Mid January Ratamania

Ratamania
- Mid January Issue -

Three Beauties

The three beauties of Ratamania:
Minami , Koyuki , Sayuri

Rat stories

We all know that rats help each other to live harmoniously in a colony. Well, not always but you all see then curling up together even after a squabble. Rats bond very strongly with each other and we often hear the stories about the loss of a cage mate leads to depression the remaining rat. Here is another little story about rats.

Fellowship of Rats

There was a farmer, once upon a time, and he was having a lot of problems with rats. His barn was infested by thousands of rats, but one day, he politely asked the rats to move onto his next door neighbour's barn where they can find more food. Rats agreed and thanked him for not killing them. It took day and night for the rats to migrate from one barn to another but eventually the farmer was pleased that the rats had left his premises. As he was sweeping the mess they have left behind, he heard some noise and tuned around. There was an old blind rat, which held a piece of stick at one end in its mouth, while another rat had held of the other end of it and conducted a blind companion.

<: 3 }~~~~ <; 8 }~~~~ < :3 }~~~~~

I believe this version of the story I heard was based on a literature by Thomas Bell, A history of British Quadrupeds published in 1837. It is doubtful the truth about this story, especially the section where the farmer ASKED the rats to move out, but I can imagine that rats do help each other. My old blind albinos sisters Miyuki and Fuyume both had a very poor eyesight, especially Fuyume. She used to follow her sister's bum everywhere she goes.

A new ratty house to play in! It was only a take away box from a local Chinese Restaurant, made of cardboard.

Minami: Oh where is my Romeo Romeo....

Sayuri: What Romeo? You mean MY Romeo?

What's yours is mine, and mine will always be mine

Hinduism & Rats

GANASH, ( or Ganesha, Ganesa, Ganapati), symbolizes strength and intelligence.
Dates : It is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Ganesha, the god of wisdom and prosperity on the fourth day of Bhadra (August/September).

Ganesh & rats

Legend/s : Ganesha is the god of wisdom and prosperity and is invoked before the beginning of any auspicious work by the Hindus. According to mythology he is the son of Shiva and Parvati, This elephant headed god, whose vehicle is the Mooshak or rat and who loves Modaks (round sweets) is associated with several humorous tales and lores. Tales of how he beat his brother Kartikeya, in a race which involved going around the world thrice, without even moving out of his house, of how he lost one of his tusks are known to children all over India.

<:3 }~~~

Rat Temple-
The Rat temple of "Karni Matra" is at Deshnok is 20 miles south of Bikaner. Karni Matra was believe to be, an incarnation of the goddess Durga. By tradition, Yana- the god responsible for death, proved unable to restore to life a young male relative of Karni. In revenge she decreed that henceforth all members of her caste would be reincarnated as rats, outside Yana's management. Members of this charan caste built this temple as a refuge for the rodents. We further read that the people believe these holy rats will be reincarnated into mystics and sadhus in their next life. Another source, however, claimed that the rats are children (or 'kabas') who died in a fever epidemic during the 14th or 16th century. After receiving a plea from the grieving mothers to bring the children back, Yama (the god of death) promised that the soul of every child would live on in the form of a rat.

Netting is done above the courtyard to protect the rats from birds. In the centre, they are served grain, sweet and milk. Non- worshippers are not permitted to pass the main silver doors of the sanctuary. All shoes and leather items must be deposited at the entrance and socks are allowed.

Mmmh, mmh, I dreamt of eating a lot of tasty treats last night!

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