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The Print
4 hours ago
- General
- The Print
Yudhishtira to Bhairava cherished dogs. It's about our civilisational values
For instance, the month of Shravan is celebrated by Shaivites with great fanfare, through fasts, rituals, pilgrimages, and by procuring waters from the holy Ganga for offerings in local temples. Shiva, the lord of the cremation ground and the conqueror of Kala (death and time), first known as the roaring archer Rudra, is given the title Pashupati in the Vedas by Prajapati. As Pashupati, he is lord of the animals: antelopes, buffaloes, camels, asses, those beings in the air, and both wild (forest) and tame (village) creatures. The past few days have left many of us quite perplexed, with 'man versus dog' sentiments raging on news channels and other media. It set one thinking about the contradictions between our professed beliefs and religiosity, carried on our sleeve—as also wrists, foreheads, and what have you—and the loss of civilisational virtues in the times we live in. Shiva is also worshipped as Bhairava, signifying the frightening and terrible aspect of the divine. It is in this form that he is associated with the dog, generally shown as his companion, and sometimes rendered as his emblematic vehicle (vahana). There are numerous sculptures and bronzes from South India that depict Bhairava in his mendicant form, called Bhiksantar or Picchandar, bearing a skull-cup with a shvan (dog) behind him. Shilpa texts such as Rupamala and Rupamandana mention Vatuka Bhairava as riding on a black dog. Medieval and early modern paintings from Mandi, Mewar, and elsewhere show the dog prominently in Bhairava depictions, including one where Bhairava is carrying a dog on his back. But this association is not confined to just texts and myths; it is known in lived religion as well. Also Read: Delhi's war on dogs has turned RWAs into a battleground. 'They're fighting, not debating' A faithful companion, Mahabharata to Naladiyar More than a decade ago, while on fieldwork in the Kolhua hills in Chotanagpur, a black dog suddenly appeared as we were climbing up the hill. A baba who lived in a kutir at the foothill commented that Bhairon Baba had come to escort me. Later, a snake crossed my path, and I was told I was doubly blessed by Shivji. This is the popular imagery of the god, drawn from a civilisational understanding of the harmony between humans and animals. And yet, we stand today at a juncture where the peripheral and the superficial are conspicuous, but the seeking of truth and higher consciousness through religion—embodied in such an understanding of living with nature and fellow beings—stands eroded, at least in some circles. The most abiding story about dogs centres around their faithfulness and devotion, and comes from the Mahabharata. After the great war, following the devastation and the claiming of the patrimony by the Pandavas, Yudhishtira informed his brothers and wife that the time had come to abandon worldly and indeed earthly life. Led by him, they embarked on the mahaprasthana, the great end to life's journey. The five brothers, Draupadi, and a dog traversed the eastern, southern, and western dominions before heading north toward the Himalayas. As they proceeded on the final leg up the great mountain, one after another all the companions of Yudhishtira, save the dog, fell due to their karmas. Finally, Indra approached the epitome of dharma, Yudhishtira, inviting him to enter his celestial chariot so he could be transported to the heavens. When told there was no place for the dog—neither in the chariot nor in the devaloka—Yudhishtira made the profound statement that the abandonment of one who is faithful is a mahapataka, the greatest sin, and that he would refuse a place in heaven rather than commit it. There are instances of dogs being commemorated as companions in historical records and burials. An evocative example comes from Pallava times, where the dog Kovivan went down fighting bravely alongside his master Karundevakathi when they encountered cattle thieves. There are similar examples from other parts of South India as well. The Naladiyar, a famous early Tamil poetic work, conveys the loyalty and love shown by the dog in a verse that says even if a spear is thrown at it by its master, it will wag its tail and look up at him. Also Read: Maria Gomes feeds over 300 stray dogs. She challenges the popular image of a dog lover Dogs and dharma The recent court order seeking the rounding up of this companion of humans over millennia is a sad story of our times, where our civilisational values of fellowship and cohabitation have been obscured by our frenzied pursuits in modern life. This has clearly affected community animals such as dogs, who have been marginalised, feared, beaten, and/or driven away from our 'gated' residential areas, with no empathy for their well-being or even their existence. Growing up in Hyderabad, with family in Chennai and other places down south, dogs on the road were a ubiquitous presence, with the local tea-stall aunty keeping a bowl of rice or tossing biscuits and other scraps down for them. One didn't go out of one's way to pet them or be friendly at that time. My own proximity to them, despite many friends having dogs, was a COVID development, when my children took in an abandoned dog. For almost a year, Golu would sit at our door staring out with sad eyes, probably hoping to see her earlier family. The losses we saw during