Perception of Animals in Hinduism

[suchandra]

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Perception of Animals in Hinduism

 

http://studentorgs.utexas.edu/hsc/subpages/2008/09/perception-of-animals-in-hinduism_10.html

 

I always found it interesting that in Hinduism, simple questions from well intentioned nonbelievers are never answered by simple responses. I think every Hindu has been asked at some point whether those that follow our religion “Worship cows” or not. I remember as a middle school student, I always found the question insulting and answered with the culturally defensive response that we respect the cow and regard it as sacred.

 

I write this post as a primer to my meeting September 16 (come!) on the perception of animals in Hinduism. There’s no doubt that animals have an elevated status in Hindu culture: many of our gods have animal-like physical attributes, popular examples being Hanuman and Ganesha. The Bishnoi tribe of Rajasthan worship nature and are fierce custodians of their surroundings. They regard deer as incarnations of their guru Jambeshwar Bhagavan. And monkeys are a key part of the experience when visiting a South Indian mountain temple. In India there are so many examples of divinity being projected onto animals, is it so wrong to say that we worship cows?

 

Please post your comments!

 

Meeting on: 9/16/08 at 8pm in GAR 1.126