The power of the dog is deeper than you think

Dogs! Such wonderful creatures. I wish I was a Dog!

When Grandma Jo was in her 30s, she had gone through a midlife crisis like any other normal human being. Every day, after work, she would walk pass a lonely road and think about all the things she could’ve done in her life. Everyday she would delude in the same self-loathing, self-pity she always did. But one day, as she was crossing the road, a stray dog came running at her with all it’s might. Seeing the dog, the frightened lady ran like she had never been before and did not stop until she was inside her building. Now the next day, the events had unfolded just the same, as it was the only road from her building to her office. But this time, it wasn’t depression that she felt, but an utter terror. With each bark from the Dog, made her ran a little bit faster… And faster. Five days had past like this. On the sixth day, Grandma Jo had gotten used to the fear and exhilaration, and was feeling a bit of excitement too. That day, she did not run. With a calm and cool way she crossed the road like nothing had happened. But to her shock, the dog did not run after her, nor did he bark. On the seventh day, Grandma Jo dared to bring a pack of biscuits for the Dog. Since they were no longer enemies. But the Dog had ignored the biscuits, just as he ignored her. From that day on, its Grandma Jo who had to ran after the Dog.

Is there a moral lesson in there somewhere you ask? Well, You tell me.

Recently I saw the power of the dog and that made me thinking how terrifying people can be. And if that point of disgrace is called the power of the dog, to which a person must sink low enough to acquire such manipulation, what does that make of this verse

book of Psalms, chapter 22: “Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.”

In Hinduism, Dogs have been referred to as Shvan in many Vedic verses and right from being worshipped in parts of Sikkim and North Bengal, dogs have been the mounts of fearsome gods like, Kalabhairava. They are also considered protectors of the gates of heaven as well as hell.

Several ancient Aztec burial sites were dedicated for dogs which have been discovered in Mexico. Xolotl, which makes a great digital art and is an Aztec god of death, was depicted as a dog-headed monster.

The chinese astrology gave the dog as one of the 12 animals honored. They have a God name Panhu who transformed into a man and married a princess.

Jesus, once told the story of the poor man Lazarus, who had this sore legs, but as soon as a stray dog licked his wounds he was completely healed.

The Egyptians had a God named Anubis, the jackal headed god of the underworld and he was married to Anput, who was the female counterpart of her husband. She was often depicted as a pregnant or nursing jackal, or as a jackal wielding knives.

The Greeks with their Artemis and Ares, saw dogs as sacred creatures. Cerberus is a three-headed, dragon-tailed watchdog who guards the gates of Hades.

But both Sunni and Shi’a Muslim jurists consider dogs ritually unclean. Practicing Muslims wouldn’t keep dogs as their pets. However, the majority of Muslims would touch and pet dogs as long as they are completely dry because touching dry dogs is believed to remove impurities from them.

Surprisingly enough, dogs are portrayed negatively in both the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud, where they are mostly associated with violence and uncleanliness.

Now in the Norse mythology, much like the Greek, a bloody four-eyed dog called Garmr guards Helheim. Also, Fenrir is a giant wolf who is a child of the Norse god Loki, who was foretold to kill Odin in the events of Ragnarok.

All these concluded only to ambiguity and puzzled us non followers to whether to love them or fear them. But when you see such an innocent creature flipping it’s tail and tongue, what else can you do but love them. As Charles M. Schulz said

“Happiness is a warm puppy.”