I REFER to S. Param’s letter, “We should stop exploiting religion for political gain” (NST, Dec 14). I am neither an Indian nor a Hindu, but I would like to share some information on the issue.
Param wrote, “In all my life, I have not read or heard of dogs being barred from Hindu temples. It is understandable that pets are not allowed in temples to avoid them soiling the premises and disturbing devotees.”
The writer is right and from my research on world religions, Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples do not prevent any animal from entering.
The philosophy of the Vedic religion is that the formless Brahman is present in every creature, from an ant to mankind and each animal or living creature is undergoing a spiritual evolution in its soul to reach a higher stage.
The Vedas strictly prohibits the mistreatment of animals by words or action. Dogs were treated with respect ever since the Rig Vedic period. In the Vedas, one will find that among the five types of yagna (ritual) prescribed to bring mankind closer to the formless Brahman is Bhuutha Yajna (Yajna for living beings) that commands man to treat all animals with love, compassion and respect, especially cows, as well as other animals, such as cats, dogs and insects.
n ARIFF SHAH R.K., Penang