those terrible times—family, friends, and students taken by the dreaded virus—were shared by Golu. Each time one of us cried, he would nuzzle against us, place his paws on our shoulders, comfort us. Frankly, I saw myself as learning empathy and love from him. This does not, of course, take away from the real fears associated with dog bites and disease. But those risks must be addressed without fear-mongering or cruelty. In a letter, Sigmund Freud stated that dogs have a clear-cut understanding of who their friends and enemies are, unlike humans, who can love and hate a person at the same time. My children have been bitten by dogs, but each time they have shown great maturity and sensitivity, trying to understand the problem—whether the dog felt threatened, or whether it was an accidental occurrence triggered by something. The solution to the problem of dog bites is to create greater community awareness, and to resurrect the empathy and civilisational bonds that our stories about gods and heroes, and our historical records, offer us. By removing dogs from communities, we are condemning them to disease and death. As Yudhishtira so beautifully said, abandoning someone devoted to you is a bottomless evil. The domesticated dog is our creation; it is incumbent upon us to nurture and protect it. By extending support through feeding and care, by vaccinating and sterilising dogs, we perform our dharma toward them, as the times require us to. Equally important, we need to create wider community bonds, so that children and adults do not fear these beautiful creatures, who are as much our creations as they are of the gods. Dr R Mahalakshmi is a professor at the Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Politicians believe they are kings': HC slams TN police over closing complaints against Ponmudi
Political leaders wrongly believe they are the kings who can do no wrong, the Madras high court remarked on Tuesday as it criticised former Tamil Nadu minister K Ponmudi for 'misusing' free speech and questioned the state police's decision to close over 120 complaints against the DMK leader for his alleged vulgar comments about women, and Hindu sects Shaivites and Vaishnavites. The HC uestioned the state police's decision to close over 120 complaints against the DMK leader for his alleged vulgar comments about women, and Hindu sects Shaivites and Vaishnavites. (File photo) A single bench of justice P Velmurugan reminded Ponmudi, who had to resign from the cabinet on April 27 following the outrage over his remarks, that politicians were not above the law. The court also decided to keep pending its suo motu proceedings against the leader. 'Nowadays, all politicians, all persons making public speeches think Article 19 gives them absolute only sky is the limit. Court cannot simply be a silent spectator. There are reasonable restrictions. There are several sects, religious (public figures) should think about it, when they are in public life,' the judge remarked. '…A strong message should go. So many things are being said, as if they (politicians) are the kings of this country. Whatever they say, they think they can do no wrong. The Court cannot watch these things silently,' the judge added. Justice Velmurugan made the observations after advocate general PS Raman, appearing for the Tamil Nadu government, told the court that the state police had examined over 120 complaints registered against Ponmudi following his comments. The police concluded that the former minister had not committed any offence but had merely 'repeated something that had been said decades ago.' Therefore, the police had decided to 'close all complaints' against Ponmudi in the case, Raman told the court. During an event on April 8 this year, Ponmudi had recited a joke linking the religious forehead markings of Shaivites and Vaishnavites to sexual positions, provoking widespread outrage. The joke also referenced a sex worker, drawing further condemnation. Soon after, justice N Anand Venkatesh of the high court initiated suo motu proceedings and directed the police to register an FIR against Ponmudi. Justice Venkatesh had noted that Ponmudi's comments were 'prima facie hate speech, derogatory to women, and offensive to religious communities.' On Tuesday, Justice Velmurugan questioned the legality of the closure of complaints at the stage of preliminary inquiry, saying police cannot decide whether the speech amounts to hate speech 'without a formal investigation.' The judge cautioned the police that if all the original complainants in the case were not informed about the closure of their cases, the court will act strictly against the state. 'We will keep the suo motu case pending. You will have to get acknowledgements from the complainants for closing their complaints. If any person comes and says they have not been served with notice before closing, this court will come down heavily,' justice Velmurugan said, listing the matter for further hearing on August 1. Ponmudi, who was removed by the DMK as the party deputy general secretary following his remarks and later dropped from the cabinet, had previously admitted to making the remarks but maintained he had just narrated a widely known anecdote. Justice Venkatesh, however, remarked at the time: 'These comments spew venom on Hindu sects and demean the moral worth of women,' adding that they may attract multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC: Where did cops get power to close 121 plaints against Ponmudy?
