The dog is occupying the lowest rank, because it was considered an unclean animal eating left over food and all non- vegetarian food. But all these are the views of the laymen and the learned men look at them with an equal eye.
Dogs have been referred to as Shvan in many Vedic verses and have a deep meaning in Hindu mythology. Right from being worshipped in parts of Sikkim and North Bengal, dogs have been the mounts of fearsome gods like, Kalabhairava. They are also considered protectors of the gates of heaven as well as hell.
Krishna's pet Dog was named Bhramaraka & Vyaghra, pet cows named Vamsipriya, Pisangi, Hamsi, Pingala, Manikastani, Mangala & Ganga, pet swan named Kalasvana, pet parrot named Daksa & Vicaksana, pet OX named Padmagandha, pet monkey named Dadhilobha, pet Deer named Suranga and pet Peacock named Tandavika.
The Bhagavad Gita
One is dearest to God who has no enemies among the living beings, who is nonviolent to all creatures. I look upon all creatures equally; none are less dear to me and none more dear. But those who worship me with love live in me, and I come to life in them.
The dog (Shvan) is also the vahana or mount of the Hindu god Bhairava. Yudhishthira had approached heaven with his dog who was the god Yama himself, therefore among many Hindus, the common belief exists that caring for or adopting dogs can also pave the way to heaven.
Hinduism worships Lord Shiva blindly. He is considered to be the ultimate and the God of Gods. You will be amazed to know that Dogs are highly associated with one of the incarnations of Lord Shiva. You can see God Bhairava with a black dog.
Why are dogs celebrated? For devout Hindus, the celebration (named Kukur Tihar) is tied to a belief that dogs are the messengers of Yamaraj, the god of death, and that by worshipping the animals and ensuring their happiness, Yamaraj can be appeased.
Shiva, in his aspect as Bhairava, had a dog as a vahana (vehicle) (mentioned in the Mahabharata).
Hindus believe dogs are sacred animals that guard the doors of heaven and hell and may represent our past life and affinities once we're reincarnated. Gods may also appear to humans disguised as dogs. According to Hinduwebsite.com: “Symbolically, they may also personify Yama, the lord of death, and Yami, his sister.
In Bhagavata Purana written in 10th or 11th century, Krishna tells people not to perform animal sacrifices in the Kali Yuga, the present age. The Brahma Vaivarta Purana describes animal sacrifices as kali-varjya or prohibited in the Kali Yuga.
Lord Krishna, is often depicted playing his flute amongst cows and dancing Gopis (milkmaids). He grew up as a cow herder. Krishna also goes by the names Govinda and Gopala, which literally mean “friend and protector of cows.”
“Dogs are not allowed inside temples, palaces and the houses of brahmanas. Those are the residing places of gods like Agni, Indra, Surya and Vayu. We aren't allowed there because we are an inferior species.” But Rama gave special permission to the dog to approach the court.
Bhimanna, in his anger, thus cursed the dogs in this manner.
Philippians 3:2: “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.” Proverbs 26:11: “As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.” Luke 16:21: “And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.”
Dogs serve as a sign of devotion and protection in the home as household pets. Following Vastu Shastra guidelines, the dog should be kept in an enclosed area that faces the north direction. You must place your dog's kennel at the entrance of your home if you own a bungalow.
Infact Hinduism teaches to respect and in some cases workship animals. Love not only your pet but also try to help stray animals.
For the most part, tribes revered the dog and included them in religious ceremonies, believing the dog helped people navigate the journey to the afterlife. A few tribes, however, considered the dog to be the symbol of promiscuity and filth.
The Bible affirms that God designed animals to play a pivotal role in His creation and in our lives. Genesis 1 reveals that after God lovingly created all of the creatures of the earth, He blessed them and declared that they were good.
Noun. श्वान • (śvān) m (feminine श्वानी) (formal) a dog; hound synonyms ▲ Synonyms: कुत्ता (kuttā), कुक्कुर (kukkur), श्वा (śvā)
Dogs have a major religious significance among the Hindus in Nepal and some parts of India. The dogs are worshipped as a part of a five-day Tihar festival that falls roughly in November every year. In Hinduism, it is believed that the dog is a messenger of Yama, the god of death, and dogs guard the doors of Heaven.
While religious views around the world vary, Christianity has traditionally held that animals have no hope of an afterlife. But Pope John Paul II said in 1990 that animals do have souls and are “as near to God as men are”.
Survey results showed us that Indians are scared of dogs because, in India, there are lots of street dogs that bark at people and sometimes even bite them. These street dogs are not vaccinated, so if they bite someone, then he or she will be at a high risk of contracting a disease, such as rabies, from the wild dog.
They cite certain hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) to support their dogmatically anti-dog position. Angels will not enter a house if there is a dog present, says one. Another warns that a Muslim keeping a dog will lose out on some of the spiritual rewards from his good deeds.
Followers of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence in Sunni Islam, mainly found in East Africa and South-East Asia, are taught that dogs are unclean and impure.
The Indian Pariah Dog, considered by scientists to be the first truly domesticated dog features in the great Indian epic Mahabharat. The closing chapter narrates the tale of King Yudhisthira and his brothers (The Pandavas) making a pilgrimage to their final resting place.