Very very lengthy ! Interesting

[R V Rao]

Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb..." The nursery rhyme you sang as a child was based on a real 9-year-old girl who saved a dying lamb—and accidentally made history. You probably sang it in kindergarten. Maybe you sang it to your own children. But did you know Mary was real? And so was her lamb? This is the true story behind one of the most famous nursery rhymes in history. In March 1815, on a cold morning in Sterling, Massachusetts, nine-year-old Mary Sawyer was helping her father with chores in the barn. They discovered that one of their ewes had given birth to twin lambs overnight—but something was wrong. One lamb was healthy and nursing. The other had been rejected by its mother and was lying in the straw, barely breathing, too weak to even stand. Without its mother's care and milk, the tiny creature was dying of cold and hunger. Mary's heart broke at the sight. "Can I take it inside?" she begged her father. Her father shook his head. "No, Mary. It's almost dead anyway. Even if we try, it probably won't survive. "But Mary couldn't bear to watch the lamb die. She pleaded with her father until he finally relented—though he made it clear he thought it was hopeless. When they returned to the house, Mary's mother agreed to let her try. Mary wrapped the freezing lamb in an old garment and held it close to the fireplace, cradling it in her arms through the long night. She didn't know if it would make it to morning. The lamb was so weak it couldn't even swallow at first. But Mary refused to give up. By morning, against all odds, the lamb was standing. Over the next few days, with Mary's constant care—feeding it milk, keeping it warm, nursing it back to strength—the little creature recovered completely. And then something magical happened. The lamb, whom Mary had saved from death, became utterly devoted to her. It recognized her voice. It came running when she called. And everywhere that Mary went, the lamb truly was "sure to go. "One morning before school, Mary called out to her lamb as she was leaving. The lamb came trotting over immediately. Mary's mischievous older brother, Nat, grinned and said, "Let's take the lamb to school with us! "Mary hesitated—she knew it was against the rules—but the idea was too tempting. She agreed. She tried to smuggle the lamb into the one-room Redstone School by hiding it in a basket under her desk, hoping it would stay quiet. For a while, her plan worked. The lamb nestled silently beneath her seat as the lesson began. Then Mary was called to the front of the classroom to recite her lesson. As she stood and began to read aloud, the lamb suddenly bleated loudly and leaped out from under her desk, following Mary to the front of the room. The classroom erupted. The students burst into laughter at the sight of a fluffy white lamb wandering the aisles, bleating and looking for Mary. Even the teacher, Polly Kimball, "laughed outright"—though she gently told Mary that the lamb would have to go home. Mary, embarrassed but smiling, led her lamb outside to wait in a shed until school ended. She thought that would be the end of it—a funny story to tell at dinner. But someone else was watching. Among the visitors at the school that day was a young man named John Roulstone, a college-bound student staying with his uncle, the local minister. He was charmed by the sight of Mary's devoted lamb following her into school. The next day, John rode his horse across the fields to the little schoolhouse and handed Mary a slip of paper. On it, he'd written three simple stanzas:*"Mary had a little lamb,

Its fleece was white as snow,

And everywhere that Mary went,

The lamb was sure to go. It followed her to school one day,

That was against the rule.

It made the children laugh and play,

To see a lamb at school..."*Mary treasured that piece of paper. She kept it for years, along with the memory of the lamb she'd saved. The lamb lived to be four years old, bearing three lambs of her own before she was accidentally killed by a cow in the barn. Mary's mother saved some of the lamb's wool and knitted stockings for Mary, which she treasured for the rest of her life. But the story doesn't end there. In 1830, a well-known writer and editor named Sarah Josepha Hale published a collection called Poems for Our Children. Among them was a poem called "Mary's Lamb"—the same verses John Roulstone had written, plus three additional stanzas with a moral lesson about kindness to animals. The poem spread like wildfire. It was reprinted in schoolbooks across America. Children everywhere began singing it. By the 1850s, it was one of the most famous children's poems in the country. But here's where it gets even more remarkable: In 1877, nearly sixty years after Mary saved that lamb, inventor Thomas Edison was testing his brand-new phonograph—the first machine ever capable of recording and playing back sound. He needed something to recite to test if it worked. He chose "Mary Had a Little Lamb. "Edison's voice reciting those words became the first audio recording in human history. The poem that began with a nine-year-old girl's compassion became the first sound ever captured by technology. As for Mary herself, she lived a long, quiet life. She married, raised a family, and rarely talked about the famous poem until she was an elderly woman. In 1876, at age 70, Mary finally came forward to share her story publicly when she donated the stockings her mother had made from her lamb's wool to help raise money to save Boston's Old South Meeting House. She sold autographed cards tied with yarn from those stockings, telling the world: "I am the Mary. This is my lamb's wool. "People were astonished. The woman behind the nursery rhyme was real—and she was still alive. Mary Sawyer died in 1889 at age 83. Today, a statue of her little lamb stands in Sterling, Massachusetts, commemorating the day a nine-year-old girl's compassion for a dying animal created one of the most enduring stories in children's literature. The lesson of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" isn't just about a pet following its owner. It's about what happened before that—about a little girl who refused to let a helpless creature die, who fought for its life when everyone else had given up, who showed that kindness and determination can create miracles. Mary saved her lamb. And in return, that lamb gave her immortality. The next time you hear someone sing "Mary had a little lamb," remember: it wasn't just a nursery rhyme. It was a true story about a real girl who taught us that compassion matters, that small acts of kindness ripple through time, and that sometimes the gentlest hearts change the world. Mary Sawyer: 1806-1889

The girl who saved a lamb—and created a legend.

