#sacredanimals

[tirupatitourpackages]

Celebrating the Sacred Cow: A Glimpse into Janmastami at Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshana Shala

The festive spirit of Janmastami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna, is celebrated with great fervor across India. However, one of the most unique and touching observances occurs at the Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshana Shala in Tirupati. This special celebration not only honors the divine but also pays tribute to the sacred animals that play a significant role in the temple’s daily activities.

The Sacred Space: Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshana Shala

Nestled within the divine precincts of Tirupati, the Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshana Shala is dedicated to the protection and care of cows, elephants, and horses. This establishment reflects the temple's deep commitment to the well-being of these revered animals. It serves as a sanctuary where these creatures are not only cared for but also celebrated during major religious festivals.

A Unique Celebration: Gau Puja

The centerpiece of the Janmastami celebrations at the Gosamrakshana Shala is the Gau Puja, a sacred ritual dedicated to honoring cows. This special puja is performed with great devotion and is believed to bring prosperity, health, and tranquility to all who participate.

The Gau Puja involves offering prayers, decorating the cows with garlands, and providing them with special food. This ritual is a profound expression of gratitude and respect for these animals, which are considered symbols of purity and abundance in Hindu tradition. The presence of elephants and horses adds a majestic touch to the celebrations, highlighting the integral role these animals play in temple life.

Spiritual Significance and Blessings

The practice of Gau Puja during Janmastami is not just a religious obligation but a way to reinforce the connection between the divine and the earthly. It is believed that honoring these sacred animals during spiritually significant days can bless devotees with a sense of peace, prosperity, and well-being. The rituals performed during the festival are meant to convey respect and gratitude, recognizing the important role that these animals play in the spiritual ecosystem.

A Tradition of Compassion

The celebration at the Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshana Shala underscores a broader tradition of compassion and respect for all living beings. By incorporating animals into the festival’s observances, the temple highlights the interconnectedness of life and the importance of treating all creatures with kindness and reverence.

In essence, Janmastami at the Gosamrakshana Shala is a celebration of not only Lord Krishna’s birth but also of the sacred bond between humans and animals. It is a beautiful reminder of the values of compassion, respect, and gratitude that are central to spiritual practice.

For those interested in experiencing this unique celebration and learning more about the sacred animals at Tirupati, visiting the Sri Venkateshvara Gosamrakshana Shala provides an opportunity to witness these profound rituals firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of their significance.

[husheduphistory]

Consulting the Coop: Ancient Rome’s Sacred Chickens and Big Decisions

When faced with a decision there are typically two ways to proceed, you evaluate the options for yourself and choose the best avenue or you might feel the need to ask advice from a trusted source. This source can be anyone, a relative, friend, coworker, counselor, or…if you were living in one specific timeframe…you headed right for the chicken coop.

Ancient Rome can conjure majestic images of architecture, artwork, and bring to mind familiar names of great intellectuals and mighty leaders like Caesar, Cicero, Marcus Aurelius, Claudius, and Augustus. Considering how immense and powerful Rome was, it might be surprising how reliant it was on superstition and reading “signs” given to them by the gods. The Romans often took part in augury, using the outcome of various practices and rituals as predictions of the future. Some practices involved reading the entrails of animals, some may have looked at plant leaves, others may have studied storms, but one of the most common forms of this type of divination involved birds, and in ancient Rome the most vital of these birds were chickens.

After being relocated from their home near Athens, the chickens were tended to by a pullarius, a “priest of the sacred chicken”, and it was these priests that became responsible for some major decisions in Roman history. The process was straightforward, the chickens were kept in pens and were denied food for a certain amount of time. When there was an important decision to be made the pullarius fed the chickens grain. If the hungry birds ate the grain it signaled a “yes” to the question. But, if they did not eat it was a definite “no” and it was highly advised that a new avenue be considered.

But what if they did not listen to the chickens? What could possibly go wrong? The birds were presented with questions on every level, including ones that carried an immense amount of weight and heavy consequences for Rome. On more than one occasion they were not listened to and those who defied the sacred chickens were left with deep regret.

