spider in hinduism
The significance of Spider is mentioned in the temple history of Sri Kalahasti. Once a spider had woven a web on the top of the Shivalingam at the present day Kalahasti Temple, and in order to test its bhakti, Lord Shiva created fire on his Lingam, in order to make the spider to stay far away from his Lingam.
In spite of several efforts made by the spider, it could not succeed in its tasks. Hence the noble spider jumped into the fire, and thereby sacrificed its body, by considering it as a divine service to Lord Shiva.
Whenever we find any spiders, we are not supposed to kill them, but, instead of that, we can keep it in safe places. Though spiders look ugly, but they contain good features, like eating only the food which falls as a prey on its web, without disturbing other small insects. The great Shaivite Saint Thirumoolar sings, “SILANTHIYADHU VALAI PINNUDAL POLE NAAN EN MANADHIL UNDHAN MEL SINDAI VAITHEN”, which means, similar to the spider which spins the web on its own, I have also spin a web, on my soul, and in that web, I have placed the image of Lord Shiva.
Spiders in general, would never cause harm to us, and it is a tiny sect. But whenever we come across any web of the spiders, immediately we are trying to destroy the web as well as the spiders. It is also believed that those who destroy the spiders web and the spider, would be separated from their wives, children and from their friends and relatives, and they would have to lead a lonely life.
Actually similar to us, all the living beings in the earth like ants, spiders, animals and birds are having the full right to live at any place in the earth. Hence instead of killing them, let us show mercy on them, let us provide sufficient space for them in our homes, by considering them as the creations of Lord Brahma Deva, who is our beloved four headed god, who is also one of the Trimurti.
“OM SRI BRAHMA DEVAYA NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R.HARISHANKAR