Every Indian is aware of the term Shagun which in common language is called Shagun. A very common omen is sighting a crow on one’s terrace which is believed to herald some guest’s arrival.
A crow is generally considered to be an inferious bird. But early morning if it starts to caw loudly than its harsh voice is not shunned rather it is believed to be a good omen.
It is because of this characteristic that in local and folk songs poets have depicted crows to be messengers of good news. A poet has said–
Udi Udi Re Kaagaa Re Vak Kaagalaa Kad Mahaaraa Peev Jee Ghar Aave.
Come on my terrace, O Crow, and cry out in your voice that my loved one is about to arrive.
Awaiting the arrival of her lover the damsel even promises to have the beak of crow plated with gold if it brings some news of the homecoming of her lover.
During Pitru Paksha we offer food to crows for our demised loved once.
Shakuns means omens. These are subtle indications from nature which if good could make a person receiving them overflow with enthusiasm and excitement in hope of some good news. A good omen at the oneset of some project elevates one’s sprits and one feels confident that what one is doing is right and directed towards success.
Suppose one feels that the mood is not right for doing something or one feels that the mind is upset without any particular reason or the energy around is negative. Then this too can be a omen signifying that the time is not right for attempting something. Or it could mean a lack of harmony with nature.
Lack of high spirits surely means that one is not aligned properly to the forces of nature. In such conditions a good omen can boost the sprits and make one feel confident.
It is believed in the modern society that omens are just superstitions. Believing in them could also get one labelled as an orthodox rustic. Omens are considered indicators of blind faith while the truth is quite to the otherwise.
Shakun or omens are nothing but indicators whose knowledge our ancients gathered by carefully observing nature. Though very careful observation of nature and its subtle language they were able to come out with a wonderful science of prediction based on omens.
These rishis and Yogis lived directly in sync with nature and the various signs manifested by nature were called shakuns by them. Just as the Indian system of astrology is based on the careful observation of the planets and the solar system by the Rishis, similarly Shakuns or omens are indications gleaned from nature.
In the recent times there appeared on the earth a great divine Guru Gorakhnath who destroyed the myth that only Mantras written in Sanskrit are powerful and effective, In fact he created Mantras in Hindi and several local dialects and even including in them strange Mool Mantras to prove that these Mantras were not in any way less effective.
The science of Shakun is a gift from the Yogis of the Nath sect who came after Guru Gorkahnath, In those times the science of Kaal Gyan or Muhurat Gyaan, which studies the positions of the planets to know about auspicious and inauspicious moments was limited to only highly learned priest and the upper class. To counter this hegemony and monopoly of the priests, the Nath Yogis created the science of Shakuns by making use of the subtle indications of Nature.
The word Shakun has been derived from the name of the bird Shakunt, who it is believed is able to know about the future events before hand.
Even the modern day scientists accept the fact that the animal and birds can through a sixth sense know about natural calamities much before they occur.
One common omen is sighting ants where none have been seen before, travelling in a straight line and carrying food. This indicates that it shall rain in the next 24 hours even though the climate might not so indicate.
Years back revered Sadhgurudev had commented in an article regarding Shakuns that if a cat crosses the path then it is not a bad omen. Rather it is a warning from nature regarding some mishap. Cats can foresee danger and in the resulting nervousness they run here and there.
From there erratic behaviour one can know that there is some danger lurking around and it would be better to stop or be careful. This is the logic behind this omen but as time passed the people forget the real explanation and started to consider sighting of cats to be inauspicious.
Omen is not superstition but wrongly interpreting an omen can sure lead to blind faith. Today science has discovered that birds and animals can catch ultrasound waves and thus they are able to know about natural calamities beforehand.
Parapsychological studies have revealed that subtle indications of future calamities are broadcasted by nature in different ways much before the real event.
The knowledge of ultrasound waves has enabled scientists to give scientific explanations of many phenomenon. However the knowledge of our ancients goes even deeper and this is being presented here for the benefit of all.
The science of omens is infinite but here we present facts which relate to daily events.
One should not consider these to be superstitions rather with a balanced mind one should try to understand that these are indications from nature regarding good or bad that could occur.
Cow: While setting out on a journey if one sees a cow on the left side of the road then it is a very auspicious sign. If the cow is also mooing loudly then it indicated that the task for which the journey is being undertaken shall surely be fulfilling.
Bull: Seeing a bull while starting out on a journey is auspicious as well. If the bull crosses the road from left to tight then it is an even more good omen.
Dog: Dogs are considered very important in the science of omens. According to the ancient scripture, dogs with special features are worshipped and offered food in order to know about the future from their behaviours.
If a person is leaving for a job, an exam related job and he sees a dog on the right hand side then it is considered to be a good omen.
If a wet dog appears on the way out and shakes itself vigorously then there is a fear of losing money or theft of one’s possessions. Shaking of the body is generally considered a bad omen.
If a dog comes near and smells the person who is going out and then it is considered to be a very good omen. But it would be meaningless if the same thing is done by a domestic or pet dog.
If a farmer meets a dog standing on the left side on the way to his field on the day he is to sow the seed and also sights the dog on the right side when returning home then he has a bumper crop that year.
Donkey: As donkeys like dogs are part of everyday life, spically in vilages,hence they too are considered to indicate omens.
Going somewhere on an important task if once sees a donkey on the left side braying loudly then it is a good omen. One the right side it indicated doubtful success.
If it stands right in the middle of path then it indicated failure. If it stands behind the back and brays it indicated loss of face. The mere sighting of a donkey is not important. It should bray seeing donkey fighting when going out somewhere indicated mortal danger.
Elephant: Seeing an elephant when going out is a very good omen.
Horse: While leaving home for some important mission if one sees a horse which is neighing or is digging into the earth with the right hoof it is very good omen.
More animals, birds are believe to indicate special omen. But most of the people only few common birds and their related omens are being described. One can see these birds quite often.
Parrots: Seeing a parrot on left side making sounds when setting out on a journey proves very auspicious.
Cuckoo: Cuckoo is commonly seen, but if it is sighted when starting something important task then it is considered a bad omen.
Peacock: Sighting a peacock is believed to be very auspicious. If it cries out in peculiar voice once, twice or more times, expect four, then it is considered a good omen.
Stork: Sighting a stork is considered very auspicious. If a stork stands on one foot and looks directly at someone individual than it indicated gain in wealth. If it looks at the person time and again than it means the obstacle in the life is soon to be removed. Looking nervously around means loss of wealth.
Crane: A crane is also generally considered auspicious. But only if sighted in pairs. Otherwise a single crane does not signifies anything in particular
Owl: There is a difference of opinion in relation to omen regarding owls. In some places it is believed that sighting an owl is auspicious when starting a journey. In other places an owl is considered unlucky. But everyone agrees that if an owl starts to live in some place then it means bad luck for that place.
Crow: Just as there are many omens relating to dogs similarly there are several omens relating to crows. Not just there is a special text Kaak Tantra wholly devoted to crows. Why crows are considered so important in Tantra can be a subject of serious research.
In brief, if a crow caws siting at some place then it could mean many different things. If seated on a dry branch its cawing indicates disease or untimely death. If seated on a mould of ash it indicate loss of wealth.
Shakuns are not limited to indication from birds or animals, rather other indications from nature could also signify omens.
This article is not a comprehensive study of the science of omens rather it just presents to the readers some facts they can relate to.
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