Post No. 13,746
Date uploaded in London – 4 October 2024
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Ass and Donkey in Shakespeare, Tamil and Sanskrit Literature -2 (Post No.13,746)
Donkeys and Asses in Manu Smriti
If you insult your teacher, you will be an ass in your next birth
Manu 2-201. By censuring (his teacher), though justly, he will become (in his next birth) an ass, by falsely defaming him, a dog; he who lives on his teacher’s substance, will become a worm, and he who is envious (of his merit), a (larger) insect.
4-115. A Brahmana shall not recite (the Veda) during a dust-storm, nor while the sky is preternaturally red, nor while jackals howl, nor while the barking of dogs, the braying of donkeys, or the grunting of camels (is heard), nor while (he is seated) in a company.
4-120. Let him not recite the Veda on horseback, nor on a tree, nor on an elephant, nor in a boat (or ship), nor on a donkey, nor on camel, nor standing on barren ground, nor riding in a carriage,
8-298. For donkeys, sheep, and goats the fine shall be five mashas; but the punishment for killing a dog or a pig shall be one masha.
8-370. But a woman who pollutes a damsel shall instantly have (her head) shaved or two fingers cut off, and be made to ride (through the town) on a donkey.
8-384. For (intercourse with) an unguarded Kshatriya a fine of five hundred (panas shall fall) on a Vaisya; but (for the same offence) a Kshatriya shall be shaved with the urine (of a donkey) or (pay) the same fine.
10-51. But the dwellings of Kandalas and Svapakas shall be outside the village, they must be made Apapatras, and their wealth (shall be) dogs and donkeys.
11-69. Killing a donkey, a horse, a camel, a deer, an elephant, a goat, a sheep, a fish, a snake, or a buffalo, must be known to degrade (the offender) to a mixed caste (Samkarikarana).
11-137. For killing a horse, he shall give a garment, for (killing) an elephant, five black bulls, for (killing) a goat, or a sheep, a draught-ox, for killing a donkey, (a calf) one year old;
11-155. A twice-born man, who has swallowed the urine or ordure of a village pig, of a donkey, of a camel, of a jackal, of a monkey, or of a crow, shall perform a lunar penance.
156. He who has eaten dried meat, mushrooms growing on the ground, or (meat, the nature of) which is unknown, (or) such as had been kept in a slaughter-house, shall perform the same penance.
11-157. The atonement for partaking of (the meat of) carnivorous animals, of pigs, of camels, of cocks, of crows, of donkeys, and of human flesh, is a Tapta Krikkhra (penance).
11-200. He who has been bitten by a dog, a jackal, or a donkey, by a tame carnivorous animal, by a man, a horse, a camel, or a (village-) pig, becomes pure by suppressing his breath (Pranayama).
11-202. A Brahmana who voluntarily rode in a carriage drawn by camels or by asses, and he who bathed naked, become pure by suppressing his breath (Pranayama).
12-55. The slayer of a Brahmana enters the womb of a dog, a pig, an ass, a camel, a cow, a goat, a sheep, a deer, a bird, a Kandala, and a Pukkasa.
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Donkeys in Tamil and Sanskrit Literature
மார்ச் 16, 2013
Donkeys in Tamil and Sanskrit Literature
Donkey is the animal that got most negative publicity in classical Indian literature. Some animals like cow and elephant are elevated to the position of sacred animal. Lion is the unquestionable king of the forest. Bull, Tiger and Lion are used in addressing Vedic and Epical characters. Rama is called the Tiger among men in Venkateswara Subrabatham. Kings called themselves lions (sing or Kesari which became Caesar in Europe). But poor vegetarian donkey is considered a dirty animal. George Orwell is right when he said ‘’All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others’’ in his novel Animal Farm.
The strange thing about donkeys is that they were vehicles of Vedic gods Indra and Agni in Atharva Veda. But later became the vehicle of Jyeshta (Muthevi) and Shitala Devi (Goddesses of poverty and disease). They were relegated to back stage. Greek gods Dionysus and Hephaestus used donkey as their vehicles. Jesus rode into Jerusalem victoriously on a donkey according to Gospel of Mathew.
Donkey plough of Tamil and Orissa Kings
2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature and Kharavela’s Hathikumbha inscription have some strange coincidence. When the kings conquer some new countries, they destroy the towns and plough the land with donkeys. This strange custom existed throughout India. Sangam Tamil books Purananuru (verse 15, 392), Pathitru pathu (25) say that the Pandya king Muthukudumi Peuvazuthi , a local chieftain Pokuttezini and Cheran Selkezu Kuttuvan defeated their enemies and ploughed their lands with donkey ploughs. Avvaiayar, Palai Gauthamanar and Nettimaiyar sang in praise of those kings. According to Kalinga (Orissa) King Kharavela’s inscription, he did the same in Pataliputra and Rajagiri. He broke the 100 year old Tamil Federation and did use a donkey plough in a Tamil port. Pandya king sent him gems, elephants and horses as tribute.
Kharavela (2nd century BC) was one of the just kings of India who commanded respect from every one. He was a Jain and ruled a large part of India. Through his inscriptions we know a lot about ancient India.