Ancient Roman mosaic of a rooster. Image commons.wikimedia.org.

At the beginning of the First Punic War (264-241 BCE) the Roman navy’s biggest obstacle was the far superior naval force of Carthage that boasted better ships and more advanced sailors. One thing that Rome did have in its favor was a gift for engineering and tactics which eventually gave them a fleet of ships that could challenge the Carthaginian ships. By 249 BCE the fleet of 123 ships had a number of impressive victories under its belt and was under the command of Publius Claudius Pulcher. When Pulcher successfully cornered the Carthaginian navy in the harbor of Drepanum he had two options, to sit in wait creating a blockade or, his preferred choice, to launch a surprise attack. He knew who he had to ask. Pulcher happened to have some sacred chickens on his ship, but their reaction to his inquiry did not please the admiral. They refused to eat the grain given to them…an ambush was not advised.

Pulcher’s next step would have appalled many in Rome. The chickens very clearly advised him not to attack the Carthaginian fleet. But, not only did he go against the chickens, he may have outright disrespected them. According to some records, when the birds refused their grain he said to his crew “If they will not eat, let them drink!” before throwing them into the sea.

The attack on the fleet of Carthage was devastating for Pulcher. Of the 123 ships he brought into battle only 30 survived and up to 20,000 men were lost, decimating the Roman navy and destroying all the headway and moral they built during their previous victories. Pulcher survived the ordeal but when he returned to Rome he was heavily fined for his actions and accused of treason.

An illustration of Pulcher consulting the sacred chickens. Image via https://www.weirduniverse.net/blog/comments/sacred_chickens_of_rome

In the year 137 BCE Gaius Hostilius Mancinus was the Roman consul during the Numantine War. Before engaging in a campaign against the Numantians in Spain Gaius went to consult the sacred chickens about his plans. There were typically two outcomes here, the chickens ate the grain or they did not. This time however, the chickens did not even consider the grain. Instead they ran straight into the surrounding woods and could not be found. This should have been a very clear answer to Gaius telling him his campaign was not looking favorable. But instead, he went on to battle. What followed was a military disaster for Gaius. They were beaten in battles several times over, they failed to build a camp, and by daybreak they were completely surrounded by the enemy. The situation could have spelled utter doom for the Romans, but among them was the son of a man named Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, a man the Numantians were familiar with and held in high regard. To save thousands of lives Gaius had to agree to a peace deal with his opponents, sending him and his army crawling back to Rome and leaving all of their belongings behind. When Gaius appeared before the Senate, they were furious with him and the embarrassment of his dealings with the Numantians. Gaius was stripped naked, put in chains, and the new Roman consul was ordered to bring him back to the Numantians in Spain. Once there, they refused to receive him. Gaius eventually returned to Rome where he lived out the rest of his years forever marked with humiliation. Plutarchus later dubbed him “the most unfortunate of the Romans.”

The sacred chickens of Rome in their coop from an engraving of military insignia and instruments of war by Nicolas Beatrizet. The full engraving is found at Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae, [Image no. B293], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.

Tiberius Gracchus was a controversial Roman politician for his time. While serving as Tribune of the Plebs he proposed a land reform bill that sought to transfer land from wealthy landowners to poorer citizens, much to the chagrin of the Senate. By 133 BCE Tiberius was seeking a second term to continue his cause and on the day of the election he traveled to Campus Martius for the vote. Before leaving though he made sure to consult the family chickens to ask if he should attend at all. The chickens told him he should not go. He should have listened to them.

Things soon began to go bad for Tiberius. As he left his house he stubbed his toe badly, bloodying his shoes as he continued to the assembly. When he arrived at the Capitol he was informed of some dire news, that some opponents in the Senate had hatched a plan to kill him. Arming themselves with anything they could find, Tiberius and his followers braced themselves. In the massive crowd it is said Tiberius pointed to his head to signal he was in danger, but his enemies took the sign as him saying he wanted to be crowned king. The heated senators had had enough. They and their followers armed themselves and headed for Tiberius and his supporters. What followed was the eruption of a massive riot that resulted in the deaths of approximately 300 people. One of the dead was Tiberius, he had been beaten to death and his body thrown into the Tiber. The death of Tiberius, the blatant murder of an elected official, was shocking and it marked the beginning of the end for Rome.

