The Dosha of Unnecessary Contact with Dogs
The Dosha of Unnecessary Contact with Dogs Unnecessary physical contact with a dog results in Dosha (spiritual impurity). According to Dharma Shastra , the sounds made by dogs, cats, and owls are generally considered inauspicious. Today, dogs roam freely in many homes and temples. However, a dog should ideally remain at a distance outside the house. Dogs and cats are not permitted inside temples, Yagasalas (ritual enclosures), or the main living areas of a home. Any ritual offering (Havis) seen by a dog becomes impure; performing divine or ancestral rites with such items yields no benefit. If the sound of a dog is heard during Pitru Karyas (ancestral rituals), the ancestors are said to leave with a curse. Dogs are categorized as Sarameya or Svana , and there is a distinction between the two, including their astrological significance. Today, many people roam the streets feeding biscuits to dogs, claiming it pleases Lord Sh...