Crow-A link between the Dead and the Living

You might have come across people saying “What is this Crow life? No joy, no cheer, no play, no comforts, living like a Crow going to the office, working there, and coming back home, night take dinner, watch T.V and get to  sleep…this has become my daily routine without any enjoyment. I am really cursed to have this life”.

But, the life of a Crow has got its own place of importance. The lifespan of a Crow is about 7 years and depending on the surroundings there are some who live for more than 10 years also. There are about 48 varieties of Crows. A Crow is a black bird. It is very intelligent. The brain-to-body ratio of a Crow is equal to that of the brain-to-body ratio of a Chimpanzee. This bird is found in almost all places except in Southern S.America. They can give amazing expressions. One should hear the voice of a Crow when it expresses its emotion when it is hungry. Ornithologists say that they display happiness, anger, and sad feelings and they can be trained to speak in the voice of a human being though I doubt this particular point. I have never seen and heard anybody saying this. This is only for the Ornithologist to validate their statement.

The one point most of the people agree with is they got a good memory power. They hide their food at different places and can locate them easily where they hide it even in a thick jungle. These are fearless. They pick up and draw stones or sticks on predators. People do not like as they damage crops.  They eat all types of food and got not reservations or restrictions to the types of food.

But, one will be amazed to know that the Hinduism attaches importance to Crows and considers that it establishes a link between the dead and the living people. If food is offered to Crows it carries it to our dead ancestors the practice which is quite visible in many Hindu families during Annual Death ceremonies of the deceased people. There is a practice known by the name SHRADHA. This is a practice where Rice Balls are prepared and gingelly seeds are added to the Rice Balls. It is taken chanting some Mantras and placed on the roof top of a building or at a place which is comfortable to eat without being disturbed by any other animals or insects. They shout …ka..ka..ka…Which is nothing but an invitation to a Crow. It comes and accepts the Rice Balls.  The annual death ceremonies will be considered unfruitful if no Crow accepts the offering.

In my personal experience when on the 10th Day of the death of my father I performed the ritual in a graveyard and the priest cooked the Rice and prepared the Rice Balls. He asked me to keep them on a particular place. I placed them accordingly. He waited for 10-15 minutes. There was not even a single Crow. He asked me to observe that a Crow will definitely come and accept it. I could not believe it.

He continued the ritual as usual. I was looking at him saying that there was no Crow at all. He just laughed and asked me to join him and watch the scene. I joined and started the ritual along with him. While I was concentrating on the ritual suddenly I noticed a Crow eating the Rice Balls. I was shocked to see the scene. He explained me everything in detail.  Tears trickled down from my eyes recollecting the memories associated with my father.

There is a strong belief among the Hindus associated with a Crow. When a group of Crows (called Murder) sits on the roof of any house it indicates the death of any person in that house within a short period of time.

Whatever may be the characteristics and special features of a Crow we should accept that it has got some value and purpose of living and there is nothing in the universe which has been created without following the theory of CAUSE AND EFFECT.