According to my mother crows are our hungry forefathers and we should be feeding them to keep them satisfied. She has never been able to answer my supplementary questions like all our politicians. If crows are our forefathers how come they eat non-vegetarian food after death? Aren't they being disloyal to the norms they set? But why crows, why didn't they take birth as some other bird or animal?
The scientific explanation given till now has been that we are helping in the propagation of a scavenging species, a la crow. And the only way of making the God-fearing people adhere to the ritual was by concocting the story about crows being our forefathers.
I am still looking for explanations. Help anyone....
Disclaimer: I am not trying to mock any ritual but only trying to understand it.
I am as clueless as you are!
ReplyDeleteMy mother 'ritually' gives food to birds/animals (cows in particular) but she has no special affinity for the crows! The first 'roti' from the kitchen everyday goes to the cows or birds! That is written in stone in my home!
In fact we warded off crows as suggested by her (because "it is an omen").
I have pigeons drinking water from the bucket in the balcony of my room and I love them!
Sometimes, nothing amuses more than religious beliefs and superstitions! I liked the 'scientific explanation' though!
May your "crowing forefathers" rest in peace!
P.S.:
1. The fonts in this post are pleasing to the eye unlike your previous posts. Write directly in the blogger's word processing editor (if you are not doing it already) instead of writing in the MS Word and then copying it.
You can change the font for your previous posts too.You'll probably need to select the complete text and click 'remove formatting' button (eraser) and/or change the font to the newest choice.
2. I guess you may be wondering: Why I am following your blog when there are zillions of blogs on the internet!?
Here is the reason: I am overwhelmed by the enormous content on established blogs. So I decided some time ago that I'll follow/read one/more blog(s) from scratch. And I zeroed in on you! Besides, we have something in common (CSE) though, I am aware, that my opinion of UPSC is different from you or the popular opinion (as different as chalk from cheese). I have read your comments in that popular Orkut forum and have been following you thereafter.
I am not seeking any reciprocal action or asking you to visit my blog! Sometimes, I am fully selfless! :) ;)
Another blog I am following is Heartcrossings. This single mother in the US ('desi') writes on a variety of topics. I am reading her blog in chrnological order. Her sad story has moved me though many men and conservative people will be offended by her views. You can read this wonderful story from her here (it was a finalist to Sulekha Spring Romance Writing Contest). Heartcrossings is a very beautiful blog. And keep the speakers on while you visit it! You'll be greeted with surprise!
3. You may be knowing many UPSC related bloggers. Allow me to augment your list. I am not hyperlinking them to save my time. Just do a google on them (along with the keyword UPSC, IAS, Civil if need be) and you'll find them. I have collected a lot of material from the interent on UPSC/CSE while trying to build a critique. I had planned a book (eye opener) but presently it's in limbo thanks to lack of time and my procrastinating disposition!
'Smarak, SachinJadhav, vivekspace (now password protected), Gulati (you are following this blog), anuragsbuzz, Cosmic voices, Chimaku on wordpress, drkarthik.com (site yet to be fully functional!)'
I also found a good how-to PDF guide on CSE written by toppers two years ago (can't recall the site presently). If you want it you may tell me and I'll email it to you. I also have seminar audio of Rank 1 but that may not be very useful to you.
If you leave your email in the reply to the comments here make sure you write it like this: upsc(dot)research(at)gmail.com
Why?! So that automated software/bots could not read it and spam your mailbox!
4. I guess I am forgetting that brevity is the soul of wit. So I seek your permission to leave! I'll appear with the next release here Ms Uthara Narain!
Adios!
P.P.S.: I edited my comments once; deleted my previous comment then again pasted it here!
My suggestion would be even if you dont believe let believers believe, do not belittle them - this is a harmless practice anyway. There are more serious customs & practices to disprove and dismantle in society! If you guys are hungry you can help yourself, which I am sure you do ! Allow her her peace for 5 minutes in the morning and she toils for you for the rest of the day!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree to Mr. R.Ramakrishnan. Moreover, it's not just a harmless practice but also gives a lot of other thoughts to younger generation to ponder upon. For ex. sharing your things, being selfless and caring about others even before your own self(especially about speechless species), and many other things. In our house as well, it has been a routine activity to keep a chapati or two separate from every meal for a cow or a dog. Although, our elder generation might have many superstitious reasons behind them, but I am sure in some ways or the other (only if we think about them open-mindedly & even scientifically) they teach us the very basic laws of NATURE & MANKIND (which alas, today's scientific education is not so good at teaching)
ReplyDelete@Ramakrishnan - sorry about the really delayed response, I have been out of touch. I definitely dont mean to belittle, disprove or dismantle the practice by my post. I was only wondering about the reason it was started in the first place. As the upanishad's suggest I want to question the things that go around me to understand them better and see if I want to believe them.
ReplyDelete@Ashish - I agree with your analysis of it. I was only wondering about why crows, why the link with the forefathers?