The Divine Dogs!
For thousands of years, dogs have walked beside us, not just as hunters or guardians but as trusted friends and devoted family. Dogs are called "man's best friend" due to a combination of their evolutionary history, with dogs bring the first animals to be domesticated by humans, likely between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago. This partnership began as a survival strategy, with humans providing food and shelter while dogs offered protection and hunting assistance.
An unique biological bond with humans, from ancient campsites to modern city homes, they have adapted to our lives and hearts with unmatched loyalty and affection. More than pets, dogs are emotional companions, often sensing our mood before we speak. In Hindu mythology, several deities and legendary figures are associated with dogs, who symbolize loyalty, protection, and spiritual vigilance.
(Lord Kaal Bhairava)
The Hindu god most famously associated with a dog is Lord Kaal Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva, who has a dog as his vahana symbolizing protection, loyalty, and guarding sacred spaces. Feeding dogs is a way to honor Bhairava, as they are considered his divine companions.
(God of Death-Yama)
Yama, the God of Death owns two guard dogs, Sharvara and Shyama, who protect the gates of Naraka (the underworld). They are described as having four eyes each and act as messengers between the living and the dead.
(Lord Dattatreya)
Lord Dattatreya is typically accompanied by four dogs. These four dogs symbolically represent the four Vedas as also Indra's dog Sarama is a significant figure in Vedic lore.
(Sarama the divine dog of Indra)
In the Mahabharata, a dog followed Yudhishthira to the gates of heaven. When Yudhishthira refused to enter without his loyal companion, the dog revealed itself to be Dharma testing his virtue.
(Dharma Dog)
Khandoba is a regional deity in Maharashtra and Karnataka and Hadkai Mata worshipped in Gujarat and Rajasthan and Kutam Chandi in Jagannath temple, Puri have dogs as vahana. Vyaghra and Bhramaraka are SriKrishna's loyal dogs.
(Kukur Tihar in Nepal)
Special festivals like Kukur Tihar in Nepal, celebrate dogs as protectors and guides with an entire holiday where dogs get flower garlands, tasty treats, and loads of love. These divine dogs represent spiritual alertness and the deep trust placed in dogs to guard what matters most—even our souls.
Recognized for their loyalty, service, companionship, and the special relationship they have with humans, Hinduism’s reverence for dogs is expansive with dogs revered as divine companions, healers, and protectors, deeply integrated into daily life, religion.Here, then, is a beautiful and apt quote by Milan Kundera: Dogs are our link to Paradise.
Note:(pics from internet for illustration only)
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