Chennai: From where did the Tamil Nadu police draw power to close all 112 complaints against former DMK minister K Ponmudy for his alleged derogatory statements against women, Shaivites, and Vaishnavites, asked Madras high court on Tuesday. In response, advocate general P S Raman submitted that all the cases were closed after following due process by conducting a preliminary inquiry under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). It was concluded that the speech did not amount to hate speech; therefore, the complaints were closed, the AG added. The remedy available to the complainants does not end here. Under BNSS, they have an option to appeal to the inspector general and the DGP if they are not satisfied with the findings of the investigating officer, AG said. In response to the AG's claim that the former minister was just quoting an incident that occurred 60 years ago, Justice P Velmurugan said, "Can you (TN police) say that only the original speaker can be punished and not the subsequent speaker who made the same speech?" You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "They (politicians) cannot act like kings; the court cannot tolerate such behaviour. They must respect the public who are the victims," the judge said. "Let them (complainants) exhaust their remedies; meanwhile, we (court) will keep the contempt petition pending. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One plan. Total peace of mind. ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo We will watch vigilantly," Justice Velmurugan said. People in public life must understand that this country is for all and not for a particular class of citizens, he added. Asserting that he will keep the suo motu contempt open, Justice Velmurugan directed the state police to ensure that all the complainants are served with the closure notice. "If anyone comes to the court alleging that they have not been served with the closure notice, the court will be constrained to take serious action," the judge said and adjourned the hearing to Aug 1.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Madras high court questions TN police's closure of 121 complaints against former minister Ponmudy
CHENNAI: The on Tuesday questioned from where the Tamil Nadu police derived the power to pass judgments and close all 112 complaints filed against former DMK minister K Ponmudy for his alleged derogatory statements against women, Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Advocate-general P S Raman submitted that all the cases were closed after following due process by conducting a preliminary inquiry under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). It was concluded that the speech did not amount to hate speech; therefore, the complaints were closed, the AG added. In response to the AG's claim that the former minister was just quoting an incident that occurred 60 years ago, Justice P Velmurugan said, 'Can you (TN police) say that only the original speaker can be punished and not the subsequent speaker who made the same speech?' Poll Should politicians be held accountable for derogatory statements, even if quoting historical incidents? Yes, they should be accountable. No, context matters. 'They (politicians) cannot act like a king; the court cannot tolerate such behaviour. They must respect the public who are the victims,' the judge said. The remedy available to the complainants does not end here. Under the BNSS, they have an option to appeal to the inspector of general and the DGP if they are not satisfied with the findings of the investigating officer, the AG said. 'Let them (complainants) exhaust their remedies. Meanwhile, we (court) will keep the contempt petition pending. We will watch vigilantly,' Justice Velmurugan said. 'Nowadays, all the people think that the sky is the limit for them; we cannot be silent spectators. We are living in a democratic country; they (politicians) are bound to follow the constitution,' the judge said. People in public life must understand that this country is for all and not for a particular class of citizens, he added. Asserting that he will keep the suo motu contempt open, Justice Velmurugan directed the state police to ensure that all the complainants are served with the closure notice. 'If anyone comes to the court alleging that they have not been served with the closure notice, the court will be constrained to take serious action,' the judge said and adjourned the hearing to August 1.
New Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Madras HC warns of giving Ponmudy case to CBI if cops fail to act
CHENNAI: If Tamil Nadu police fail to conduct an investigation against former minister K Ponmudy for his derogatory speeches against Vaishnavites, Shaivites and women, the cases would be transferred to CBI, the Madras High Court warned on Friday. Justice P Velmurugan, who holds the portfolio of MP/MLA cases, made the observations while hearing a case initiated suo motu by Justice Anand Venkatesh in April after videos of Ponmudy, the then forest minister, making the alleged hate speech began circulating. Advocate General PS Raman informed the court that after the case was taken up suo motu, three complaints received against the minister were investigated and closed as it was found that the charges of hate speech were not made out.
