Nrutyadhara Foundation

Learn how an owl became the vahana of goddess Lakshmi

One night all the gods and goddesses decided to come down to earth from heaven and take a stroll. When all the animals and birds saw the gods and goddesses walking, they all got worried and decided to request all the gods and goddesses to sit on their back and tour wherever they wanted.

Each of the gods and goddesses picked one animal or bird as their vehicle. But when goddess Laxmi’s turn came, she was confused and started thinking. In the meantime, all the birds and animals wanted to be goddess Laxmi’s vahana and a fight broke out among all. Finally, goddess Laxmi thought of an idea. She said “Every year on Kartik Amabasya I come down to earth to see the wellbeing of all. That day I will choose any one of you as my vahana.”

All the animals and birds eagerly waited for Kartik Amabasya. In the night when goddess laxmi appeared on earth, the owl with his sharp vision could see goddess Laxmi decent from heaven. He reached near goddess laxmi before anyone else could reach. After reaching near the goddess, the owl prayed to goddess laxmi “Öh mata laxmi, please accept me as your vahana”. Goddess Laxmi saw around and could not find any other animal or bird. She thus was pleased to observe the devotion of the owl towards her and accepted him as her Vahana.

Writer – Smt.Prajna Mishra