________________
Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
to that of a domestic Goose, e.g. in a 8.59; 54R. 1.34; and adgator II.2.37; fontaneria 8.29; 400fco 4.28.
The authors of the original Epics would seem to have presented a more accurate picture of the wild scenery including animals, birds and trees, places known to them, but we cannot say the same of the later interpolation, e.g. the extravagant description of the T8TH area of the Himalayas in FETT. III. 158.44-45 where the tropical trees, coconut and the jeckfruit (713127 and 4UT) are said to grow; verses 43-47 of this chapter of the 46918 have been copied with slight changes in the House giro ch. VI. 10-22 to describe the jungle surrounding the holy city of Gifschil so that the Himalaya bird achite and the tree task appear to be natural there.
The practice of divination from the ways, movements etc. of birds (all animals) was common to all primitive cultures. (Ency. Rel. and Ethics, s.v. Augury; Divination; Omens) and India was to exception to it. Books like the çfat SETT, PATRIG 2017 and also Purans (e.g. 37fchs. 230-232, Hrahusu chs. 51.66-72) deal with the subject.
The aifecite 37efrita recommends the protection of auspicious and even other pleasant and cheerful birds and animals in pleasure grounds and the practice of sending information about the enemy by letters tried to homing pigeons carried with him by the king's spy is commended and also referred to in बृहतकथामंजरी.
We have a good example of sympathetic magic in the urin TEE where the first solid food commended for a six-months-old baby-boy is, (1) flesh of the female Skylark (HRGIT) if his father wants him to be a fluent speaker; (2) the flesh of the auspicious grey Partridge (of yout) associated with field crops for abundance of food; or (3) the flesh of the Little Ringed Plover ( 21) for long life; or (4) the flesh of the black Ibis (341fe) for holy lustre TE4. The Black Ibis (a holy birds in Egypt) wears in triangular patch of crimson warts on the crown of its bare black head, a picture of a conical pile of red embers (371) indicative of its holiness. CROWS & THEIR ALLIES : RAVENS & CROWS
In the Crow tribe we find "bird brains at their highest", and recognition of the virtues and vices of the common Crow is writ large in Sanskrit literature, the Jataka-Stories and FolkTales. The folchilarity of the Ta for example, is fully illustrative of the wisdom and shrewd cunning of our friend, the House-Crow. Popular tradition places him on footing of equality with that universal character, the barder. :
नराणां नापितो धूर्तं पक्षिणां चैव वायसः Among Indian birds, the Crow enjoys the distinction of having the largest number of
Birds in Sanskrit Literature
61
For Private and Personal Use Only
