Birds and animals have been speaking to humans for as long as one can remember. There's a story behind every animal or bird behaviour, if legends can have it. Whether you believe the animal kingdom to be really privy to the ways of the Universe or consider these to be mere superstitions, let's check out some of the most common myths...
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1. The Crow
The crow is the most common visitor to Indian homes. Yet, a great deal of importance is attached to its visit. For starters, the visit is regarded as a highly auspicious sign. If it not only arrives, but also caws in its unique voice, it forecasts the arrival of a letter, an important mail, or guests to one's home...
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2. A Dog Howling
Dogs figuring among the most domestic animals, can be heard howling ever so often. But for some strange reason, we have created this myth about dogs howling at night - of course, it sounds eerie at night- as a sign of approaching death.
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3. A Sparrow's Nest
If a sparrow decides to choose a corner of your home to build a nest, though you might get new worries about keeping your home clean and about not causing any harm to the new visitor, it also signals the arrival of good fortune.
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4. A Peacock's Vista
Spotting a peacock on a hillock while on a journey or road trip is considered lucky. But the poor fellow is not supposed to utter a word! Yes, if you also happen to hear his shrill voice, it's not considered all that good.
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5. The Noble Elephant
The elephant, sighting one not being very uncommon in India, is always such a noble animal to behold! Because of its association Lord Ganesha, it is considered one of the most auspicious sights on any day!
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6. Lizards Bring Mixed Fortune
The common lizard that can be spotted on the ceiling or any dry spot in most homes, bring mixed luck to home-inhabitants. While their croaky sound is supposed to be fortunate, if one happens to fall on your head, besides being a very unpleasant experience, can also be an unlucky one!
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7. Braying Of A Donkey
Though much fun is made of the humble donkey, believe it or not, if you happen to hear the sound of the braying of a donkey, it is actually a fortunate thing to happen! Not so fortunate to hear some people singing - no wonder, their singing is compared to a donkey's braying!
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8. Hooting Of An Owl
Owls have long been feared, rather unfairly I think. Just because they come out at night and have a howling sound. Thank God the Harry Potter series fixed that! But, the universal fear of them labels the hooting as unlucky.
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9. Ants And Anthills
Ants have always inspired humanity with their display of hard work and focussed efforts. They toil all-year-round. So, anything to do with them can only spell good fortune. No wonder, stepping on an anthill (ouch!) unknowingly is said to bring rain. Even when you spot them running helter-skelter, they are doing a good thing: they are warning of bad weather approaching! If they choose your habitat to build theirs, they are giving you a certificate of your well-being as well as promising you financial security in the future.
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10. Bats
There are lots of bats that live in tree in the temple compound near my mother's home. But the local people don't fear them as we do in the big cities. Indeed, bats are considered a good omen, spelling long life and happiness. But some say that if a bat flies three times around a house, it spells a death omen! (Who's counting!). Conversely, when bats fly about playfully, it is a sign of good weather arriving.
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11. Bees
Bees are always buzzing around us, especially if there are lots of flower shrubs. Sometimes, they decide to make the tree in our garden their home. As the honey-comb grows bigger and bigger, we start fearing their presence, and think of ways of burning their home down. But since times immemorial, this act has been frowned upon. Because just as a bee's arrival in our home is a sign of great fortune, only its safe stay will make the luck last. Perhaps, its simply about universal harmony. They need to leave on their accord.
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11. More On Bees
I just have to say more about the bees. The bees are also said to be wise and holy insects that possess knowledge about the past and the future. Their constant humming was believed to be them singing hymns of praise to the Divine. If they land on your arm (and hopefully not give their proverbial sting) they forecast the arrival of money, and if they settle on your head, they predict great success. In fact, they were said to sting those who had sinned!
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11. Bees And Chastity
Believe it or not, in some cultures, it was considered a sure-shot sign that a girl was a virgin if she could walk through a swarm of bees without being stung!
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12. Black Cats
This is another far-fetched belief. Black cats (poor souls) are despised around the world on the belief that they bring bad luck. Ask any cat-owner and they will disagree whole-heartedly. Though very different from dogs as pets, they are hardly your worst enemy! If they cross someone's path, people actually slam the breaks!
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13. Squirrel
Squirrels are so adorable - they not only look cute but provide further entertainment by hopping here and there. No wonder, spotting even just one of these from the Chip'n'Dale family is said to bring happiness.
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14. The Eagle
Opinions on this bird differ across the world. In the west, it's seen as a sign of enemity, but in the east, thanks to the Garuda connection, sighting one in the sky is considered a sign of hope...I remember my grandmother always keeping her eyes peeled to spot one in the distant sky...
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15. Spider Spinning Its Web
Spiders have always been feared. Even the 'Spiderman' movies haven't managed to put a dent in that image. But if one looks closely, they are often lovely creatures. Yet, they are said to bring bad luck all round: If seen in the morning, they bring grief; in the afternoon, they spell anxiety; in the evening, they mean bad luck with money. Killing one is sure to bring bad luck. To spot a spider spinning its web is a revelation that people are plotting against you. If you ask me, that's hardly the spider's fault...
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16. Swallow
Though this is a bird from the west, I cannot ignore this one in my blog. Because I have grown up hearing "one swallow does not make a summer". The phrase means, of course, that this bird heralds the onset of summer, but just one won't suffice. Only a flock of migratory swallows are a real sign that winter is on its way out...
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17. Birds As Omens
Birds, in general, have always been seen as omens, bringing the Universe's message to us. Indeed, our ancestors across the different cultures looked to these birds to get extra-insight into their fortunes...the direction they flew in, the colour they were, whether they flew in from the sea...all had different meanings...