A bird that mimics Shiva- Blue Throated Bird Neelkanthi

A bird that mimics shiva

How sparrow got a blue throat is a poignant story of Bhima and red throated sparrow turned blue. A lovable mythology from the soils of India.

It was the beginning of the season of spring and the cold winter was coming to an end. The forest was a painted in myriad of colors by flowers and the air was filled with joyful cried of birds and brooks babbled and waterfalls roared. The forest was so scenic with the mountains rising in the distance and Bheema was walking under the canopy of evergreen trees, birds twittering and hopping for grains. Butterflies in many colours hovering around the plants and buzzing of bees as they fly past the flowers. Bhima was lost in the beauty of nature around him. The serene atmosphere lulled Bhima to sleep. Bhima , the Pandava warrior fell asleep on the forest floor after having a sumptuous meal. He did not see a little snake slithering in the grass behind him. The snake bit him behind his ear and Bhima woke up because of the pain and he saw the tail of the snake before it vanished into the bush. The great warrior’s heart was shaken by fear that venom was spreading and he felt dizzy. In the dense forest he could not call out for someone to help him. He felt his throat becoming parched and looked desperately around him to any rescuer.

A sparrow is a beautiful brown bird with pointed beaks and red throated; it looks for grains spilled on the floor. The little sparrow saw that Bhima was suffering in pain as venom was spreading in his body. Quickly it flew to Bhima‘s ear and poked her pointed beak in the wound caused by snake bite and began to suck out the venom. Without a break it poked its beak again and again and sucked all the venom and spit it out.  Bhima was amazed at the kindness of the small bird trying so hard to save him.  He was humbled that a tiny creature tried to save a mighty Pandava warrior.

Suddenly the red patch at the bird’s throat turned blue and Bhima was horrified that the little bird which helped him was on the ground as it was filled with venom. He was as strong as an elephant but even his might couldn’t save the little friend who helped him to save his life. Bhima was distraught at how he could help his savior at that time a group of bulbuls hopped over to the little bird and poured nectar from the flowers in the shrubs. The birds flew in and emptied the nectar into the throat of the dying sparrow. The nectar washed away the venom and little sparrow strength revived slowly. The sparrow was able to stand and hop as usual. Bhima noticed that the bird was no longer red throated but has turned into blue.

Bhima named the bird as Nil- kanthi as it was blue throated like Mahadev. