Yoga and Animal Welfare
Yoga is a means to attain self-realization. The entire creation should be viewed with a unified vision. If one has to do this, how can one even harm a mosquito or break a branch? Self-realization can be attained only if one is in harmony with nature and all beings.
Yoga has its origins from Patanali and Yoga Sutras. But what many do not know is that Dattatreya is thought to have been Patanjali’s guru. The great teacher of yoga, Dattatreya is the son of Maharishi Atri and Devi Anasuya. He is looked upon as an incarnation of Vishnu. One charming trait of the great yogi was his love of animals, especially the dog. Wherever he went, they trooped in (see the image below).
Dattatreya was the manifestation of all three Energies of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
The number one ethics of yoga is Ahimsa or noninjury. That trusting kinship between man, bird, animal, plant and tree, that conviction in the one life pervading all through, mark the authentic approach towards self-realization.
Hinduism has a reverential approach to every form of life. Each diety uses a particular vahana or vehicle. All these vehicles are mostly drawn from animals, birds, and even reptiles. Brahma has a swan, Vishnu has a eagle, Siva rides a bull, Ganesa a mouse, Subrahmanya a peacock. The idea is to emphasize kinship with animals.
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