ANIMAL WORSHIP.
The following animals are considered sacred and worshipped by the
Hindus.
1. The cow:--is regarded as the holiest of animals. She is worshipped
on the fourth day of the dark half of Shravan which is known as Bol
Choth; [1500] and a vow is observed by women in her honour on the
fifteenth day of Bhadarva. It is known as Gautrad Vrat. On this day
women do not eat wheat, milk, clarified butter and the whey of a
cow. [1501]
The sanctity which attaches to the cow is due to the belief that in
her body reside thirty three crores of gods. [1502]
2. The horse:--The horse is believed by some people to be the last
incarnation of God. It is also believed to represent Vachhado, the
deity who cures hydrophobia. [1503]
Some people believe the horse to be a celestial animal. It is said
that in ancient times it had wings, traces of which are believed to
be still visible in its knees.
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. [1504]
The horse is worshipped on the Dasara day. [1505]
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 Parvati and Shiva. It is
believed by some people that vows to offer cocoanuts to an elephant
are efficacious in curing fever. [1506]
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. [1507]
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. The tiger:--The tiger is worshipped with Vagheshvari Mata 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 Nag kanya
(snake girl) by her father. [1508]
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 Brahman. [1509]
7. The donkey:--Is believed to be the vehicle of the goddess of
small-pox. [1510]
It is also believed that the god Brahma had formerly five mouths,
one of which was like that of a donkey. [1511]
8. The dog:--The dog is believed to have divine vision and to be able
to see the messengers of the god of death. Some believe that in its
next life a dog becomes a man. [1512]
The dog is also believed to be the vehicle of Kal Bhairav and is
worshipped along with his image. [1513]
Some people offer bread to dogs in the belief that they will bear
witness to their merits before God [1514].
9. The goat:--is worshipped by the Bharvads when they worship the
goddess Machhu. [1515]
10. The cat:--is worshipped in the belief that by so doing a man can
win over his opponents. [1516]
11. The bear:--is considered by some people to be a holy animal because
the god Krishna married Jambuvanti, the daughter of Jambuvant, the
heroic bear who assisted Rama. [1517]
12. Fish:--are considered sacred because they are supposed to carry
the food (pindas) to the manes offered (in water) at the shraddha
ceremony. [1518]
13. Alligators:--are worshipped in a pond at Magar Pir, near
Karachi. [1519]
14. The crows:--are worshipped because they are supposed to represent
rishis. [1520]
Some people believe that crows were formerly rishis. They are supposed
to have divine vision, and food offered to them is believed to reach
deceased ancestors.
A loaf is cut into three parts. One of them is designated kal
(ordinary), the second dukal (famine), and the third sukal
(plenty). Next they are offered to a crow. If the crow takes away
the kal, it is believed that the crops in the following year will
be normal; if it takes away the dukal a famine is apprehended in the
following year, and if the sukal, it is believed that the crops will
be plentiful. [1521]
15. The goose:--is supposed to be the vehicle of the goddess
Sarasvati. It is believed that its worship ensures success in any
enterprise. If a goose is seen in a dream, it is considered to be a
very good omen. [1522]
A goose is believed to be endowed with the power of separating milk
from water. It is supposed to feed on rubies. It is found in lake
Man in the Himalayas. [1523]
16. The cock:--is considered holy as it is believed to be the vehicle
of the goddess Bahucharaji. [1524]
17. The hen:--is worshipped on the last Sunday of the month of
Jeth. [1525]
18. The parrot:--is worshipped by singers desiring to improve their
voice. It is also worshipped by dull persons desirous of improving
their intellect. [1526]