As Rome transformed over time, moving from Republic to Empire, their methods and customs changed. While augury remained a presence in Roman culture the practices moved away from the sacred chickens until eventually divination as a whole became frowned upon with the onset of Christianity.

Today anyone looking for answers through divination has many methods to choose from ranging from decks of cards to reading animal bones and everything in between. Greatly missing from today’s list of options are the sacred chickens, the common birds responsible for some of the biggest moments in Ancient Roman history.

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Sources:

The Sacred Chickens of Rome by Paul Sheridan https://www.anecdotesfromantiquity.com/the-sacred-chickens-of-rome/

The Sacred Chickens of Rome https://www.weirduniverse.net/blog/comments/sacred_chickens_of_rome

The Sacred Chickens that Shaped Roman Decision-Making by Alexander Meddings https://historycollection.com/sacred-chickens-shaped-roman-policymaking/

The Disgraced Ancient Roman Admiral Who Did Not Heed The Sacred Chickens During The First Punic War https://thehistorianshut.com/2018/09/14/the-disgraced-ancient-roman-admiral-who-did-not-heed-the-sacred-chickens/

History with the Szilagyis Episode 3: The Sacred Chickens of Rome https://historywiththeszilagyis.org/hwts003

[susurrusone]

I have prints of this starting at $10.00 here! : http://paint the sky.level.press/s/the-reindeer-and-the-Rowan-tree. The original painting is available on Etsy, link in my profile. This is a late painting post for day 28 Undying Tales project. The Finnish Forest Reindeer’s status is vulnerable due to climate change, shifting vegetation patterns, and ineffective land use. There is a beautiful myth involving a Raven bringing the reindeer as a gift to the nomadic hunters. I may still add a raven or make another painting. For this one I painted branches from a Rowan tree and the Reindeer at the edge of the tree line where the tundra begins south of the Arctic circle. Did you know Reindeer eat berries and many types of lichens? #undyingtalesproject @undyingtales www.undyingtales.com #endangeredspecies #artforacause *please check the account of @spmlaw (she is donating) $7000.00 to a number of organizations this year having sold all her paintings from this project -she donates all the proceeds! All the details and her beautiful artwork are available to see on her account. #watercolor #paintingtheskykingdom #paintingoftheweek #etsy #etsysuccess #levelframes #finnishforestreindeer #finnishforest #reindeer #finlandnature #russiankoryak #koryakpeople #samipeople #siberiansubartic #tundra #migratoryreindeer #sacredanimals #nomads #deer #watercolorart #watercolorillustration #traditionalart #artistlife #supportsmallbusiness #supportlivingartists #artchallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/CV72mU6rzsd/?utm_medium=tumblr

[deniseliwaniwfrancisco]

Our Sacred Relationship with Animals

[castinbronze]

Coyote for Of Myths and Men. Coyote is a prominent figure in Navajo lore. Irresponsible, yet revered; mischievous, yet beloved, he is associated with rain and teaching stories. 100% of proceeds from the sale of this card will be donated to anelder.org, an organisation dedicated to supporting Navajo elders. You can read more about their adopt-an-elder program on their website. . Original artwork - ink on illustration board. 2.5x3.5" . Available $25ppd. DM for details. PayPal only. . A digital version of this card will be available to collect on neonmob.com starting December 23rd! . . . . . #artwork #atc #aceo #coyote #mythology #sacredanimals #navajo #newartwork #trickster #arteveryday #artisttradingcards #sketchcard #folklore #nycartist #freelanceillustrator  #tinyart #instaartist #illustrationgram #fantasyartist #fantasyart #lowbrowart #illustrationartist #artstagram #artforsalebyartist #artlife #illustration_daily #highdesert #makeart #artforacause #ohuhumarkers (at Brooklyn, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5_DIYal7Td/?igshid=qfscv7whkahn

