Animal Kingdom (Tiryak) in Epics
by Saranya P.S | 2019 | 51,616 words | ISBN-10: 8190396315 | ISBN-13: 9788190396318
An English study the Animal Kingdom (Tiryak) in Epics.—The present thesis is based entirely on Ramayana and Mahabharata although an attempt is made to analytically compare the Animal kingdom with Mriga-pakshi-shastra—‘The ancient Indian science of of Animals and Birds’....
Chapter 4.18 - The Tiger in the Epics
In the Ramayana, we can see references to the tiger in a number of places.[1] There are 3 types of tigers[2], differing in nature, colour and work. Some live in mountains and others in forests. The female tigers have pregnancies lasting 9 to 10 months. The cubs like to eat flesh soon after their birth. Some tigers have full spots on their bodies and some have stripes.
The first variety is called Shardula. They are tall. There are black stripes on their bodies. They have long tails and long bodies. They have bright golden coloured eyes. They are cruel and ferocious. They are fond of killing animals and drinking their blood. They have biog jaws and they look very terrifying. Their claws are long and big. They are very strong and robust. They lift their tails when they are angry and when they are happy they wave and bend their tails. They have full moustaches on their faces. At times there is much foam in their mouths. They like human flesh. They are always hungry and thirsty.
The 2nd variety is known as Dvipin. They are short. Some are striped and some are spotted. They are yellowish white in colour. They are very cruel. They have small bellies. They like to kill people and also deer. They have long faces and long testicles. They are dull by nature. Their paws, tongues and eyes are red. They exude a bad smell from their bodies. They love to sleep in the shadow of trees.
The 3rd variety is called Vyaghra. They are yellowish in colour. Their bodies are covered with long stripes. They are of medium height. They have red tongues. They ambush and kill the animals. They are always dirty. Tigers and tigresses have the prime of their youth in their 6th year. The tigresses have very few moustaches and some do not have them at all. There are red spots under their bellies and their paws are red. They become pregnant even in their 4th and 5th year. They continue to produce cubs until their 10th year. They are afraid of heavy winds and rains and the hot sun. They usually live up to 16 years.