Expert: Aupmanyav - 3/6/2008

Question
Hi, Aupmanyav

I would like to know the role played by the tiger (and if possible, leopard and lion too) in Indian culture from ancient times to our days.
I would also like to know the name of the tiger Durga rides during her battle with the buffalo demon. I have read that its name was Damon, but I don´t know if this is true.

Thanks!

PS- Also, does the python snake has any relevance in Indian culture from ancient times to our days?  

Answer
Drake, Greetings.

Which is the animal which has not played its part in hindu mythology? They are all there, right from fish to monkeys (i.e., the earliest sea creatures, Matsya avatara to anthopoids, Hanuman). In between there have been Surya's horses, Indra's elephants, boars (Varaha avatara), lions (Nrisimha avatara), tigers, tortoises (Koorma Avatara), pythons (Sheshanaga), Shiva's serpents (cobras which stay around his neck and arms), and his deers (the Nataraja form hold a deer in his hand depicting the helpness of humans and animals in his grip), Lakshmi's owls, Ganesha's rats, Kartikeya's peacock, Chamunda's cock, Shiva's doves, Saraswati's swans, Shiva's bulls, Krishna's cows, Vishnu's eagle, Rama's vultures (Jatayu and Sampati),  Rama's Hanuman, Sugreeva, and Bali, Rama's and Krishna's Jambavanta (bear - he was Krishna's father-in-law). The list is endless.

Durga is shown riding a lion, but Parvati rides a tiger. I do not think any Goddess rode a Panther (Vyaghra - though my progenitor is supposed to be Vyaghrapada, Leopard's foot, he was the father of Upamanyu, my family in his lineage. He has a verse in RigVeda in praise of Soma). Vyaghrapada was in line of Vasishtha, who was the family priest of Rama). Upamanyu hailed from Kamboja, the region between Kabul and Kyrghystan.

As for your particular question, Wikipedia gives the lions name as 'Dawon'. But 'Dawon' or 'Damon' are not Sanskrit words. The closest possible name is 'Daman', which means 'the suppressor'. Bengalis, the Durga worshipers would pronounce 'Daman' as 'Damon'. But I have not heard or read anybody mentioning a particular name. In Sunderban, the extensive mangrove spread in Ganges/Brahmaputra delta, tiger is worshipped as a deity, the tiger is called Dakshin Raya - Southern King or the king of hades, and the tigress as Bonbibi, the queen of the forest. It is possible that in areas which have tigers and leopards, the tribals worship these creatures out of fear.

As for pythons, Vishnu is supposed to recline on a python (Sheshanaga) with his spouse, Lakshmi. Shesha bears the earth on his hoods, and earthquakes occur when he moves them. There are Krishna stories about killing a demon in the form of a python, Ajasur, and his killing a cobra, Kaliyanaga, when Kaliya would not return the ball with which Krishna and his companions were playing. Rama's younger brother, Lakshman is supposed to be an avatara of Sheshanaga. There are other stories also which mention cobras (Indian favourite) and pythons. For example, the Srimad Bhagawat Purana was written as a teaching to Janmejaya, a king to die in seven days by being bitten by a celestial cobra, Takshak, due to a curse by a sage. Vasuki, son of Diti, is supposed to be a half-brother to Devas and brother to Asuras, and progenitor of all serpents in the world. There were kings all over India (mostly aboriginals) who were considered to be the descendants of serpents (Nagavamshis). Krishna's grandson, Aniruddha, married the daughter of Banasur, whom many people think to be Asur Benipal of Assiria. Ravana's wife, Mandodari, also was daughter of a Nagavamshi king (some say of Jodhpur in Rajasthan which is my hometown. An old fort there is known as Mandor).

I may also mention that earth is depicted as a cow, and 'Dharma' (duties and righteous action) is depicted as a bull in hinduism.

I hope what I have written is interesting. If you need more information, please feel free to right back. Regards,

Aupmanyav