Dogs have long been beloved by humans as loyal companions and helpful workers. Many cultures and religions around the world have interacted with dogs over the centuries, developing unique attitudes and beliefs about their place in the world. When examining which gods may love dogs the most, an interesting diversity emerges across religions and mythologies.
Hindu gods
In Hinduism, there are several gods associated with dogs and who demonstrate an affinity or love for them:
- Yama – Also called Yamarāja, he is the god of death and justice. Dogs guard the gates to his abode. He is sometimes depicted accompanied by two dogs symbolizing loyalty and vigilance.
- Bhairava – A fierce manifestation of Shiva, Bhairava is often pictured with a dog as a companion. Dogs represent his terrifying and destructive qualities.
- Dattatreya – An incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva combined. He is usually shown with four dogs symbolizing the four Vedas.
- Sarama – The female dog belonging to the god Indra who tracked down the cows stolen by the Panis. She is praised in the Rig Veda for her keen sense of smell and tracking ability.
Overall in Hinduism, dogs are shown as protectors, messengers, and helpers of the gods. Their close relationship with humans is believed to have divine origins rooted in dharma or righteous living.
Egyptian gods
In ancient Egyptian religion, these are some of the gods associated with dogs:
- Anubis – The god of mummification and afterlife who is depicted with the head of a jackal or dog. Dogs were seen as protectors of graves and cemeteries in Egyptian culture.
- Wepwawet – Another jackal-headed god, he was believed to guide souls to the afterlife. Depicted as a scout or guardian, he opened the way for passage into the next world.
- Hesat – A minor goddess shown with the head of a dog. She represented many positive qualities such as affection, devotion, and nursing.
The Egyptians appreciated dogs for their protective instincts and loyalty. Canines guarded holy sites, guided the deceased to the next world, and hunted alongside their human counterparts.
Norse gods
In Norse mythology, dogs appear both as companions and symbolic creatures:
- Fenrir – The monstrous wolf destined to kill Odin during Ragnarök. He was raised among the gods before being bound due to prophecies foretelling his might and ferocity.
- Garmr – The blood-stained watchdog that guards the gates of Hel’s underworld. Destined to battle Tyr at Ragnarök. His howls signal the end of times.
- Geri and Freki – Odin’s two wolves or dogs who loyally accompany him. Their names mean “ravenous” and “greedy” which represents their hunting nature and courage.
Though sometimes appearing as dark portents, dogs still demonstrate obedience and reliability in Norse myths. They epitomize the fierce companionship between warriors and hounds.
Celtic gods
Important canines and dog symbolism in Celtic religion include:
- Cú Chulainn – This great hero of Irish myth had a reputation for successfully defending Ulster. He was said to experience “warp spasms” in battle, during which he became a fearsome, canine-like beast.
- Fionn mac Cumhaill – A legendary hunter-warrior, Fionn possessed two loyal hounds named Bran and Sceolan who also exhibit some human traits in stories.
- Dormarth – The spectral hound belonging to the underworld god Arawn in Welsh tradition. It has white fur and red ears, and mortals entering the otherworld are often chased by it.
Intertwined with warriors and battles, dogs appear as both trusted allies and eldritch beasts in Celtic lore. They represent courage, honor, and supernatural power in these myths.
Mesoamerican gods
Prominent canine deities worshipped by the Maya, Aztec, and other pre-Columbian cultures include:
- Xolotl – The god of death and associated with Venus as the evening star in Aztec belief. Depicted as a monstrous dog-headed man or canine.
- Itzamna – The creator god and lord of medicine for the Mayans, sometimes shown accompanied by dogs. Called “Night Jaguar” due to associations with divination.
- Itzcuintli – An ancestral spirit in the form of a hairless dog venerated by the Aztecs and seen as a guide to the afterlife for the deceased.
As symbols of night, death, and the underworld, dogs had strong spiritual meaning for Mesoamerican cultures. But they were also loved as earthly companions who could connect to the divine.
Chinese folk religions
In Chinese mythology and folk beliefs, dogs feature prominently as both real and mythic creatures:
- Tiangou – The celestial hound inhabiting space, represented by constellations like Sirius and Canis Major. It was considered an ominous portent and would “eat the Sun or Moon” during eclipses.
- Pangu – The creator god whose Yang breath became the heavens and Yin body became the earth. After his death, his body transformed into everything of the world including dogs.
- Foo dogs – Guardian lion-dog statues used for protection against evil spirits and placed outside homes and temples.
Dogs and wolves were seen as mighty beasts with connections to the cosmos, the primal world, and guardianship duties in traditional Chinese folk religion.
Zoroastrianism
In the ancient Persian religion of Zoroastrianism founded by the prophet Zarathustra, dogs hold an important place symbolically and literally:
- Sraosha – An angelic being representing obedience and discipline who is accompanied by a dog on his travels to resist evil.
- Ashabi – The faithful hound who guarded Zarathustra for 10 years while the prophet was deep in meditation.
- Sagdid – According to tradition, Zarathustra’s own dog who chose to defend his master from attackers.
Zoroastrian scriptures and mythology highlight the virtues of loyalty and faithfulness embodied in dogs. Canines were treasured for their companionship and reliability.
Judaeo-Christian tradition
In the Jewish and Christian faiths, dogs have a more mixed portrayal – sometimes positive but also associated with negative traits:
- Tobit – In the Old Testament book, Tobias is faithfully accompanied by his dog on a long journey.
