Once a devotee asked Mahaswamigal why do we keep food for crows during mahalayam? Are our ancestors taking form of crows? Why do they come as this low bird? Why not a high-standard bird? With a gentle smile, Mahaswamigal answered, we call crow kaka in Tamil. Do we address any other creature by its sound? Do we call cat meow? Because a parrot says kiki, do we call it kiki? The crow is called by its sound which makes it special.
Ka means ‘kaapathu’ or ‘protect’ me…so when you keep food for a crow and say “kaa kaa”, you are asking your ancestors to protect you!
You say a crow is lowly because it is freely available and it eats anything! But let me tell you a crow is beautiful. Why?
It wakes up at brahma muhurtham…it caws and wakes you up…..even cocks may not wake up on time many days as they are moody…but a crow is on time…it says “kaka” and wakes you up at brahma muhurtham apt to do japam. It is such an amazing guide for pooja no?
Further, it calls other crows when it gets food…not seen in other creatures, teaching humans to share their food. Then in the evening before it sleeps, it again says “kaka” to thank god for all that happened that day! Also, crows don’t eat after sunset which is according to shastras…how many people follow this?
Hence, I feel a crow is not lowly…it teaches us so much. Hence ‘pitrus’ come as crows.
And one more…keep food for crows every day not only during mahalayam.
Crow also teaches Advaita! When a crow sees the food you have kept, it gets happy and eats it. Seeing it eat you get happy too. So both of you get happy…both of you are Bhagawan!
Are our sages mad?
Why did they make us feed crows if we have to give it to our ancestors?
The sages had strategic considerations.
This is the real reason
Have you grown a peepal or banyan tree someday?
Have you seen anyone grow it?
Can you get seeds of a peepal or banyan tree?
The answer is no.
Peepal or banyan trees will not grow out of saplings Because nature has arranged a separate arrangement for growing these two useful trees.
The seeds sprout only after they have been processed in the gastrointestinal tract of the crows. This tree grows wherever the crows eat it and wherever it does its excretion.
Peepal is the only tree in the world that releases oxygen round the clock and the medicinal qualities of Banyan are also immense.
If these two trees have to survive, it is not possible without the help of crows.
It is during this period, that crows do the mating. To get a healthy new generation of crows, they need to get healthy food. Hence our ancestors made a ritual to feed the crows.
Next time you see a peepal or banyan tree or a crow remember the intention of our ancestors.