Natasha Brooks
The precious commonality of life on this planet is not often witnessed with such clarity.
The treatment of this usually feared but majestic animal by Indian villagers is a lesson to most humans acculturated in dominionistic religions.
Dateline: March 29, 2017 
Extreme weather conditions and natural disasters can have adverse effects on humans and animals alike. Sometimes changes in weather can cause wild animals to come into contact with humans as they look for scarce food or water resources. This is just what happened in the Kaiga township in Southern India when a twelve-foot king cobra slithered its way into the village.
Some parts of Southern India have been experiencing drought, which is the presumed reason this typically non-confrontational snake entered the village. Thankfully, kind animal rescuers realized why this regal reptile was there, and, taking the proper precautions, they offered him a long cool drink of water from a bottle. Much to everyone’s surprise, the cobra happily and gently drank from the bottle! He is now at the rescue facility getting the hydration and care he needs.
It is amazing to witness such gentle behavior from an animal who is typically feared and considered dangerous. While this video shows all creatures can be capable of peaceful coexistence, we advise you to never approach wild animals on your own. If you see an animal you believe is in danger, please contact appropriate professionals to address the issue.
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1 comment
This stunning act of courage and compassion represents an ethic for animals: AHIMSA, profoundly different from that of the biblical ideology of dominion, with its dread and fear of animals, human supremacy over the natural order, along with the moral imperative to slaughter, conquer and destroy animals as a privilege granted in genesis:
Genesis 9:1-3 “The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.”
The rescue and protection of all animals, including those dangerous to man such as venomous snakes and pythons is fairly common in India. Wildlife SOS India regularly posts snake rescue in addition to every other animal the care fore and protect.
AHIMSA has its origins in the Jain religion & community, which has lived a violence free lifestyle for thousands of years, avoiding all animal products such as meat, leather, silk and fur. At its core AHIMSA respects the lives of all living beings, entitles them to their own lives, does not attempt to control, conquer or kill them. By definition ahimsa avoids all violence, all harm to living beings:
“Ahimsa is derived from the Sanskrit verb root hims, which means “desirous to kill,” and the prefix a- is negation. So a-himsa means literally “lacking any desire to kill,”
“It is the essential characteristic of a wise person that he/she does not kill any living being. One should know that non-killing and equality of all living beings are the main principles of religion”Jain sutra
Jain children have been told stories for centuries that teach mutual coexistence between man and animal. One such story is the rescue by the young Mahavir (Jain Spiritual Guide) of a snake:
“THERE WAS A BIG BANYAN TREE. ONE DAY, WHILE PRINCE VARDHAMAN AND HIS YOUNG FRIENDS WERE PLAYING THERE, THEY SAW A BLACK SNAKE. THE SNAKE HAD YELLOW EYES, AND IT WAS HISSING. HIS FRIENDS GOT SCARED. SOME STARTED TO RUN AWAY, WHILE OTHERS CLIMBED UP THE BANYAN TREE. ONLY VARDHAMAN REMAINED CALM. HE WENT NEAR THE SNAKE. HE GENTLY PICKED UP THE SNAKE AND PLACED IT FAR AWAY WITHOUT HURTING IT. ALL OF HIS FRIENDS WERE RELIEVED. VARDHAMAN TOLD THEM THAT THEY SHOULD BE BRAVE, AND NOT FEARFUL.” Jain World
No doubt the rescue of a thirsty king cobra in southern India has its roots in such stories that inspire respect for all living beings.
The snake does not fare so well in cultures of the judeo.christian tradition, indoctrinated by the hate, fear and need to conquer and destroy animals of dominion. They snake especially much maligned for his role in the saga of Adam and Eve, urged on by the snake ate from the tree of knowledge. Knowledge in this tradition is a taboo that merits expulsion.
Rather than inspire respect for snakes, there are myths which revere their destruction. Saint Patrick, of the catholic order, is celebrated for driving the snakes out of Ireland into the sea, destroying an entire population. Such ethnic cleansing is the dream of every racist psychopath.
The revile for the snake in christian nations is reflected in contemporary america, where every year a rattlesnake round-up results in the massacre of thousands of rattlers going about their lives, harming no one. This years round-up yielded 25,000 pounds of rattle snake meat:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/controversial-texas-rattlesnake-roundup-nets-largest-catch-date-180958575/#7mirxmU2acW6SLg1.99
In another such massacre the american state of florida conducted its annual Python SlaughterFest, where hundreds of pythons are hacked to death, with the approval Wilderness Services, the public and genesis:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/python-hunters-florida-everglades-1.3420131
It is not just snakes that suffer so under dominion. Every animal is prone to being rounded up and culled. Every animal from a harmless pigeon, geese nesting in a lake, a humble prairie dog to a wolf and the much maligned coyote are all susceptible to the whims, violence and cruelty of genesis where the natural order is violated with moral impunity, backed by the full brunt of dominion.
If we are ever to overcome the treachery of dominion, it is essential to nullify the dreaded words of the genesis mandate.
If we consider the words of AHIMSA: “One should know that non-killing and equality of all living beings are the main principles of religion”Jain sutra
How is it possible to justify the dominion tradition which thrives on and encourages killing and violence to nature, animals & man?