Sunday Special--God's Cow!

When I was a child,I was fascinated by  a few insects,like Butterflies,Jugnu (Glow worm-or firefly), Lady bug,and Beer bahuti(Brother's Bride-In Punjabi).The former two were out of reach of kids,Ladybirds and Beer Bahuti have long been of interest to children,as such I could play with the later Two. Now I learnt that both my favorites are somehow related to the cow! Surprised?
I share my research  with you, as follows :-
ladybugs/ lady birds called "God's cows"
in some languages(such as Russian, French, Hebrew, etc.)

The creature beloved in many countries. In Russian, we call it “God’s cow”.

Yep, something like this.

Ladybugs smell with their feet and antennae.

The farmers began to call the Ladybugs “the Beetles of Our Lady” and eventually they were known as Lady Beetles. The Ladybug's red wings are said to represent the Virgin's cloak and the black spots her joys and sorrows. The Ladybug is widely considered a symbol of luck and is seen as a good omen when it comes calling.

Most say that it is a cow because it has milk: when attacked, a ladybug discharges poisonous orange-coloured liquid to discourage the aggressor.

But why is it God’s?

According to some, it means ‘inoffensive’ because the ladybug does not attack a human. Others say that the farmers of old felt blessed when ladybugs came because they eat many smaller insects such as greenflies, therefore saving crops. The third version emphasizes special beliefs about ladybug’s connection to the sky and the heaven. I am not an expert in the field but I would combine the second and the third versions. The farmers, happy to greet the ladybugs, saw them as messengers from benevolent deities. It is interesting to see that in some countries ladybug was linked with Freyja, the fertility goddess of Norse mythology.

Indeed, in Old Norse ladybug was known as freyjuhœna and in Old German as Frouehenge. Today, the corresponding names are marihøne (Norwegian) and Marienkäfer (German). It means ‘Virgin Mary’s bird’ (in Norwegian) and ‘Virgin Mary’s bug’ (in German). By the way, ladybird/ladybug/lady beetle means the same: it is not some random lady, it is Our Lady, the God’s Mother. Its name is also linked with Virgin Mary in most Spanish-speaking countries (mariquita) and in Latvia (mārīte).

In other countries, ladybugs are associated directly with God. In Russian (божья коровка), in Polish (boża krówka), in Irish (bóín Dé), in Romanian (vaca domnului), in Latvian (dievgosniņa), in Lithuanian (dievo karvutė) mean ‘God’s cow’ or ‘God’s little cow’. It can also be called ‘God’s chicken’ (poulette à Dieu, French), ‘Good God’s animal’ (bête à bon Dieu, French again) or ‘little animal of our Good Lord’ (lieveheersbeestje, Dutch).

Ladybug can also belong to a specific saint. In Argentina, it is called vaquita de San Antonio or vaquita de San Antón (‘St. Anthony’s small cow). In Uruguay, they call it San Antonio; in Tuscany, lucia; in Mexico, catarina. In both Yiddish and Hebrew, it is ‘Moses’s little cow’.

In Czech, they call ladybug slunéčko (‘little sun’) and in Turkish uğur böceği (‘good luck bug’).korovkaHebrewYiddishMoshe RabbenuMessiah Bengali, we call it Gubrey Pokā or literally Dung (cow dung) beetle. And other name is Gayāla which is also associated with cows, being one of the species of large domestic cows. Strange connection between ladybugs and cows.

Bir Bauhuti-( Gokal Gaaye)

Red velvet mites or rain bugs are arachnids found in soil litter known for their bright red color but are often mistaken for spiders. They are called Laal Gaay or Gokul Gaay in Hindi, Arudra in Telugu, and Pattu Paapaathi Poochi in Tamil. They are active predators as grown adults but as early instars are often parasites on insects and some arachnids.

Indian Viagra in Siddha Medicine also used for limb paralysis and to improve spermatogenesis

Indira kobam in Siddha medicine is refferd to velvet mite i.e. Trombidium grandissimum which is endemic to the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. Alternate names for it include Bir Bahuti, Scarlet Fly, Lady Fly, Velvet Buchi (Telugu term commonly used in Hyderabad, India), 'Aarudra Purugu' (another Telugu word from around Hyderabad, India because one sees them only in the season 'Aarudra'), 'Sadhaba Bohu'(Oriya term meaning 'bride of the Seafarer'owing to the Red velvet coat and beautiful looks) and Rani Keeda (Hindi/Urdu: Queen Mite). The mites are visible in large numbers early in the Monsoon season and so are also called
rain mites in the subcontinent. In Gujarat, the term for velvet mite is "Gokal Gaay" or "Mama Ni Gaay". 'Bir-Bahuti', it will be interesting to know that it has been used in Ayurvedic oil for neuritis.Dead insects are being used along with other herbal medicines. In gujarati we called it 'gokul gai' means 'cow from gokul. Bir Bahuti is used as an ingredient in traditional Indian medicine.

The oil from red velvet mite "Trombidium grandissimum" is useful for paralysis. Also, due to its ability to increase sexual desire, Trombidium is named as ‘Indian Viagra’

It folds its legs when it comes in contact with a predator. It can be clearly observed when picked up. It will unfold its legs and start moving once it feels that it's out of danger; and can be observed walking again after some minutes if left untouched.

In traditional Siddha Medical Literatures in has been quoted for various diseases/disorders as under.

It is an insect which is found grown during rainy season. It is found in gardens and red sand soils. The insect is collected, dried in the sun shade and sold in the market. The insect has got the property of producing hyperthermia and dryness. Hence, if this is given to the people with heat body, it may produce adverse effect.

It cures eczema (karumegam), spermattorhoea and kapha diseases. It helps to attain kaya siddhi. It delays wrinkles, greying and oldage.

The text Romarishi Vaidyam 500 indicates that this fly contains cop-per and also the methods of extracting copper from it. Sattaimuni Nigandu reveals the methods of preparation of chendooram from the extracted es-sence of copper from this insect.

Uses in Siddha Medicine:

1.The ashes of the insect dissolved in a little water is given twice daily for whooping cough.

2.As it strengthens nerves and muscles, the ashes may be mixed with honey and given for paralytic attacks.

3.It is boiled with oil and used as local application for paralysis.

4.It is also useful for deep seated pain (soolai noi), mixed with nutmeg.

5.This can be ground with honey wax to form paste which may ( kalimbu) be applied over the joint swellings.

6. The ashes mixed in breast milk when applied over the penis, improves masculinity.

7. If the ashes mixed in jaggery and taken internally, improves spermatogenesis.

    

Searched,Compiled and Illustrated by Tejinder Kamboj