All ancient civilizations, cultures, and societies are bound by traditions and governed by their own belief systems. Though these are sometimes termed superstitions, religion also plays a significant role in such beliefs taking root and gradually becoming stronger over time. All religions, at least the major ones without exception, have their own legends and mythologies. These contain accounts and stories, often involving Gods, Divine beings, or saints, which give rise to and reinforce such belief systems.
These traditional beliefs concern not only human beings or incidents that take place at any particular time but also other living beings like birds and animals. We are going to discuss here one such belief prevalent in the Hindu religion, which is about bats.
Bats
Bats are mammals. Mammals fall in the category of vertebrates, give birth their young and feed them. However, bats are unique as they remain the only mammals capable of flying.
These are found inhabiting ancient temples and dilapidated structures, hanging upside down from ceilings and dark corners. They are identified more by their odor than by their sightings, and perhaps for this reason, many beliefs or superstitions have come to be associated with them.
What a bat entering a house can mean, is one among them!
Bat in Hindu Religion
In Hindu mythology, the bat is associated with Shani, the Planetary Lord Saturn, and is considered his mount or vehicle. Saturn is a Navagraha, one of the nine planets that are believed to influence our destiny significantly. Shani is regarded as the Planet of Karma and Justice. Saturn is also considered a malefic or inauspicious planet and remains perhaps the most feared Navagraha.
The bat is considered to carry Saturn’s influence, and hence, its presence is often regarded as a signal that something negative or unfortunate will happen.
Beliefs on Bats
People’s beliefs about bats vary among religions and communities. While a few regard the bat as auspicious, it can be said that there are many who hold the bat as otherwise, perceiving it as portending some unpleasant happening and impending danger or misfortune.
What about a Bat Entering the House?
The beliefs about a bat entering the house are also in line with those held about their being auspicious or otherwise. While some believe these can bring prosperity and good fortune, others consider them not a good omen and think they can only bring danger and misfortune to the house and people staying in it. Those who hold the bats in a poor light, associate them with dark spirits or evil energies, and fear that their presence in their residences may usher in negative vibrations in the atmosphere, disrupt harmony, and subject their lives to unwelcome consequences.
Even bats found dead inside the house cause severe discomfort to the residents, who consider them to signal negative energy or misfortune.
Remedies
While traditions generally shape people’s beliefs and superstitions about bats, those who believe in Hindu mythology are prone to consider bats unwelcome intruders into their homes and regard their entry as a negative development that can spell bad luck for them.
Such believers can consider consulting family elders, religious teachers, or astrologers to learn the consequences of bats entering their homes and perform remedies, including seeking Divine grace through Poojas and rituals.
They can also perform remedial rituals and prayers to Shani Dev and Lord Shiva and propitiate them for ridding their living space and their lives of the harmful influences caused by bats entering their residences.
