When a pet passes away

[Jainarayan]

This may sound silly to some people. Do we refrain from attending temple and doing puja when a pet dies like we do for human relatives? I had to put my cat to sleep today. I'm quite broken up about it and don't want to commit any spiritual faux pas bt going to temple or doing puja.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

*hugs* I'm sorry for your loss =(

I don't think there are any rules on it that I've heard of however I think it comes down to the energy you bring to temple. If you are depressed and mourning, that will come with you to the temple. What might be more healing and spiritually cleansing (so to speak) is to take some time to sit quietly and recite a soothing mantra while meditating for a while. This can be a tool to help you process the loss and also help you raise your positive energy. I think if it were me I would wait to go to temple just because I wouldn't want to bring that sadness with me to that space.

 

[Jainarayan]

Agreed, I don't want to bring any negativity. As much as we tend to think of our pets as children and family, it may not be something the texts address. If it hits me hard on a particular day I would refrain from temple or puja.

 

[Vinayaka]

I think Fireside may have touched on the only reason to not go to temple. We have to remember that the very idea of owning a pet is quite western. Not many born Hindus, especially in the East, would even think of owning one. I think in India I saw one dog being walked in a month on pilgrimage. Here its just so common.

So I would seriously doubt if there is anything in scripture about it.

 

[Jainarayan]

I thought about that too, that pets are a mostly western concept. Come to think of it, the only dogs I've seen depicted in Hindu art is the one accompanied by Kalabhairava, the four with Dattatreya, and maybe a few others as metaphors. I don't think I've ever seen cats depicted.

 

[Vinayaka]

I thought about that too, that pets are a mostly western concept. Come to think of it, the only dogs I've seen depicted in Hindu art is the one accompanied by Kalabhairava, the four with Dattatreya, and maybe a few others as metaphors. I don't think I've ever seen cats depicted.

That all being said, we have a Tamil friend here who doubled as our vet. But we no longer have pets, so we only see him at Koyil.

 

[Jainarayan]

That all being said, we have a Tamil friend here who doubled as our vet. But we no longer have pets, so we only see him at Koyil.

The husband of a lady I worked with years ago was a veterinarian. I'm going to go out on a limb and say they were Tamil... name was Shanmugavel.

I've seen some pretty impressive rescue and rehabilitation operations reported and documented for animals of all kinds in India.

I'm going to go further out on that limb and say the Indian penchant for the medical field, human or veterinary, has something to do with dharma.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Well, thanks for putting India on a pedestal. It is Kaliyuga and 'dharma' is in decline. They have pets in villages. Cows, street dogs, etc. They do not need to be walked. They would do their thing on their own.
Don't forget Yama's dogs, Sarama and her brood the Sarameyas (Cerberus, Kerberos, Sarvara). 'Dharma' came with Yudhisthira in form of a dog.
Sarama and Sarameyas

"She is described as the mother of all dogs, in particular of the two four-eyed brindle dogs of the god Yama, and dogs are given the matronymic Sarameya ("offspring of Sarama")."
Sarama - Wikipedia

Will I grieve for anyone? For my mother who is 95 if she passes away before I do (one never knows)? I do not know. I have seen so many passing aways. Moreover, my belief has no place for grieving. Going by 'advaita', nothing ever dies. Going the theist way, Krishna says it is natural, it happens to all, and there is a coming back, so no need to grieve. :thinks pensively:

 

[Vinayaka]

My grieving days are over too, Aup.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

My grieving days are over too, Aup.

Mine are mostly over. I think I'm stuck with "obligatory grieving" for a while when it comes to being around other mourners otherwise I look heartless. But hopefully that preoccupation will pass too.

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

Mine are mostly over. I think I'm stuck with "obligatory grieving" for a while when it comes to being around other mourners otherwise I look heartless. But hopefully that preoccupation will pass too.

Also, to some extent I still think of it as "But my ego is going to miss their ego a lot."

 

[Jainarayan]

I'm grieving for myself and my loss. I know he's going to have another birth, a better one I hope (though being a loved and spoiled housecat is a pretty good gig ).

 

[Fireside_Hindu]

(though being a loved and spoiled housecat is a pretty good gig ).

Seriously. I tell our two spoiled cats all the time, "You're life isn't hard. You don't even pay rent."

 

[SomeRandom]

I'm going to go further out on that limb and say the Indian penchant for the medical field, human or veterinary, has something to do with dharma.

Well that and interfering aunties and parents having bragging wars over their respective kids' achievements.

 

[SomeRandom]

My grieving days are over too, Aup.

I wish mine were over. It tires me out, in all honesty

 

[Jainarayan]

I wish mine were over. It tires me out, in all honesty

Me too. I've taken in so many adoptions, rescues and re-homes, two of which came to me simply to die where they had love and comfort. Each time one of them died it tore a piece out of me. I have my two dogs now. I cannot keep going through this. I don't grieve for people the way I grieve for animals.

 

[Aupmanyav]

.. otherwise I look heartless.

It is not being heartless, it is acceptance of what has happened and understanding the futility of grieving.

 

[Jainarayan]

Seriously. I tell our two spoiled cats all the time, "You're life isn't hard. You don't even pay rent."

Right!? I look at my dogs lounging on their couch, yes they have their own couch and I say I want to come back as a spoiled dog or cat.

 

[Jainarayan]

I'm stuck with "obligatory grieving" for a while when it comes to being around other mourners otherwise I look heartless

No, it just makes you look stoic. I didn't grieve for my parents the way I grieve for my animals. People just thought I was holding it together.

 

[SomeRandom]

Me too. I've taken in so many adoptions, rescues and re-homes, two of which came to me simply to die where they had love and comfort. Each time one of them died it tore a piece out of me. I have my two dogs now. I cannot keep going through this. I don't grieve for people the way I grieve for animals.

I have since lost all my pets. My dad, several uncles, a cousin, some of my dad's friends who were like my uncles, grandpa etc. I just feel like all that mourning has exhausted me.