Picture of the dog that regularly attends Mass in an Italian Church
Ramayana Dog and Mahabharata Dog
Dog stories are numerous and very interesting. Hindus were the first to introduce them in to literature. We have the earliest reference to a dog in Rig Veda. That is the oldest reference of this faithful creature. Mahabharata and Ramayana have two interesting dog stories. We have the most famous dog statue in Tokyo railway station. But a church dog story in London newspapers made me to write this article. Let us look at them one by one.
Tommy is a seven year old German shepherd dog who used to accompany its owner Maria Margerita Lochi. Margerita went to Santa Maria Assunta Church in San Donaci in Italy. The dog went with her to the church and sat at her feet during mass. Everybody loved the dog. But its owner Maria died last year. The dog has started coming to mass in the Church for the past two months. On the day of Maria’s funeral, it followed her coffin and joined the mourners. Now it comes to the church as soon as the church bell rings for the mass. Father Donato Panna told the news papermen that the dog is well behaved and doesn’t make any sound.
The most famous Tokyo dog Hachiko was raised by a professor at the University of Tokyo. Every day the dog came to Shibuya railway station to receive him. After a year of this strange friendship, Professor H. Ueno died suddenly. He never came to the station, but the dog Hachiko came to the station looking for his master everyday for nine years!! The dog died of cancer in 1935. Even before it died, a newspaper story about the dog made it a national celebrity. In 1934, one year before its death, people erected a bronze statue in front of Shibuya Railways station and the dog also took part in the opening ceremony! After its death, is body was stuffed and is kept in the National Museum in Tokyo.
Now we know why Rig Veda gave so much importance to the first dog in human history, Sarama and its two children Sarameyas. Now we understand why Vyasa of Mahabharata and Valmiki of Ramayana introduced two dog stories in the epics.
Picture of Dattatreya with the four dogs
Dog in Rig Veda
Sarama was the dog of Indra. It pursued and recovered the cows stolen by the Panis. Some scholars interpreted it symbolically. But whatever may be the truth, Hindus were the first one to raise a faithful dog and use it for guarding the property. We gave them due credit and now we know the name for at least 3500 years. It had two children called Sarameyas each with four eyes. The Greeks copied this story from us and created a character called Hermes (They change S to H and that is how the word Hindu came from the River Sindhu). Rig Vedic Rishis were grateful and immortalised Sarama.
Sarameyas were the watchdogs of Yama.
Dog in Mahabharata
Dogs are always associated with Yama, God of Death. If a big calamity or death is going to happen, dogs will know it well in advance and bark or howl for several days before that event. We read such stories before big earthquakes or tsunamis or volcanic eruptions. Scientists now know the reason for their strange behaviour. They are thousand times more sensitive than human beings. They can feel the tremors deep beneath the ground. Their smelling is 3000 times more powerful than humans. When Pandavas decided to end their life, what is called Mahaprathanika, a dog was taken by the eldest of the Pandavas, Dharma (See 17[SUP]th[/SUP] Parva- Mahaprastanika Parva). Tamils also did some sort of ritual sacrifice called Vatakkiruththal, that is fasting to death facing North. Pandavas also travelled towards Mount Meru in the holy direction North and one by one died on the way. Last was Dharma. When he went to the heaven, God of death refused entry/permission for the dog. Immediately Dharma also declined the offer of entry. He told the guards if the dog was not allowed he would not come in. Then the dog showed its real face, ‘God of Dharma’ itself.
We see two points here.1.Dharma wont deviate from the path of dharma( morality) even if it is obtaining heaven.2.Dogs are given so much importance because they are friends of human beings. Rig Veda was the first book to acknowledge it.
Picture of the most famous dog Hachiko in front of Shibuya Railaway Station,Tokyo
Dog in Ramayana
The dog story in Uttarkanda (chapter 60,61) of Ramayana has some sense of humour. A dog went to Rama and complained that a Brahmin hurt it without any reason. Immediately Rama summoned him and admonished him. When he asked the ministers what punishment the Brahmin should be given, they told Rama a Brahmin is exempted from punishments. But Rama made the Brahmin a head of an institution to the astonishment of his ministers. When the ministers questioned him about it he told them that the dog knows it well. The dog explained that in its previous birth it was the head of that institution and misappropriated money. So by giving that position he is liable to commit sins and go to hell. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely!
Adi Shankara and the 4 Dogs
We have lots of references to dogs in Hindu religious literature. Adi Shankara shunned a Chandala( low caste) who came with four dogs. Later he realised that the Chandala was Lord Parameswara and the four dogs were four Vedas. Lord Dattatreya’s four dogs were four Vedas. Lord Bhairava’s vehicle (Vahana) is a dog. Saint Namdev gave a dog his whole food when it stole part of it.
Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita (5-18) says,
“ Sages see with an equal eye, a learned and humble Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, or even a dog or an outcaste”.
Please read other animal stories posted earlier in this blog:
1. Animal Einsteins (Part 1 and Part 2)
2. Can parrots recite Vedas?
3. Why do animals worship Gods?
4. Mysterious Messengers for Ajanta, Angkor Wat and Sringeri
5. Elephant Miracles
6). 45 Words for Elephant
7. Can Birds Predict your Future?
8. Two Little Animals That Inspired Indians
9. Three Wise Monkeys from India
10. Mysterious Tamil Bird Man
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