[Rajaram Krishnamurthy]

Love to animal in Indian literatures

 

I   Sibi was a mythological king. There is no historical record about this king. However, the reference about this king is found in various ancient Sanskrit and Tamil books such as Ramayana, Mahabharata, Buddhist Jataka stories, Periya Puranam, Pura Nanoonuru, Silappathikaram, Kalingaththu Barani, Vikiram Cholan Ula, etc.

The Tamil books claim that he was an early Chola king and also called him as 'Sembian'. Even the medieval Cholas claimed that they belonged to Sibi's dynasty and hence each Chola king had the surname 'Sembian'.

Sibi was a mythological king who was believed to have sacrificed his own body's flesh to protect a dove from a hawk. Popularly known as Sibi Chakravarthy, he was a well-known philanthropist. The devas (as per Hindu mythology) wanting to test the compassionate nature of Sibi, took the form of a hawk and a pigeon. The pigeon chased by the hawk fell on Sibi's lap seeking his protection. When Sibi wanted to protect the pigeon, he was faced by the logical argument by the hawk. The hawk claimed that it was its right to have pigeon as its food. Sibi offered to compensate the pigeon with his own flesh.

II      Yasmint sarvaani bhutaanya atmaiva abhuudvijaanatah

Tatra ko mohah kah shokah ekatvamanupasyatah   Yajurveda 40.7

“Those who see all beings as souls do not feel infatuation or anguish at their sight, for they experience oneness with them”.

 

Anumantaa vishasitaa nihantaa krayavikrayee

Samskartaa chopahartaa cha khadakashcheti ghaatakaah Manusmrithi 5.51

Those who permit slaying of animals; those who bring animals for slaughter; those who slaughter; those who sell meat; those who purchase meat; those who prepare dish out of it; those who serve that

meat and those who eat are all murderers.

Breehimattam yavamattamatho maashamatho tilam

Esha vaam bhaago nihito ratnadheyaaya dantau maa hinsishtam pitaram maataram cha  Atharvaveda 6.140.2

O teeth! You eat rice, you eat barley, you gram and you eat sesame. These cereals are specifically meant for you. Do not kill those who are capable of being fathers and mothers.

Ya aamam maansamadanti paurusheyam cha ye kravih

Garbhaan khaadanti keshavaastaanito naashayaamasi   Atharvaveda 8.6.23

We ought to destroy those who eat cooked as well as uncooked meat, meat involving destruction of males and females, foetus and eggs.

Anago hatya vai bheema kritye

Maa no gaamashvam purusham vadheeh    Atharvaveda 10.1.29

It is definitely a great sin to kill innocents. Do not kill our cows, horses and people.

Aghnyaa yajamaanasya pashoonpahi   Yajurveda 1.1

“O human! animals are Aghnya – not to be killed. Protect the animals”

Pashunstraayethaam    Yajurveda 6.11

Protect the animals.

Dwipaadava Chatushpaatpaahi   Yajurveda 14.8

Protect the bipeds and quadrupeds!

Kravy da –kravya[ meat obtained from slaughter] + Ada [ the eater]—the meat eater.

Pisacha — pisita [meat] +asa [eater]—the meat eater.

Asutrpa — Asu [breath of life] + trpa [one who satisfies himself on]—one who takes others life for his meals.

Garba da and Anda da – the foetus and egg eaters.

Mans da – the meat eaters

Meat eaters have always been looked down in Vedic literature. They have been known as Rakshasas, Pisacha and so on….All these words are synonyms of demons or devils that have been out-cast from the civilized human society.

Urjam no dhehi dwipade chatushpade    Yajurveda 11.83

“May all bipeds and quadrupeds gain strength and nourishment”

This mantra is recited by Hindus before every meal. How could the same philosophy which prays for well-being of every soul in every moment of life, approve of killing animals?

Section 2: No  violence in Yajna

Yajna never meant animal sacrifice in the sense popularly understood. Yajna in the Vedas meant a noble deed or the highest purifying action.

Adhvara iti Yajnanaama – Dhvaratihimsaakarmaa tatpratishedhah

Nirukta 2.7

According to Yaaska Acharya, one of the synonyms of Yajna in Nirukta or the Vedic philology is Adhvara.  Dhvara means an act with himsa or violence. And therefore a-dhvara means an act involving no himsa or no violence.

