Chapter IX · ANIMAL WORSHIP.
Reading edition
The following animals are considered sacred and worshipped by the Hindus.
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.
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.
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.
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · See pp. 48–49. ↑Note 2 · The School Master of Dhānk. ↑Note 3 · The School Master of Kotda Sangani. ↑Note 4 · The School Master of Devalia. ↑Note 5 · The Deputy Educational Inspector, Gohelwād. ↑Note 6 · The School Master of Ganod. ↑Note 7 · The School Master of Chhatrāsa. ↑Note 8 · The School Master of Todia. ↑Note 9 · The School Master of Chhatrāsa. ↑Note 10 · The School Master of Moti Marad. ↑Note 11 · The School Master of Chhatrāsa. ↑Note 12 · The School Master of Moti Parabdi. ↑Note 13 · The School Master of Chhatrāsa. ↑Note 14 · The School Master of Aman. ↑Note 15 · The School Master of Limbdi. ↑Note 16 · The School Master of Aman. ↑Note 17 · The School Master of Todia. ↑Note 18 · The Deputy Educational Inspector of Gohelwād. ↑Note 19 · The School Master of Chhatrāsa. ↑Note 20 · The School Master of Dadvi. ↑Note 21 · The School Master of Kolki. ↑Note 22 · The School Master of Todia. ↑Note 23 · The School Master of Todia. ↑Note 24 · The School Master of Chhatrāsa. ↑Note 25 · The School Master of Luvaria. ↑Note 26 · The School Master of Aman. ↑Note 27 · The School Master of Todia. ↑Note 28 · The cow:—is regarded as the holiest of animals. She is worshipped on the fourth day of the dark half of Shrāvan which is known as Bol Choth;Note 29 · The sanctity which attaches to the cow is due to the belief that in her body reside thirty three crores of gods.3Note 30 · 2. The horse:—The horse is believed by some people to be the last incarnation of God. It is also believed to represent Vāchhado, the deity wNote 31 · 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 considerNote 32 · The horse is worshipped on the Dasara day.6Note 33 · 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 tNote 34 · At the time of celebrating a coronation ceremony an elephant is worshipped. There is a tradition that in ancient times the coronation watersNote 35 · 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 (snakeNote 36 · 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 BrNote 37 · 7. The donkey:—Is believed to be the vehicle of the goddess of small-pox.11Note 38 · It is also believed that the god Brahma had formerly five mouths, one of which was like that of a donkey.12Note 39 · 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 nexNote 40 · The dog is also believed to be the vehicle of Kāl Bhairav and is worshipped along with his image.14Note 41 · Some people offer bread to dogs in the belief that they will bear witness to their merits before God15.Note 42 · 9. The goat:—is worshipped by the Bharvāds when they worship the goddess Machhu.16Note 43 · 10. The cat:—is worshipped in the belief that by so doing a man can win over his opponents.17Note 44 · 11. The bear:—is considered by some people to be a holy animal because the god Krishna married Jāmbuvanti, the daughter of Jāmbuvant, the heNote 45 · 12. Fish:—are considered sacred because they are supposed to carry the food (pindas) to the manes offered (in water) at the shrāddha ceremonNote 46 · 13. Alligators:—are worshipped in a pond at Magar Pir, near Karāchi.20Note 47 · 14. The crows:—are worshipped because they are supposed to represent rishis.21Note 48 · A loaf is cut into three parts. One of them is designated kāl (ordinary), the second dukāl (famine), and the third sukāl (plenty). Next theyNote 49 · 15. The goose:—is supposed to be the vehicle of the goddess Sarasvati. It is believed that its worship ensures success in any enterprise. IfNote 50 · 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 Mān inNote 51 · 16. The cock:—is considered holy as it is believed to be the vehicle of the goddess Bahucharāji.25Note 52 · 17. The hen:—is worshipped on the last Sunday of the month of Jeth.26Note 53 · 18. The parrot:—is worshipped by singers desiring to improve their voice. It is also worshipped by dull persons desirous of improving their Note 54 · Dākans are of two kinds, human and of the order of ghosts.1Note 55 · Girls born in the Ashlesha nakshatra on the bij or second day of a month, in the Kritika nakshatra on the seventh day of a month and in the