Crows and Cows Pitrupaksha Mythology: Sacred Messengers and Divine Symbols

Namaste, 

The Puranas – those vast oceans of wisdom like the Agni, Brahma, Garuda, Linga, Padma, Siva, Skanda, Vishnu, and Varaha Puranas – guide us, explaining the intricate laws of Dharma, the nature of the afterlife, and the sacred duties (karmakāṇḍa) that link our world with the realms beyond, including the realm of our ancestors, the Pitṛs.

Crows and Cows Pitrupaksha Mythology: Sacred Messengers and Divine Symbols

During Pitrupaksha, the fortnight dedicated to honouring our forefathers, specific rituals like Shradh and Tarpan are performed. Within these, certain animals play surprisingly significant roles, acting as conduits or symbols, connecting our offerings and intentions to the subtle realms.

Gau Mata: The Embodiment of Purity, Divinity, and Sustenance

The cow, revered as Gau Mātā (Mother Cow), holds perhaps the most esteemed place among animals in our tradition. Her significance in rites for the ancestors is profound, stemming from multiple layers of symbolism and scriptural declarations:

1. A Walking Temple – Abode of Deities: Our scriptures are unequivocal about the cow’s divinity. The Varaha Purana beautifully states that cows embody all Gods and Goddesses and even the Vedas themselves! It meticulously details this divine residency: the Maruts in her teeth, Saraswati in her tongue, Gandharvas and Nagas in her hoofs, Sadhyas in her joints, Surya and Chandra (Sun and Moon) in her eyes, Kshatriyas (representing protective power) in her back, and Dharma itself in her tail. Holy Tirthas reside near her excretory organs, Maa Ganga flows in her urine, and the four oceans rest in her feet! The Skanda Purana adds that Tirthas are at her horn-tips, mountains at her hoof-tips, and the great Goddess Gauri dwells between her horns. The Siva Purana explains how her four nipples nourish different realms – Devas, Pitṛs (through Svadha!), other celestial beings, and humans. Simply put, serving a cow is akin to serving the entire pantheon.
2. The Supreme Purifier (Pāvanī): The five products derived from the cow – milk, curd (yogurt), ghee (clarified butter), urine (gomutra), and dung (gomaya) – collectively known as Pañcagavya, are considered supremely purifying agents in Hinduism. The Padma Purana asserts they purify the entire world, and consuming them removes sins. Pañcagavya is used in countless rituals for purification (śuddhi) of spaces, objects, and even individuals, making it implicitly vital for ensuring the sanctity required for ancestral rites.
3. Source of Life and Prosperity (Dātrī): Cows are seen as the bedrock of life, the sustainers of the world (viśvasya mātaraḥ). Their milk, likened to ambrosia (amṛta), nourishes all. Historically and symbolically, cows represent wealth, prosperity, and well-being.
4. Vehicle to Liberation (Mokṣa Dāyinī): The Puranas overflow with descriptions of the immense spiritual merit (puṇya) gained by serving, protecting, and especially gifting cows (Go-dāna).
   • Gifting a cow, particularly to a worthy Brahmin during or for the sake of Shradh, is lauded as one of the highest acts of merit. The Varaha Purana directly links gifting a sanctified cow with removing sins and liberating the departed soul. The Skanda Purana poetically says the great-grandfathers dance with joy upon seeing a cow being gifted in their name!
   • The specific rite of Vṛṣotsarga – ritually releasing a bull, often accompanied by heifers, specifically in honour of deceased ancestors during Shradh – is highlighted as exceptionally meritorious in texts like the Linga Purana and Garuda Purana. It symbolizes ensuring the continuity of life and Dharma, benefiting the Pitṛs immensely.
   • Even simple acts of kindness towards cows – feeding them, gently stroking them – accrue merit. The Skanda Purana even recounts cows attaining salvation through their inherent purity and actions near a holy site.
5. Symbol of Mother Earth (Pṛthvī): The ancient legend of King Prithu, narrated in the Vishnu Purana and others, depicts the Earth taking the form of a cow (Prithvi Mata) whom he “milked” to provide sustenance for all beings, establishing order and agriculture. This deep symbolic connection links the cow to the very foundation of our physical existence and nourishment.
6. Direct Role in Shradh: Beyond the meritorious act of gifting, the cow’s products are essential within the Shradh ritual itself. Ghee derived from cow’s milk is a primary offering (kavya) highly pleasing to the Pitṛs. Furthermore, after the main ritual, the Pindas (rice balls) offered to the ancestors are often respectfully fed to a cow, signifying a pure and auspicious completion of the offering cycle.

Therefore, Gau Mata is central to Pitrupaksha because she embodies purity, divine presence, nourishment, and the very principle of selfless giving that generates the merit needed to uplift our ancestors. Interacting with her, serving her, gifting her, or using her pure products in rituals connects our world with the higher aspirations of peace, merit, and liberation for the departed souls.

