Socio-Cultural significance, impact of domestication of animals
By: Hilal Ahmad Tantray
The domestication of animals marks a significant milestone in human progress. Since the dawn of civilization, animals have played a crucial role in mankind’s survival. Previously, humans relied on consuming wild vegetation and animals for sustenance, making them an essential source of food. The Neolithic revolution, pioneered by V. Gordon Childe, heralded a new era in human history. Agriculture became central to human societies, and to support it, humans needed reliable animals. This need was met with the domestication of animals, notably the bull, which became indispensable for tasks like ploughing fields and transporting goods, shaping the course of human civilization.
The bull is frequently connected to fertility and abundance in Indian mythology. The bull is associated with Lord Shiva, one of the main deities in Hinduism, and is symbolic of a thriving agricultural community. The bull like form of Lord Shiva’s mount, Nandi, represents fertility and bountiful agriculture. They appear in a variety of media, including paintings, sculptures, and even banknotes. These figures, which stand for the might and authority of the gods and monarchs, are frequently seen in temples, palaces, and other significant structures. The bull’s majestic presence never ceases to inspire and awe visitors, from the Ashoka Pillar to the Brihadeswarar Temple. They continue to be an essential component of India’s rich cultural past, serving as a constant reminder of the mythology and artistic traditions of the nation.
During the Vedic period they used pairs of oxen in ploughing the fields. Even the Rig Veda mentions using twenty-four oxen when ploughing the land. Bull was the symbol of Rishabadeva/Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara (supreme preacher) of Jainism. The animal symbolism in Buddhist tradition, such as the bull, can be traced back to an ancient Mesopotamian society. The bull, which represents earthly fertility and emotions, plays an important position in Buddhism as the patron of discipline and ascetic practices. It is the genuine progenitor of yoga, expressing a revolutionary concept through its attachment to the earth via a yoke. This subordination allows the bull to use its power to produce sustenance, building a revolutionary path.
The earliest evidence of plough comes from Mesopotamian cylinder seal at Ur and Egyptian paintings going back to rather before 3000 BC. It is interesting to know that in many of the older civilizations the origin of the plough is attributed to a god of some legendry character. In India plough is ascribed to Balarama who is also called haldhar. In one of the verses of Nilamatapurana, Baladeva is said to have broken forth Himalayas with plough. Bull played very important rule in plough fields there by helping in increasing agricultural production. As per Historian Irfan Habib, ‘the use of the ox for draught proposes implies that practices of castration which alone makes the bull tractable; this was the fact man’s first notable all of Bio-engineering.’
In Kashmir Context:
The bull has a long history in Kashmir, deeply intertwined with the region’s agricultural practices and cultural heritage. In Kashmir, oxen have been used for centuries as draught animals, helping farmers plough fields and transport goods. Their strong and sturdy build made them well suited to the rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions of the region.
If I talk about our village, the one who had two oxen was considered rich, and he used to plough with these oxen first, then with others, and then he would take money or grass from them. The one who had only one ox would form a temporary partnership with someone else who also had only one ox, this compromise or partnership was called as Pae’il or Pooil in Kashmiri.
According to this agreement both the parties would use the pair of oxen for few days decide to use the pair of oxen one after another. When the oxen were harnessed, there is a right side and a left side; the oxen that were harnessed on the right side today would be harnessed on the left side tomorrow so that the hump of the oxen does not get damaged. For this, a sign was made on the oxen; the sign was put by the one who ploughed, which is called dourr in Kashmiri. This sign was made by mixing clay, spit or water on the hand and applying it to the oxen’s back, indicating whether the oxen would be on the right or left side of the yoke the next day.
The work of agriculture almost starts in March-April, and the first ploughing usually happens around Baisakhi. When the first day of ploughing arrives, it brings happiness to this family. They try the oxen for ploughing, and on that day, this family divides walnuts, rice, sugar called (Khand tamul), or toffees among the people, which they call Gongoul in Kashmiri.
These oxen work for two or three months in a year, with almost ten months being idle. During two to three months, the family used to sent them in the pasture lands to graze on grass called Nueer for which they have to pay the family. Medhi as the post on the threshing floor round which the cattle turn to thresh out grains (Daand Gahas lagun). The ox was so valuable that; it apart from being the source of income, and people even swore by it, like (Daand Fathenem) or (Daand Martinam) or (Daand gastnem Kaash). Ploughing with oxen used to yield a good harvest.
The domestication of animals, particularly the bull, has profoundly shaped human civilization, from aiding in agricultural practices to embodying cultural and religious symbolism.
In regions like Kashmir, where oxen played a crucial role in farming, their significance extended beyond practical use, influencing social dynamics and traditions. The practice of ploughing, guided by cultural rituals and partnerships, not only sustained livelihoods but also fostered community bonds.
Despite technological advancements, the enduring legacy of oxen in agriculture underscores their enduring importance in human history and heritage.
The writer is Research Scholar, Department of History and Culture,
Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
Kashmir Images is an English language daily newspaper published from Srinagar (J&K), India. The newspaper is one of the largest circulated English dailies of Kashmir and its hard copies reach every nook and corner of Kashmir Valley besides Jammu and Ladakh region.