Donkey procession for Criminals
Now and then we read news items in Indian news papers about criminals taken in procession around the town on donkeys with red and black spots painted on their faces. This is also an ancient punishment followed by Indians for thousands of years. We read about it in Sanskrit literature. Nowadays it is followed in North Indian villages.
Even the Tamil proverbs are against donkeys. Parents use the names of donkeys and dogs to scold their children. From ancient times these animals are used to carry heavy luggage such as salt and pepper and Sangam books Akananuru (verse 89) and Perumpanatrupadai ( line 80) confirm this. But in other parts of the world even Jesus used it because it was considered a humble animal compared to arrogant horse.
Donkey Curses
Another interesting area is the curses in the epigraphs and inscriptions. Those who violate the instructions or damage the gifted articles are cursed to go to hell that is meant for copulating with donkeys. Unnatural sexy sculptures and diagrams accompany such inscriptions.
Donkey demons are painted in Mycenaean culture. The frescoes of demons with donkey heads belong to 1500 BC.
Donkeys in Vedic period
I have already written about it in one of my posts on Vahanas (Mounts of Gods). I am reproducing it here:
Hephaistos is an Olympian God in Greece. He rides a donkey. Donkey is Vahana for Hindu Gods and Goddesses as well:
Donkey Vahana for Indra: A.V. 9-6-4
Donkey vahana for Agni: Aitareya Brahmana 4-9-1
Donkey Vahana for other Gods: AV 8-8-22
Jyeshta or Muthevi or Seetala Devi have donkey has her Vahana.
In western countries, people have started charities for abandoned donkeys. They look after them well.
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Stories of Two Donkeys blessed by Lord Shiva (Post No.11,876)
Post No. 11,876
Date uploaded in London – – 6 APRIL 2023
Tamil Nadu has many temples associated with animals, birds, insects and plants. Most of them are Saivite (Shiva temples).
There is an interesting story about a donkey who prayed to Lord Shiva and attained liberation. It happened in Karaveeram near Tiruvarur. The temple is at least 1400 years old because it was sung by Tiru Gnana Sambandar, contemporary of Mahedra Pallava and saint Appar.
The donkey near the temple was praying for long to see Lord Shiva. But Shiva did not answer its prayer. At last, it decided to fall in the sea near Nagore and just before jumping into sea,it heard a voice. When it stopped Lord Shiva appeared before and gave it Mokasha.
Old Dharmapuram Thevaram edition associated this shrine with donkey. It says Karaveeram means Donkey and the God here is called Karaveeranathar.
Other names are Brahmapureeswar.
The local purana associated this shrine with a plant as well. Gautama Rishi who was given the task of looking after the temple asked Lord Shiva for a boon. He requested that he should not be visible to anyone and so Lord Shiva changed him to the Sthala Vrksha, i.e. he sacred plant of the shrine. There are two interpretations for the plant 1. Arali and 2.Alari
Even now women water the plant on New moon days so that they would get married soon.
Whatever the belief and customs, it shows that Hindus revere a plant or an insect or an un clean animal like donkey.
If one goes to Ramanashram in Tiruvannamalai, one my see several Samadhis (graves) for animals from crow to a cow. If one goes to Tiru Kazuku Kundram near Chengalpattu one may see the statues of two eagles that visited the temple for hundreds of years to eat Sweet Rice Pongal. If one goes to Thirucherai Stone Garuda Temple, one can see the burial of sacred eagles. It is needless to say about the Samadhis or statues of sacred elephants in Guruvayur and monkeys in several places.
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Here is another story about an ass that went to Shiva loka:-
Ass that carried Rudraksha (Rosary beads)
There was once in Kīkaṭa (now Bihar state) a merchant who had an ass to carry his merchandise. Once the merchant was returning home from Bhadrācala with his ass loaded with bundles of costly Rudrākṣas. The old ass fell down dead on the way, the weight of the Rudrākṣa bundles having been too much for it, and immediately it assumed the form of Deva and went to Kailāsa. Even if a man does not know what he is carrying, if he carries sacred things he will certainly attain salvation, like the ass that attained salvation in this case. (Devī Bhāgavata, 11th Skandha).
source- Wisdom Library.com
All these stories show the respect given to animal kingdom by the Hindus.
— Subham—
Tags- Karaveeram, donkey, Nagore, Ass, Kirata, Rudraksha bundle, Devi Bhagavata
Singer and Washerwoman (Post No.7596)
Post No.7596
Date uploaded in London – 20 February 2020
A village singer who was not good at singing came to the capital city of the kingdom thinking that he could obtain a good gift from the king. He stayed in a rented house in a street far away from the palace. The next morning, he started practising singing in the rented house. A washerwoman in the next house cried out with a loud voice and wept. When he stopped singing, she also stopped weeping. Thus, it continued for a whole week. The singer lost his patience and sent for the washerwoman and said to her,
Why do you weep whenever I sing?
Sir, said the washer woman, whenever I hear your golden voice, I am reminded of an ass of mine which died last month, so I weep so saying she wept.
The singer was ashamed and returned to his village without seeing the king.
Therefore a foolish man who knows not his weakness will suffer disgrace in the world.
—Subham—
TAGS- Ass and Donkeys in Shakespeare and Hindu ,Part 2, Scriptures
Tamil and Vedas 