Murugan or Skanda is here honored as the giver of vahanas to all the gods (modern South Indian folk art)

Source: http://palani.org/prahara/html/DSC00322.htm
(downloaded Sept. 2006)

Source: ebay, Oct. 2009

"Vishnu and Lakshmi on Garuda," a modern Madhubani painting by Dhirendra Jha

Source: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/DE73/
(downloaded Sept. 2006)

Riding on Garuda, Vishnu rescues his elephant devotee from an attack by a crocodile (bazaar art, c.1980's); *another depiction of the scene*

Source: ebay, Dec. 2007

Garuda often becomes semi-humanized, as a kind of ideal devotee (a modern brass statue)

Source: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/ZZ42/
(downloaded Sept. 2006)

Lakshmi as "Gajalakshmi" is flanked by two elephants, and here she is joined by Sarasvati and her peacock; from the Ravi Varma Press, 1910's

Source: ebay, Dec. 2008

Lakshmi also has an owl as her personal vahana

Source: ebay, Sept. 2008

Shiva's vahana, the bull Nandi, is a faithful devotee; *another example in which Shiva appears as merged into Nandi*

Source: ebay, Oct. 2006

Nandi is joined by a great cobra who twines protectively around Shiva's neck as well; this North Indian bronze, from the 1800's, still has traces of vermilion color from its use in worship

Source: ebay, Dec. 2008

Ganesh on his vahana, a mouse or rat; bazaar art, 1910

Source: ebay, Sept. 2006

Ganesh sits affectionately with his vahana, Mushika (carved and painted ivory plaque, later 1900's); *another plaque*

Source: ebay, Nov. 2006

Ganesh in a riksha, being pulled by his faithful mouse; a playful modern Dhokra brass sculpture from Bengal

Source: ebay, Dec. 2006

Ganesh's chariot is drawn by a whole team of mice (bazaar art, c.1980's)

Source: ebay, Dec. 2007

Ganesh rides on a swan, but his mouse is nearby

Source: http://www.exoticindia.com/product/BF63/
(downloaded Sept. 2006)

A piquant idea: Ganesh rides on a real elephant; by a modern Chinese artist