dogs in our shastras

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vaideekam , Sreekanth Iyer <iyer_sreekanth wrote:

>

> Respected Sri Vasu Vadhyar,

> I was recently having a conversation with a rather devout Brahmin who has an

interest in animals, and the conversation came to the topic of dogs.

> �

> It was my understanding that the shastras are very strict and clear about

dogs: one should not even cast one's eyes upon a dog.� My friend was very

surprised, and asked why such a restriction would exist.

> �

> Can you clear this doubt:

> 1) Do the shastras contain such a statement

>

> 2) If so, why?

> 3) Do you have any other details?

> �

> �

> Respectfully,

> Sreekanth

>

> *** I don't have confirmed evidence

>

> ***

> nvs

 

Dear Sir,

 

I do not know specifically about prohibition on seeing of dogs in our shastras.

However, I submit the following:

 

Indran had a bitch named saarama which helped indra in freeing the cows from

panis. it went in search of the cows, carried messages from indra to the panis

and eventually helped in freeing of the cows. she was called deva shuni (shunu =

dog in skt).

 

it had two dogs called sarameyas which guard the pathways pitrus. it has 4

eyes.

 

A dog accompanied yudhisthira during swargarohana yatra in the mahabharata.

 

in zorastrianism, which closely parallels early vedic hinduism, a dog has to

look at the dead body before it is consigned to the vultures. such a sight is

supposed to destroy the evil. dogs eyes are supposed to have this power.

 

thus going by both early hindu and zorastrianism, there seems to be some

tradition in connection with the dead and pitrloka. [yama is first amongst the

pitrs and is the their head. quite contrary to popular perceptions, pitrs are

almost equivalent to devas and their blessing are important in life for life to

prosper (wealth, children success etc.).

 

adiyen

vitahavya

>