Agne yam yagnam adhvaram vishwatah pari bhuurasi

Sa id deveshu gacchati     Rigveda 1.1.4

O lord of effulgence! The non-violent Yajna, you prescribe from all sides, is beneficial for all, touches divine proportions and is accepted by noble souls.

Imam ma himsirekashafam pashum kanikradam vaajinam vaajineshu

Yajurveda 13.48

Do not slaughter this one hoofed animal that neighs and who goes with a speed faster than most of the animals.

Aswamedha does not mean horse sacrifice at Yajna. Instead the Yajurveda clearly mentions that a horse ought not to be slaughtered.

 

In Shatapatha, Ashwa is a word for the nation or empire

The word medha does not mean slaughter. It denotes an act done in accordance to the intellect Alternatively it could mean consolidation, as evident from the root meaning of medha i.e. medhru san-ga-me

Raashtram vaa ashwamedhah

Annam hi gau

Agnirvaa ashwah

Aajyam medhah

(Shatpath 13.1.6.3)

Swami Dayananda Saraswati wrote in his Light of Truth:

A Yajna dedicated to the glory, wellbeing and prosperity of the Rashtra the nation or empire is known as the Ashwamedh yajna.

“To keep the food pure or to keep the senses under control, or to make the food pure or to make a good use of the rays of Sun or keep the earth free from impurities[clean] is called Gomedha Yajna”.

“The word Gau also means the Earth and the yajna dedicated to keep the Earth the environment clean is called Gomedha Yajna”

“The cremation of the body of a dead person in accordance with the principles laid down in the Vedas is called Naramedha Yajna”.

Section 3: No beef in Vedas

Ghrtam duhaanaamaditim janaayaagne maa himsiheeh

 

Yajurveda 13.49

 

Do not kill cows and bulls who always deserve to be protected.

Aare gohaa nrhaa vadho vo astu   Rigveda 7.56.17

In Rigveda cow slaughter has been declared a heinous crime equivalent to human murder and it has been said that those who commits this crime should be punished.

Sooyavasaad bhagavatee hi bhooyaa atho vayam bhagvantah syaama

Addhi trnamaghnye vishwadaaneem piba shuddhamudakamaacharantee

Rigveda 1.164.40 or Atharv 7.73.11 or Atharv 9.10.20

The Aghnya cows – which are not to be killed under any circumstances– may keep themselves healthy by use of pure water and green grass, so that we may be endowed with virtues, knowledge and wealth.

Aghnya the one that ought not to be killed

Ahi the one that must not be slaughtered.

Aditi the one that ought not to be cut into pieces.

These three names of cow signify that the animal ought not to be put to tortures. These words appear frequently throughout the Vedas in context of the cow.

Aghnyeyam saa vardhataam mahate soubhagaaya   Rigveda 1.164.27

Cow – The aghnya – brings us health and prosperity

Suprapaanam Bhavatvaghnyaayaah    Rigveda 5.83.8

There should be excellent facility for pure water for Aghnya Cow

Yah paurusheyena kravishaa samankte yo ashwena pashunaa yaatudhaanah

Yo aghnyaayaa bharati ksheeramagne teshaam sheershaani harasaapi vrishcha     Rigveda 10.87.16

Those who feed on human, horse or animal flesh and those who destroy milk-giving Aghnya cows should be severely punished.

Vimucchyadhvamaghnyaa devayaanaa aganma    Yajurveda 12.73

The Aghnya cows and bulls bring you prosperity

Maa gaamanaagaamaditim vadhishta    Rigveda 8.101.15

Do not kill the cow. Cow is innocent and aditi – that ought not to be cut into pieces

Antakaaya goghaatam   Yajurveda 30.18

Destroy those who kill cows

Yadi no gaam hansi yadyashwam yadi poorusham

Tam tvaa seesena vidhyaamo yatha no so aveeraha Atharvaveda 1.16.4

If someone destroys our cows, horses or people, kill him with a bullet of lead.

Vatsam jaatamivaaghnyaa Atharvaveda 3.30.1

Love each other as the Aghnya – non-killable cow – loves its calf

Dhenu sadanam rayeenaam Atharvaveda 11.1.34

Cow is fountainhead of all bounties

The entire 28th Sukta or Hymn of 6th Mandal of Rigveda sings the glory of cow.

Aa gaavo agnamannuta bhadramakrantseedantu

Bhooyobhooyo rayimidasya vardhayannabhinne

Na taa nashanti na dabhaati taskaro naasaamamitro vyathiraa dadharshati

Na taa arvaa renukakaato ashnute na samskritramupa yanti taa abhi

Gaavo bhago gaava indro me achhaan

Yooyam gaavo medayathaa

Maa vah stena eeshata maaghanshasah

1. Everyone should ensure that cows are free from miseries and kept healthy.2. God blesses those who take care of cows.3. Even the enemies should not use any weapon on cows 4. No one should slaughter the cow5. Cow brings prosperity and strength 6. If cows keep healthy and happy, men and women shall also keep disease free and prosperous 7. May the cow eat green grass and pure water. May they not be killed and bring prosperity to us.

K Rajaram IRS 61225

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