Shiva is kind to animals Nag, Nandi, Tiger and Dog

This story that happened between Lord Shiva and Nandi deva is well known among Tamils Others may or may not know about this story. We all know that Nandi deva is a Vahana of Lord Shiva and Ursava vahana in South Indian temple processions and one of the Ganas also. Long ago after this universe and sapta rishis were created ,humans were created by Lord Brahma.Then brahma didn’t know what daily work to assign to humans. So Brahma approached Lord Shiva and asked a solution.

After this shiva found a solution and told Nandi deva to tell his words and come back .Shiva told that “Tell humans to daily take oil bath and worship him, monthly once to have food”.But Nandi deva will not hear lord’s words properly and will come and tell in the opposite way to “Have food daily and worship lord ,monthly once to take oil bath”. After returning to Kailasam ,Seeing Nandi’s mistake,Lord Shiva gets angry and gives a curse to Nandi that till this world ends ,his generations will help humans in agriculture and gathering food for humans in their daily uses.This happened on Maatu Pongal(The next day of Sankranti). So only, Tamils celebrate Maatu Pongal (a festival in which we people worship cattle as a thanksgiving for their work) by decorating and doing Ko pooja. On this festival, in every Shiva temple,decorations in fruits and vegetables are done to Nandi deva.

Vasuki was born to Kashyapa and Kadru after Adhishesa. Vasuki was the most powerful snake and was a devotee of Lord Shiva. According to the Puranas, Vasuki played a significant role by becoming the string of the bow that Lord Shiva used to destroy the 3 cities named as Tripuradahana. Why did Lord Shiva destroy Tripura? What is the story behind destroying the city? According to the Puranas, during the churning of the ocean of milk (Samudra manthan), the deadly poison (Halahal) came out which Shiva had to drink to save the world. There were some snakes in the water who drank it with him and Vasuki was one of them. Vasuki also served as the rope that was tied to Mandar mountain during the churning of the ocean of milk. Shiva was impressed by this and hence accepted Vasuki (king of sarpas) around his neck.

Another story goes, it is believed that once when the snake species was in danger, they approached Lord Shiva for Shelter. Lord Shiva gave them shelter by letting them stay in Kailasha. But due to cold weather, the snakes used to approach Lord Shiva for warmth of Body. Thus, he as a protector used to wear these snakes as an ornament to provide warmth to them. There are several symbolic meaning behind the snake : The snake around Shiva’s neck represents the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. Snakes shed their skin when the old skin is outgrown, regularly during their lifetime. This symbolically represents the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

The snake has three rounds around Lord Shiva’s neck where each round represents past, present and future. This indicates that he is beyond time and controls it. That’s why Lord Shiva is also known as “Mahakaal” – the one who is above and beyond Kaal (time). Also, the snake is shown looking towards his right side. It signifies that the Lord’s perpetual laws of reason and justice preserve natural order in the universe. Some believed that symbolically snake represents ego. But when it is controlled, it can be worn as an ornament which Lord Shiva does.

Symbolically snakes stand for all the passion and desires. By wearing the snake around his neck, Shiva conveys to all his devotees that he has overcome all his desires. Also, he is in full control of Prakriti or Maya (Illusion). Shiva is so kind even towards animals , that He gave moksha to a Spider, snake and an Elephant. And Shiva gave a permanent place to Cobras on His neck, and even declared , the prayer done to Snakes will be indeed His prayer! Shiva in His Kalabhairava form, has Dog as His mount. Even to date, dogs are worshipped in the Kalabhairava temple in Kashi. And who ever returns from Kashi temple, will do Annadaanam ( donating food) in the temple, and before serving to the people , foremost food is offered to Dogs.

Shiva has the Nandi as His mount, and all the Ganas are His best friends and stay along with Shiva on Mount Kailash. Coming to the question of Shiva killing the tiger, actually the tiger was a mystical creature which evolved from the Yagna. And Shiva had to kill the tiger, to teach a lesson to the arrogant Sages, who with their powers evoked the Tiger from the yagna. They wanted to harm Shiva and wanted to prove their supremacy. Shiva is the only God who stays with us when we are alive, and even after we pass away! Since He smears our dead Ash on his body and dissolves us into Him! Shiva after killing the tiger, wore the tiger’s skin around His body and thus gave Moksha, liberation to the Tiger. Om Namah Shivay