[suziethefoodie]

Looking for animals in an urban landscape. Thank goodness for art! @the.handwork.dept #sacredsuzie #raccooncity #handmade #artsandcrafts #sacredanimals #raccoonlove https://www.instagram.com/p/BuuXtP-jwH4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1b05f8gqg1j94

[nanosart]

So happy with how this owl turned out! Jim just told me he wanted an owl and let me do it however I wanted! #owltattoo #colortattoo #fusionink #cheyennetattooequipment #halo #sacredanimal #owl #greathornedowl #owldancing #halfsleevetattoo #theblackmoth #dctattoo #dctattooartist #dcartist #dmvtattoo #dmvtattooartist #dmvartist #qttr #tattoooftheday #globeelectric (at Globe Electric Tattoo)

[fionahorne11]

Last night Dave and I came home from our gig to this charming palm sized fellow halfway up the wall next to our front door. On researching Frogs are symbolic of rebirth and transition phases in life (tadpole to frog) So it was wonderful to meet this gorgeous creature on Chinese New Year! Also from the article we researched.... This animal being active at night, it is often seen as the favorite animal of the arts of the dark and witchcraft. By extension, this totem animal is associated with life mysteries and familiarity with the unknown. And also of course being deeply associated with the element of Water.... Since the frog is strongly associated with the water where she spend a lot of her life, this spirit animal is also connected to moon energy and the moon goddess. The fact that it’s active at night reinforces this association. For those who feel an affinity with the frog as personal totem, you may be at ease with the world of intuition, feminine energies, and the magic of nature and the elements. Personally I felt very blessed and reassured that she appeared at our door ... sharing my gratitude and her Magick with you all! 💚✨ #frogmagic #magicfrog #witch #witchesofaustralia #sacredanimal #frogtotem #moonmagick https://www.instagram.com/p/CLOUQERBiIp/?igshid=1tw001yhb5kif

[suprememastertv]

Supreme Master Ching Hai (Vegan) on the Harmful Effects of Meat, Part 15 - Abusing the Sacred Cows

In many ancient cultures and religions, such as those of Egypt, Greece, India, China, and Âu Lạc (Vietnam), cows were revered as sacred beings. Even today, in Nepal and parts of India, it’s illegal to kill these gentle beings. In many of Her lectures, Supreme Master Ching Hai revealed the special qualities of cows and why they deserve to be treated with love and respect. “The cows have 38% PQ (Positive Quality), 0% EQ (Negative Quality), 40% SQ (Saintly Quality), 50% GQ (Goodness Quality). Cows are from almost the Fifth Level, border of Fourth and Fifth. Cows, all the cows are from there. And they eat them. You don't know whom you're dealing with all the time. You look down upon animals. You're not even there. Look at the cows. They eat just grass, and they give you milk, cheese, absolutely everything. And they still kill and eat them. The cows are like a mother of almost all the babies on the whole planet.”...

Learn more about the harmful effects of Meat on SupremeMasterTV.com

[reiramirez]

another view of my recent mural at @diamondmindstla Art in the Gardens 2. I went straight brush and acrylic paint on this one. it was an amazing experience working with students of the academy. The school implments spirituality and meditation into their classes.💙🙏☺️I tried to capture that in the symbols of the mural. #fouragreements #sacredanimal #deer #falcon #clanofthecavebear #schoolmurals #miamiart #urbanart #largescaleartwork #art305 #ayla #acrylicpainting #brush #art #artwork #2018art #miamiart #artinthegardens (at Diamond Minds Transformational Leadership Academy)

[trishnavision]

#dogsofinstagram #dogsofindia #sadhu #bhairav #holypaws #sacredanimals #spiritualdogs #Ilovedogs

[vijananish-blog]

Cow is the most ritual animal in Hinduism which everyone in the society worship. #anishvijan #vijananish #cow #cows #cattle #farm #nature #cowmandi #animals #love #farmlife #cowsofinstagram #animal #milk #calf #follow #farming #cattlefarm #india #sacredanimal https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Fasv-n8gw/?igshid=1i20p1fi53z5y

