Significance of Dog
Synonyms: Canine, Pup, Hound, Mutt
In German: Hund; In Swedish: Hund; In Spanish: Perro; In Italian: Cane; In French: Chien; In Dutch: Hond; In Finnish: Koira; In Malay: Anjing; In Portugese: Cachorro; In Polish: Pies
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Dog'
In Buddhism, "dog" represents a state of being. It symbolizes the negative consequences of misunderstanding teachings, lacking wisdom, and clinging to worldly desires. This metaphorical usage highlights the pitfalls of ignorance and attachment.
From: Patipada (path of practice)
(1) These are scavenging animals that, along with crows, vultures, and flies, would fight over and consume a corpse left unattended in the wilderness, highlighting the grim reality of death in isolation.[1] (2) The word "dog" symbolizes a state of being, used metaphorically to represent the consequence of misunderstanding the teachings, lacking wisdom, and being attached to worldly desires.[2]
Hindu concept of 'Dog'
In Hinduism, "Dog" is viewed with complexity. It is often seen as impure, linked to ritual pollution, and associated with negative rebirths. However, dogs can also represent loyalty, humility, and even sages. Specific physical traits and behaviors are detailed, while symbolic uses range from expressing low status to chasing rabbits to reach heaven.
From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi
(1) According to the verse, stealing sweets results in becoming a dog, thus connecting the act of misappropriating sugary treats with transformation into a canine.[3] (2) One of the recipients of the offering is canines, emphasizing the importance of providing nourishment to dogs.[4] (3) The text indicates that the presence of a dog coming between the teacher and the student, or among students, makes the day and night unfit for study.[5] (4) The text specifies that food 'touched by a dog' is impure, leading to the necessity of avoiding such food.[6] (5) An animal considered impure, contact with which requires purification.[7]
From: Baudhayana Dharmasutra
(1) It is a type of animal that can cause a pot to become defiled if it touches it.[8] (2) The text says that a dog is considered pure when it catches a deer, suggesting a natural and acceptable aspect of the animal's behavior in its pursuit of prey.[9] (3) On touching one of these, he shall bathe.[10]
From: Mahabharata (English)
(1) This creature was transformed into a leopard with skin bright as gold.[11] (2) The dog is exceedingly devoted to Yudhishthira, and Yudhishthira refused to abandon the dog, prioritizing loyalty and compassion over personal gain and heavenly rewards.[12] (3) This is an example of an animal whose behavior is to be imitated to appear friendly, while secretly working against the enemy.[13]
From: Bhagavad-gita-mahatmya
(1) This is the animal that chased the rabbit and attained a heavenly body.[14]
From: Ramayana of Valmiki (Shastri)
(1) Dogs are described as devouring sacred offerings in houses and mating with pigs, indicating unnatural occurrences.[15]
From: Brihaddharma Purana (abridged)
(1) The text says that Siva assumed this form to test Brahma's omniscience, eating the offerings Brahma made.[16]
From: Garuda Purana
(1) The dog is one of the symbols of calculation used in divination, and it can presage thought about a female slave and the advent of happiness, depending on its chamber.[17]
From: Markandeya Purana
(1) Whatever has been gazed at by dogs is to be avoided at a shraddha, emphasizing the need for cleanliness during the ceremony.[18]
From: Chaitanya Bhagavata
(1) These are animals for which the material body is deemed suitable as food.[19] (2) Shri Rupa and Sanatana Prabhus wish to become this, eating remnants in the house of servants.[20] (3) The term dog is used metaphorically to describe Ravana, indicating that the speaker regards him as being of low status.[21] (4) An animal often associated with loyalty and acceptance in a household, used here symbolically to express humility.[22]
From: Chandogya Upanishad (english Translation)
(1) In this narrative, dogs represent sages who are engaged in the practice of chanting the udgitha.[23] (2) This is a specific type of birth, a negative outcome, representing an unfavorable rebirth, and a lower social standing in the subsequent life.[24] (3) The animals that emulate the actions of sages by moving forward and participating in the recitation of the hymn.[25]
From: Taittiriya Upanishad Bhashya Vartika
(1) These animals are considered a danger to the newborn infant, requiring protection by others with the use of sticks to keep the infant safe.[26]
From: Brihat Samhita
(1) These are categorized as both day and night animals.[27] (2) The effects indicated by these creatures will be felt after a year or a longer period.[28] (3) The canine, identified as shvan, is characterized by specific physical attributes including the number of nails on its legs, the color of its lips and nose, its manner of walking, and other distinctive traits.[29]
From: Hayanaratna: The Jewel of Annual Astrology
(1) This represents an animal, and it is associated with travel. It is connected to various outcomes in relation to Mars.[30]
From: Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story)
(1) This animal ran from left to right and was observed by Gunasharman on his way to the court.[31]
From: Charaka Samhita (English translation)
(1) This animal is listed as a member of the tearer group of creatures, as per the text.[32]
The concept of Dog in local and regional sources
The keyphrase "Dog" is explored through multiple lenses. It symbolizes unwavering loyalty, obedience, and a transformed character. It's used to contrast perceived threats and represent wasted resources. It also serves as a character within the narrative and a representation of a specific animal.