Kaka Bali: The Crow’s Role – Messenger, Receiver, or More?

Now, let us turn to the crow (kāka or vāyasa). Its role is perhaps less immediately obvious as divine, yet it holds a distinct and significant place in Shradh practices, forming a key part of the Crows and Cows Pitrupaksha mythology.

1. Designated Receivers of Offerings: Several Puranas, including the Agni Purana, Garuda Purana, and Varaha Purana, explicitly mention the practice of offering a portion of the Shradh food, particularly balls of rice (piṇḍa or bali), specifically to crows. This offering, often called Kāka Bali, is typically made after the main offerings to the Pitṛs (represented by Brahmins or offered directly) have concluded. It’s often placed outside the home, on the ground or a clean surface, accompanied by specific mantras inviting crows from all directions to accept the food. The Varaha Purana offers a curious explanation, suggesting the offering is made to crows due to the ‘impurity’ associated with the food after it has been spiritually offered to the manes, perhaps implying crows act as cleansers or consumers of residual elements.
2. Connection to the Afterlife and Yama: Unlike the cow’s association with Devas and higher realms, the crow often appears in Puranic narratives linked to the consequences of negative actions and the realm of Yama, the God of Death and Justice.
   • The Skanda Purana describes a vivid image of crows with steel beaks pecking the eyes of sinners in the afterlife who had looked upon others’ wives with lust. Performing specific types of Shradh is mentioned as providing relief from such torments, directly linking the rite to alleviating suffering inflicted by beings like these crows in Yama’s realm.
   • The Siva Purana mentions that offering oblations to crows and dogs helps one avoid Yama and attain heaven, reinforcing their connection to the path after death.
   • The pairing with dogs is significant. The Skanda Purana identifies the dogs associated with these rites as Shyama and Shabala, described as belonging to Yama’s family and involved in punishing certain sinners (like slanderers). This pairing strengthens the crow’s association with the forces governing the transition after death and the administration of karmic consequences.
3. Symbolic Interpretations: While scriptures don’t typically state that crows are the Pitṛs themselves, their designated role as receivers invites interpretation.
   • Messengers to Yama/Pitṛloka?: Could they be seen as messengers carrying the news of the Shradh having been performed to the realm of Yama or Pitṛloka?
   • Representatives of Suffering Souls?: Given their association with certain torments, could feeding the crows be a symbolic act of appeasing or providing relief to those ancestors (or other departed spirits) who might be lingering in lower states (preta yoni or suffering realms) due to their past karma? It becomes an act of compassion extending to even the less fortunate souls.
   • Absorbers of Negativity?: The Varaha Purana’s mention of ‘impurity’ could suggest crows absorb any residual negative energies associated with death or the departed, thus purifying the space or the offering cycle.
4. Potential for Transformation: It’s important to note that even beings associated with negative consequences are not beyond hope in the Puranic view. The Skanda Purana offers surprising tales of crows attaining higher forms (like swans) or even the Lord’s form through contact with holy places or sacred energies. This reflects the overarching theme that divine grace and the power of sacred acts can uplift any being, reinforcing the purpose behind making offerings even to creatures like crows.

Bridging Worlds: The Deeper Meaning

The cow and the crow, in their contrasting yet complementary roles during Pitrupaksha, reveal much about the Hindu worldview embedded in the Crows and Cows Pitrupaksha mythology.

• The Cow (Gau Mata): Represents purity, divinity, auspiciousness, nourishment, and the path of merit (puṇya). Engaging with her in Shradh rituals symbolizes the aspiration for the ancestors’ upliftment, peace, attainment of higher realms, and ultimate liberation. She connects the rite to the positive, life-affirming, and divine aspects of existence.
• The Crow (Kaka): Represents a connection to the afterlife, the consequences of karma, the realm of Yama, and perhaps the lower or suffering states of existence. Offering Kāka Bali acknowledges the reality of these states and represents an act of compassion, appeasement, or ritual cleansing, extending the benefit of the Shradh even to those who might be struggling in their journey beyond death.

Together, their inclusion illustrates the comprehensive nature of Shradh – it addresses both the aspiration for the highest good (represented by the cow) and the compassionate need to acknowledge and provide for those potentially facing difficulties (represented by the crow). They remind us of the intricate web of life, death, karma, and rebirth, the profound responsibility of the living towards the departed, and the power of sacred ritual, performed with faith, to bridge worlds and influence destinies.

This is the timeless wisdom our Puranas offer, guiding us to perform our duties with understanding and reverence, ensuring the well-being of our ancestors and the harmony of our own lives.

May this knowledge deepen your appreciation for the intricate beauty and profound meaning embedded within our ancient traditions.

|| हरि ॐ तत् सत् ||