Death, where is thy sting!

Dear Vidya
I am now getting more convinced about my theory that all these attempts at branding more loathsome creatures as harbingers of good tidings are only to allay our fear and hatred towards them! Look at the way snakes are revered here!
My dear poor ole Vidya, may the collecive blessings of all our ancestors at whose behest you have been paying your obeisance to toads and bats, lizards and what have you, fulfill all your desires in a jiffy!
Sri

 

Dear Mindi
The two most loathsome household insects have diametrically opposite styles of scaring us. The lizard can remain motionless for an hour or more and keep us guessing about its next move. According to Military experts, this is the best form of offence. Rommel was an expert in this game and that earned him the sobriquet, 'The Desert Fox'.

In contrast is the cockroach. It can move unbelievably fast and can take to its wings at the most unexpected moment. This combination of artillery and airforce makes a cockroach the most dreaded insect!
Sri

 

Dear Usha
In India, no house can be lizard-proof. You cant go to a Temple either to escape the lizards because there are more lizards there. Just behind the sanctum sanctorum of the Big Temple in Thanjavur, there is a tree which has half a dozen huge lizards which are reported to be hundreds of years old! That is one Temple where I do my 'pradakshinam' with eyes closed and head kept down. This is not due as much to my utter devotion to Lord Brahadeeswara as to my fear of those lizards!
Sri

 

Dear Veda
I do not know if you had ever had the pleasure of living in Triplicane. That is a place all our customs and beliefs of yore are still kept in tact and followed. Having spent the first 16 years of my life there, these beliefs have become ingrained deep in me. I have seen some orthodox Brahmins of Triplicane going to the extent of having the Mrithujnu Homam performed to ward off the evil effect of a lizard falling on the head. People who are utterly superstitious are such fun to watch!
Sri

 

Dear Sri
You won't believe it but I saw the fat lizard myself. I just could not believe that it was 100 years old. I thought it must be at least 500 years old! It is perched on the side of the tree like a Sage with absolutely no interest in its surroundings. One look at the lizard and I could understand whatever I had learnt about our Rishis of yore!
Sri