The tiniest members of our family are sometimes the most important. Most individuals consider their pets to be more than simply creatures.
They are our closest friends, treasured family members, and ‘kids.’ We adore them and recognize their significance on par with that of our human family.
Why should it not be just as essential for those who have died to have a day of commemoration set aside for them?
That is why, every year, on the second Tuesday of June, we mark World Pet Memorial Day. It’s a day for pet owners to remember their departed companions and express gratitude for the love, memories, and joy they provided throughout their lives.
In the modern-day world today, we see and hear about a lot of Pet Memorials.
Each person has their own way of remembering their pets – some plant a tree in their honour, while some donate charity in their name. However, the most extravagant of all gestures is setting up statues for their departed loved ones.
You will be surprised to know that this practice dates back to approximately 624 CE!
That’s right!
Travelling back to 624 CE, in a tiny village called Edathanur in the Chengam area of Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu, India.
It was the 34th Regnal year of Mahendra Pallava, a Pallava king who ruled the Southern portion of present-day Andhra region and Northern regions of what forms present-day Tamil Nadu in India in the early 7th century.
Karundhevakathi was a villager in Edathanur. He was guarding the cattle, along with his dog named Kovivan, when they were attacked by thieves. When the thieves tried to take away the herd from them and attacked them, Kovivan being a faithful dog, protected the cow herd and its owner from attack of thieves.
As Karundhevakathi fought bravely against those thieves to protect their cattle, his faithful and loyal best friend, Kovivan was right beside him and fought bravely against the thieves.
Kovivan was embodiment of all the loyalty and faithfulness dogs stand for! He was bold and bravely fought thieves and sacrificed his life to save the cattle and his owner.
Unfortunately, Karundhevakathi and Kovivan lost their lives in the process. The Battle was prevented.
The natives of that area sculpted Karundhevakathi heroically yielding a dagger with his faithful friend Kovivan right by his side showing his baring teeth fiercely.
Here we have an original picture of the hero stone. You can see Karundhevakathi and Kovivan in a fierce stance.
This was one of the earliest accounts of a dog memorial in the world. In the southern region of India, early inscriptional references to dogs as human companions may be discovered in the hero stones that dot the landscape, frequently containing inscriptions.
In ancient India, it was customary to construct a stone plaque, today known as a hero stone (Nadugal), to remember the bravery of someone who had died in combat or while battling robbers.
Stones have been put down for dogs that died battling a bandit or a wild animal, as well as horses and tiny pets such as parrots.
To conclude, dogs are the most precious residents of the earth. They remain loyal until the end of their lives. These dogs deserve all the care and comfort in the world.
The Hero Stones discovered in Karnataka are generally five feet tall granite stones carved with the great exploits of bygone kings and warriors, some of which are over a thousand years old. However, it has now been discovered that the tradition of building Hero Stones is not exclusive to South India, but rather is widespread across the country.
*Author is the CEO of Augie Pets India Pvt. Ltd
**Content Writer – Team Augie
