Lord Shiva is often depicted wearing or seated on a tiger skin. The Lord also bears the name ‘ Vyaghranatheshwara' ( Vyaghra means tiger + Natheswar means Lord), because he once had slain a demon, who had taken the form of a tiger. Goddess Durga is sometimes depicted riding a tiger.
In India, many tribal communities revere the tiger. The Warli tribe of Maharashtra worship ‘ Waghia' or the lord of tigers in the form of a shapeless stone. The Gonds of Madhya Pradesh worship 'Waghai Devi'; the Bhils worship 'Waghaika Kunwar' (tiger prince) to whom fruit, wine and sheep are offered. ‘ Dakshin Rai ' is the folk deity presiding over the tiger-cult in Sunderbans,West Bengal.
(Source: http://www.indianmuseumkolkata.org/ tigerexhibi.html) |