Of the fourteen jewels obtained by the gods and demons by churning the ocean, one was a horse with seven mouths. Hence the horse is considered divine.[5]
The horse is worshipped on the Dasara day.[6]
3. The elephant:—The elephant is considered divine because it is the vehicle of Indra, the lord of gods, and because its head was fixed on the trunk of Ganpati, the son of Pārvati and Shiva. It is believed by some people that vows to offer cocoanuts to an elephant are efficacious in curing fever.[7]
At the time of celebrating a coronation ceremony an elephant is worshipped. There is a tradition that in ancient times the coronation waters were poured over the king by a she-elephant.[8]
4. The lion:—The lion is considered sacred because it is believed to be the lord of the beasts of the forest and the vehicle of goddesses.[5]
5. The tiger:—The tiger is worshipped with Vāgheshvari Mātā as it is believed to be her vehicle.
6. The she-buffalo:—Some sanctity attaches to the she-buffalo, as it is believed that a she-buffalo was given in dowry to a Nāg kanya (snake girl) by her father.[9]
To atone for a great sin a she-buffalo decked with a black wreath, iron, red lead and marks made with the flour of adad is presented to a Brāhman.[10]
7. The donkey:—Is believed to be the vehicle of the goddess of small-pox.[11]
It is also believed that the god Brahma had formerly five mouths, one of which was like that of a donkey.[12]