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| Last Updated:: 17/12/2012

Asiatic Lion

 

 

Scientific name

Pantera leo Linn

 

Common name

Asiatic Lion

Hindi

Sher

Tamil

Singam

Sanskrit

Simha

Telugu

Mahisha

Distribution

Confined in Gir forest in Gujarat

Religious Association

Narasimha, the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu was half-man (Nara) and half-lion (Simha). He killed a demon named Hiranyakashipu.

 

Goddess Durga, the fierce form of the Goddess Parvati, is often depicted as a warrior-Goddess, who destroys demons. She is referred to as ‘Sheravali’ in the northern parts of the country, as her vahana is a lion.


A black coloured lion is the vahana of Rahu, the serpent navagraha Narasimha.

The Lion is also one of the important symbols in Buddhism. It is associated with royalty, strength and power. 

 

The state emblem of India is adopted from the famous lion capital on the Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.

 

For more  information, please refer " Sacred Animals Of India"  by Nanditha  Krishna, Penguin book India , 2010

ISBN 9780143066194