- Job 30:1 – Describes worthless people metaphorically as “…of no repute and whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.”
- Matthew 15:26-27 – Jesus refers to Gentiles as “dogs” unworthy of his ministry’s bread, contrasting Jews as “children.”
Though blessed at times, dogs tended to represent impurity, low status, and exclusion from divine favor within much Judeo-Christian doctrine and texts.
Islam
In Islam, dogs have a controversial status due to conflicting traditions about the animal:
- Positive – Hunting dogs and sheep dogs are permitted. The story of the ‘Companions of the Cave’ features a faithful dog.
- Negative – Dogs are seen as unclean and contact with them prevents angels from entering a home. The black dog is sometimes seen as an evil djinn in disguise.
Though useful for tasks, dogs are looked down upon by some hadiths (sayings of Muhammed). Yet other stories highlight their loyalty, such as the Seven Sleepers tale.
Buddhism
In Buddhist texts and culture, dogs appear in various roles:
- Mahakasyapa – One of the Buddha’s disciples, whose name means “Great Dog” or “Wolf.” He was praised for his asceticism and wisdom in grasping the Buddha’s teachings.
- Tibetan mastiffs – This loyal and protective breed is kept by Tibetan monasteries to guard the monk’s quarters from intruders and evil spirits.
- Dharmapala – Some wrathful protector deities are depicted as canine-like to represent their fierce defense of righteousness.
Dogs represent different qualities in Buddhism – faithfulness, devotion, and ferocity against wickedness. They are admired for intuition and present even in the afterlife in some stories.
Greece/Rome
In classical Greco-Roman myths, dogs serve their masters in diverse roles:
- Argos – Odysseus’ faithful old hound who recognizes his master after a 20-year absence before dying peacefully.
- Laelaps – A hound given to Zeus’s nursemaid Europa who was destined to always catch its prey. It hunted the Teumessian fox with the same fate in an endless pursuit.
- Cerberus – The gigantic multi-headed hound of Hades that guarded the underworld entrance and prevented the dead from escaping.
Representing traits like loyalty, determination, and guardianship, dogs feature prominently in Greek/Roman stories as servant beasts favoring particular gods or mortals.
Siberian myths
Various folk tales and traditions from Siberia depict dogs:
- Churchkhela – The three-headed dog that guards the entrance to the underworld in myths of the Ossetian people.
- Shunka Warakin – In Lakota Sioux legend, this loyal dog belonging to an Ita warrior is fossilized in stone by the Great Spirit after being wrongfully shot by a tribesman.
- Kurup – The spirit of a man whose sins in life resulted in him being reincarnated as a ghostly dog in the beliefs of the Nivkh people.
Wary of their sometimes supernatural attributes but acknowledging their usefulness, Siberian folklore features dogs prominently as helpers, guides, and protectors.
Native American beliefs
Different Native American tribes have various stories and views of dogs:
- Acoma – Their creator god Iatiku kept two sacred dogs in the underworld to guide dead souls on the path of the afterlife.
- Cheyenne – Mahuts, the dog soldiers, were an elite band of warriors in the tribe who drew spiritual power from dogs.
- Chinookan – Dogs could foretell the future or warn of coming disasters through their behavior, valued as helpers to shamans.
Seen as close to nature and the spirit world, dogs feature in Native American myths as guides, symbols of fidelity, and even fearsome spirits themselves.
Canaanite religion
Prominent dogs in Canaanite mythology include:
- Astarte – The goddess of fertility, who was associated with the Evening Star. She is depicted standing on a lioness with two canines at her side.
- Resheph – The god of plague and war who ruled the underworld. He was pictured holding gazelles or riding a gazelle or deer, accompanied by dogs.
- Arsay – The underworld goddess depicted on a fresco being trailed by hunting dogs seeking quarry.
Seen as companions and helpers during hunts and journeys to the underworld, dogs were favored by Canaanite deities linked to fertility, death, and war.
Africa
Some examples of canine symbolism in traditional African folklore include:
- Owuo – A dog who served as a cultural hero and trickster figure for the Ashanti people. He “stole” wisdom from the sky god and brought it to humanity.
- Kalumba – The mythical dog of the Ila people who brought death to the tribe by killing a secretive chameleon.
- The Dogon tribe – Believed humanity descended from a race of dog-like amphibious creatures called the Nommo.
Dogs appear as helpers, troublemakers, ancestors, and mighty beings in African myths, playing important cultural roles with divine overtones.
Australian Aboriginal myths
Dogs are present in Aboriginal Australian origin stories and folklore:
- Wagyl – The serpent or rainbow snake creator being responsible for forming rivers, valleys, and landscapes. Its rival is the Dreamtime dog Bulgandra.
- Mirigan – The evil vengeful canine who hunts women and children in stories of the Maringar, representing dangers lurking in the bush.
- Ungud – A great ancestral snake who battled with Mirigan. Their fight shaped features of the land.
Dogs symbolize primal struggles, shaping tales of creation and nature. They serve as warnings but also loyal allies to the spirit ancestors.
Conclusion
Across religions worldwide, we find dogs portrayed as helpers, healers, hunters, herders, guides, and guardians. They defend humans on earth and souls in the afterlife. Though sometimes deemed impure or untouchable, they ultimately demonstrate steadfast loyalty and assistance to the gods of many myths and beliefs. While no faith definitively declares dogs “most beloved” by the divine, their universal presence and service in so many traditions points to their sacred status in the eyes of gods and mortals alike.