Human-bird relations: religious and cultural significance in India, Bulletin of the Department of Anthropology

Abstract

Birds have long constituted an important role in the lives of humans, being intertwined with our notions of space, time, and practices. Religions and cultures in particular play an important role in shaping Human-bird relations. This paper examines the multiple cultural and religious ways in which birds are represented, and human-bird relations are shaped, with a focus on India. Relevant information was synthesized by consulting peer-reviewed articles, books, translations of religious scriptures, and a limited number of popular online articles and documentaries. The paper also draws on limited data collected through fieldwork in different regions. The paper starts by examining how birds are portrayed, represented, and discussed in two major religions: Hinduism and Islam. it further examines how the behaviours of different birds are interpreted as important omens. A section followed underlines briefly how birds are discussed in different indigenous traditions. By illustrating the examples of Demoiselle Crane migrations in the Khichan village of Rajasthan and the Chabutros of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, we highlight how human-bird relations are mediated by kindness and compassion.