Are cats sacred in Hinduism?
The goddess Shasti rides a cat, and the way cats may carry their kittens from one home to the next is often compared to a soul's journey as it reincarnates. In terms of sacred animals – all life is sacred in Hinduism. For this reason, it's a sin to kill a cat.
Hinduism teaches that a part of God resides in all living things, which forms the atman. As such, reverence and respect for animals is taught. In Hinduism, many animals are venerated, including the tiger, the elephant, the mouse, and especially, the cow.
Cats are still sacred animals
That said, in Hinduism all of life is sacred. This means a cat is still somewhat of a sacred animal. That's why it's a sin to kill a cat.
...
| Shashthi | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Devi, Prakriti |
| Abode | Sakndaloka |
| Mantra | Om shashthi devi namah |
| Mount | Cat |
It is allowed, but as far as I know no one really keeps them as pets. They come and go whenever they want, eat the food left out for them or find mice if there are any and sleep wherever they want. If they have kittens, they move them house to house 7 times whichever house they think is safe.
The cow, a revered animal in Hinduism
In the Hindu religion, the cow has acquired a sacred status. It used to be sacrificed like other animals and offered to the gods and its meat was eaten.
Sacred Animals of India. Animals in India are worshipped in myriad ways: as deities, like the elephant (god Ganesha) and the monkey (god Hanuman); as avatars, like Vishnu's fish, tortoise and boar forms; and as vahanas, or vehicles, of major deities-the swan, bull, lion and tiger.
Bastet is probably the best-known feline goddess from Egypt. Initially depicted as a lioness, Bastet assumed the image of a cat or a feline-headed woman in the 2nd millennium BCE.
The Messenger of Allah said: 'They (cats) are not impure, they are of those who go around among you.'" Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA):
Recognized for their loyalty, service, companionship, and the special relationship they have with humans, Hinduism's reverence for dogs is expansive, as they are worshiped in festivals and appreciated in connection to a number of Hindu gods and stories.
Is cat auspicious in India?
A cat is believed magical and the bringer of good luck in India. One belief is if you kill a cat, you have to offer a cat in gold to a priest. The Ancrene Wisse was written in the 13th century as a guide for devout recluses who dedicated their lives to devotional reading, meditation and prayer.
Egyptians believed cats were magical creatures, capable of bringing good luck to the people who housed them. To honor these treasured pets, wealthy families dressed them in jewels and fed them treats fit for royalty.
Infact Hinduism teaches to respect and in some cases workship animals. Love not only your pet but also try to help stray animals.
According to a study, almost 6 in 10 Indians now have a pet. And dogs and cats are the two most popular pet companions in India, followed by others.
Cows. A cow is held in high regard and is constituted as being one of the most sacred animals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism. In Hinduism alone deities like Lord Shiva whose steed was a bull called Nandi, cows are honored in sacricity by having statutes erected in their reverence.
The lamb was strongly associated with religious sacrifices in the ancient Near East, and was adopted as a symbol of Christ and his sacrifice on behalf of humanity.
Some of the more popular Hindu symbols are the aum/om (letters), the swastika (ancient religious symbol), the trishula (trident), the Shiva Linga (an abstract representation of Shiva), and the Nataraja (dancing Shiva). Most Hindu rituals are performed in the presence of many of these symbols.
Nandi, which means “giving delight” or “giving joy,” is the sacred bull of the Hindu god Shiva, one of the most important Hindu gods. When the world becomes evil, Shiva destroys it to make way for beneficial change. Nandi is Shiva's animal form, his means of transportation, and his most ardent worshiper.
The magnificent tiger, Panthera tigris is a striped animal. It has a thick yellow coat of fur with dark stripes. The combination of grace, strength, agility and enormous power has earned the tiger its pride of place as the national animal of India.
They were closely associated with many of the gods and goddesses Egyptians worshipped, and were thought to have even been considered demigods. Though few still follow this belief, modern society has found its own way to worship these fantastic animals, through the internet.
What religion has a cat god?
The people of ancient Egypt worshiped the cat god, Bastet, as one of their highest deities. Bastet, also known as Bast, is associated with the Goddess Isis. Isis is often depicted as a female goddess accompanied by black cats.
In Islam, cats are viewed as holy animals. Above all, they are admired for their cleanliness. They are thought to be ritually clean which is why they're allowed to enter homes and even mosques. According to authentic narrations, one may make ablution for prayer with the same water that a cat has drunk from.
The most widespread belief was that domestic cats carried the divine essence of Bastet (or Bast), the cat-headed goddess who represented fertility, domesticity, music, dance and pleasure. For that reason, cats were to be protected and venerated.
It is widely known that Egyptians venerated cats while worshiping cat-deities that represented fertility, power, and justice (Malek 1997). Probably spreading from Egypt to other societies along ancient trade routes, cats eventually came to integrate with different cultures around the world (Ottoni et al 2017).
A cat is believed magical and the bringer of good luck in India. One belief is if you kill a cat, you have to offer a cat in gold to a priest. The Ancrene Wisse was written in the 13th century as a guide for devout recluses who dedicated their lives to devotional reading, meditation and prayer.
“Cats were not worshipped as gods themselves, but as vessels that the gods chose to inhabit, and whose likeness gods chose to adopt,” Skidmore explains. Through their ubiquitous presence in the art, fashion and home ornamentation of ancient Egypt, cats served as an everyday reminder of the power of the gods.
Indeed, despite there being no mention of them in the Bible, cats have a prestigious holy pedigree in Christianity too.
Yes they do. Actually, I believe that all mammals are capable of loving. Maybe birds too. I had a cat who slept with me every night for 21 years.
For many Hindus, who make up nearly 80 percent of India's 1.3 billion strong population, the cow is a sacred animal. In Hindu mythology, the animal is depicted as accompanying several gods, like Shiva, who rides on his bull Nandi, or Krishna, the cowherd god.