the ground where nobody can reach. It is a symbol of ignorance that fears light and knowledge. Therefore, he teaches us to remain alert and illuminate our inner self. Its swiftness can be considered as a hyperactive quality which is a symbol of our senses. Thus Lord Ganesha sitting on such a vahan signifies that he is the controlling of all the senses.