Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v2.c4.s7.1385

v2.c4.s7.1385

Vyāghra, ‘tiger,’ is never found in the Rigveda, but frequently occurs in the Atharvaveda,¹ as well as the lion. This fact is legitimately regarded as an indication that the Atharvaveda belongs to a period when the Vedic Indian had approached and entered the territory of Bengal. Later,² also, mention of the tiger is quite common. The Taittirīya Saṃhitā³ preserves a reference to the danger of waking a sleeping tiger. The destructive character of the animal is often alluded to,⁴ the man-eater (*puruṣād*)⁵ being also mentioned. Like the lion, the tiger passes as a symbol of strength.⁶ This idea is illustrated by the fact that the king at the Rājasūya (‘royal consecration’) steps⁷ on a tiger’s skin to win himself the strength of the animal. *Cf.* also Śārdūla, Petva.