[periwinklenuthatch]

I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for all the sacred animal suggestions! They are so good that I am going to make them ALL! I will be posting my progress of each Sculpture here on instagram with credit to who made the suggestion, and keep an eye on my stories for videos of the process! #sograteful #thankyou #myfollowersarethebbest . . . . . . . . #emilyrosethomson #wip #sacred #sculpture #animal #creature #animalart #sacredsculpture #sacredanimal #crystal #healingcrystals #crystalhealing #kyanite #quartz #gemstone #vessel

[wwwseattle]

This is an unmounted 24” x 24” giclee on canvas of Hózhó (peace, balance, beauty, and harmony) original painting on canvas that is valued at $3,500.00, which has been donated to @greycollectivehats for their May 26th fundraising event from 3-7pm that will be held at the OT Circus, 709 Central Ave NW Albuquerque, NM. This event will be benefitting brain cancer research. There will be a silent art auction, raffle, live entertainment, a food truck and more. Make time to visit with Jessi Lloyd of Grey Collective and enjoy the OT Circus, your hosts of this special event. Hózhó (Buffalo- New York) represents a sacred animal, the American Bison, known for giving itself completely to others, and thus is an honored and cherished animal. Hózhó juxtaposes the beauty of the rural plains of America with the grand urban metropolis of man’s creation. There is no minimum bid for this museum archival giclee (professionally produced in the studio of Southwest by Miqui) the work is wet signed. If you’d like to start bidding now you can do so in comments below and you will then be privately contacted for your information by Jessi Lloyd or myself. #ejmhughes #lakota #diné #hózhó #hozho #sacredanimal #sacredbuffalo #buffalo #bison #acrylic #newmexicoartist #graffiti #petroglyphs #wildflowers #buffalonewyork #perseverance #endurance #tanacity #strength #longevity #wildlifeconservation #knowledgeispower #northamericanbison #naturalgeographic #naturalhistory #arteverydamnday https://www.instagram.com/p/BxVAWQKhVIWqrmavfDjf9GuA0UnZs2_vHtjztk0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bfah5m6s4a0l

[folombas]

The new year 2019, according to the eastern calendar, is the year of the earthen pig. And in the afternoon of December 31, 2018, on the eve of New Year's Eve in Bangkok on the sacred Buddhist Golden Mountain, I stroked the little nose of a piglet figurine for good luck and success in the new pig year. #sacred #pig #goldenmount #bangkok #thailand #buddist #new2019year #wat #instaphoto #sacredanimal #selfiewithpig #mypig #respect #positive #smile Новый 2019 Год по восточному календарю - это год земляной свиньи. И вот днём 31 декабря 2018 года накануне новогодней ночи в Бангкоке на священной буддистской Золотой Горе я погладил носик-пятачок статуэтке поросёнка для удачи и успеха в новом свинячем году. #новый2019год #золотаягора #свинья #поросенок #религия #буддизм #бангкок #таиланд #азия #удача #успех #восточныйкалендарь #лестница https://www.instagram.com/p/Bssgr2Ol3h1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1odfn1d1qe08t

[thelastmixedtape]

TLMT's The Week Featuring New Music By Narolane, Kojaque, Babylamb & more

TLMT's Weekly Spotify Playlist Featuring New Music By .@ConchurWhite @LEHsounds @SomebodysChild1 @ailbhereddy @sacredanimals @narolanerecords @kojaque @whyaxis @laurenbirdmusic @babylambband @ToluMakay @Manamonmusic

Conchúr White – Vocation Vacation Set to an intricate slow-burn indie sound, Conchúr White’s ‘Vocation Vacation’ plays across a darkly lit production and is brought into focus by White’s intensely portrayed vocal. Laura Elizabeth Hughes – Two Taken from Laura Elizabeth Hughes’ stunning new E.P. We, Myself, I, ‘Two’ is a softly set piano ballad that finds it centre in the captivating and…