From: The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda
(1) This is a metaphorical reference to the fate of the money, implying that the funds were lost or wasted, leading to a financial setback.[33] (2) An animal that is an example of obedience, which one must be, as free as the air, and as this plant, according to the text.[34] (3) This is the animal companion who remained loyal to the king, prompting him to make a difficult choice that revealed his virtue.[35] (4) This refers to a type of devotion, where the follower does not want to know why and is contented simply to follow, illustrating a deep sense of loyalty and unwavering obedience.[36] (5) This term refers to the dog.[37]
From: Folklore of the Santal Parganas
(1) The transformed form of the youngest brother after being cursed by the witches, which became a pivotal part of the story.[38]
From: Bhaktavijaya: Stories of Indian Saints
(1) A dog is an animal whose barking does not frighten an elephant, highlighting a contrast in perceived threats.[39]
From: Triveni Journal
(1) The book title included mention of it.[40]
From: Village Folk-tales of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), vol. 1-3
(1) The girl encounters a dog tied up and is asked to tie him in the shade in exchange for a haunch of bull when she returns home.[41] (2) A character living with the Black Storks that also warns the girl of the Rakshasa.[42]
The concept of Dog in scientific sources
"Dog" refers to a domesticated mammal central to various studies. It's used in research for disease, drug efficacy, and health correlations. Dogs are examined for health, parasites, and their role in transmitting diseases, including acting as subjects for studies on infectious agents and allergens.
From: Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research
(1) Dogs are commonly owned companion pets that contribute to the well-being of their owners, but they can also carry ticks in the domestic environment and transmit them to humans.[43] (2) In this animal, gastric dilatation-volvulus is an acute disease characterised by gastric retention, and gastric ICC and enteric neurons in this animal were successfully labelled using antibodies raised against goat anti-human C-Kit, PGP 9.5 and nNOS.[44] (3) Dogs can be hosts to Enterococcus strains, which may exhibit antibiotic resistance patterns and genetic relatedness that are relevant to veterinary science.[45] (4) The canids are considered the definitive hosts of the parasite.[46] (5) These animals are the subjects of the study, and a model was developed to induce and study anemia in them, allowing for the assessment of various parameters.[47]
From: South African Family Practice
(1) This is a common allergen reported by 11.6% of participants and a trigger for symptoms.[48] (2) These are animals that can transmit rabies.[49] (3) Dog is the central focus of the veterinary scenes, representing the medical aspect of the narrative.[50]
From: International Journal of Pharmacology
(1) Dogs are animals in which the pharmacokinetics of tramadol and its metabolite O-desmethyl tramadol have been studied, as well as the efficacy of intravenous and extradural tramadol.[51] (2) These animals were used in studies to evaluate the cholesterol-lowering effects of fenugreek seeds.[52]
From: Journal of Public Health in Africa
(1) This represents a specific type of animal often used in experimental research studies.[53]
From: African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine
(1) The term dog is associated with numerous studies, including the exploration of dog bite injuries, population dynamics, and the management of dog populations in various regions.[54]
From: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI)
