Bharat’s take on Cats
Did you know stray cats also have their place in Hinduism? Here’s the milk.
Our present-day house & street cats are descendants of the African wildcat (Felis lybica) from 2 million years ago.
Our partnership with them began 9,000 years ago, as we found them helpful in protecting our agricultural stores & farms from rodents & pests.
Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia get a lot of credit for inculcating them into human culture, revering them as spiritual & sacred beings, associated with the Goddess Bastet, a symbol of protection and fertility.
Trade with these markets bought the cats to Bharat but we loved them as our own nonetheless.
Goddess Shashthi, or Chatti, revered in Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, and Nepal, is known as the protector of children, pregnant women, and vegetation. She is often depicted riding a cat, symbolizing its divine status.
Big cats - lions and tigers - are venerated as the vahanas (vehicles) of powerful Shakti forms like Durga and Parvati, symbolizing strength, speed, and protection.
Smaller cats, too, have a place in Vedic traditions. In Sanskrit, they are called mārjāra (मार्जार), and harming or killing cats is explicitly forbidden in certain Vedic texts, reflecting their sacred nature. Mentions of cats not being a positive or auspicious animals do exist in some texts, but these are few & far in between.
The cat also plays another symbolic role. The concept of marjara nyaya (the analogy of the cat) teaches us to surrender to God’s divine fate, much like a kitten entrusts its mother to carry it safely by the scruff of its neck.
In Vedic astrology, black animals, including cats, are believed to embody the energy of the graha called Ketu. So feeding or caring for a black cat can placate Ketu’s energy, giving us spiritual growth, detachment from material issues, and more wisdom. It also enhances one’s karmic balance, making Shani Dev (Saturn) happy.
The superstition of black cats as bad omens stems partially from European superstitions. During the medieval era, cats - particularly black ones - were demonised in Europe, linked to witches and dark magic, which gave them an unfair bad reputation.
However, Hinduism teaches that all animals, including cats, possess souls and are to be treated with respect. After all, as per reincarnation beliefs, we’ve all been animals in previous lives.
So, whether it’s a street dog or a stray cat, showing kindness to animals reflects our humanity - and may even bless us spiritually!