CHAPTER IX.

ANIMAL WORSHIP.

The following animals are considered sacred and worshipped by the Hindus.

1. The cow:--is regarded as the holiest of animals. She is worshipped on the fourth day of the dark half of Shravan which is known as Bol Choth; [1500] and a vow is observed by women in her honour on the fifteenth day of Bhadarva. It is known as Gautrad Vrat. On this day women do not eat wheat, milk, clarified butter and the whey of a cow. [1501]

The sanctity which attaches to the cow is due to the belief that in her body reside thirty three crores of gods. [1502]

2. The horse:--The horse is believed by some people to be the last incarnation of God. It is also believed to represent Vachhado, the deity who cures hydrophobia. [1503]

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.

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 considered divine. [1504]

The horse is worshipped on the Dasara day. [1505]

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 the trunk of Ganpati, the son of Parvati and Shiva. It is believed by some people that vows to offer cocoanuts to an elephant are efficacious in curing fever. [1506]

At the time of celebrating a coronation ceremony an elephant is worshipped. There is a tradition that in ancient times the coronation waters were poured over the king by a she-elephant. [1507]

4. The lion:--The lion is considered sacred because it is believed to be the lord of the beasts of the forest and