(1) The dog is a domestic animal that can serve as a reservoir for Leishmania parasites, and this study examines the role of the dog in the transmission cycle of Leishmania species in the Amazon.[55] (2) These are common pets that can harbor parasites such as Echinococcus spp. and Toxocara spp. and can play a major role in spreading zoonoses to the human environment.[56] (3) Dogs are unique motivators for sustained physical activity, despite psychological and practical barriers such as bad weather, making dog walking a potential intervention to improve owner health.[57] (4) These are common companion animals known for their loyalty and affection. They require regular exercise and can potentially promote physical activity in their owners, though the evidence is not conclusive.[58] (5) These animals are mentioned as sentinels for environmental contamination, predictors of childhood exposure to environmental lead contamination, and subjects in investigations of blood lead concentrations.[59]
From: International Journal of Pharmacology
(1) This term designates a species of domestic mammal that was used in the studies described in the text.[60] (2) A species of mammal commonly used in research, particularly in cardiovascular studies.[61] (3) Dog is a domesticated mammal, descended from the wolf, and is often kept as a companion animal.[62]
Classical concept of 'Dog'
From: Aesop's Fables (English translation)
(1) A canine character is present, participating in events related to a feast and interacting with other canines and humans.[63] (2) A dog, accustomed to consuming eggs, encountered an oyster and, with great anticipation, consumed it whole, mistakenly believing the oyster was just another egg.[64] (3) A creature that possesses the ability to defend itself, used as a comparison to highlight the Sheep's vulnerability and lack of self-protection.[65] (4) The narrative centers around a group of canines, identified as "Dogs", who are experiencing a state of starvation and are the main subjects of the story's events.[66] (5) A key character in the story, the Dog initially sought shelter from the cold by building a house, but later abandoned the idea when the weather warmed.[67]
From: The Odyssey of Homer (English translation)
(1) A term Ulysses used to insult the suitors, highlighting their disrespect and disregard for law and morality during his absence.[68] (2) The dogs are present and notable for their behavior; they do not bark at Telemachus, instead fawning upon him, signaling his arrival and recognition.[69] (3) The dogs were likely to have made short work of Ulysses, and then he would have got the swineherd into trouble.[70]
From: The Authoress of the Odyssey
(1) The dog is an image on Ulysses’ brooch, holding a spotted fawn between its paws.[71] (2) Animals that accompany Telemachus and recognize Ulysses, symbolizing loyalty and providing emotional connections within the narrative.[72] (3) Four fierce animals that flew at Ulysses and were checked by Eumaeus, who expressed sorrow for the loss of his master.[73]
From: The Iliad of Homer (English translation)
(1) They are fierce creatures that will tear the old man in pieces at his own gates, after someone has beaten the life out of his body.[74] (2) Diomed called Hector a dog, signifying his contempt for Hector's ability to escape death, highlighting the intensity of the conflict.[75]
From: The History of Herodotus
(1) Dogs are animals whose deaths cause those in the house where they died to shave their whole body and head as a sign of mourning, and they are buried by each people in their own city in sacred tombs.[76] (2) The text mentions that the body of a Persian man is not buried until it has been torn by this animal or a bird.[77]
From: Legends Of The Gods
(1) The dogs conducted Isis to the place where the child of Osiris and Nephthys was, and in process of time the child, Anubis, watched and guarded the gods as dogs do men.[78] (2) This animal is not revered in itself under the name of Hermes, but its traits such as vigilance and the ability to distinguish between friends and enemies, make it a suitable symbol for intelligence.[79]
From: Ancient Egypt the Light of the World
(1) Was the watcher in the circumpolar paradise or garden of the tree, and whichever zootype represented the polestar might be held responsible for the loss of paradise by letting in the waters.[80]
From: Egyptian Magic
(1) A figure made in wax and used in magical ceremonies to determine if a lover would gain the object of their affections.[81]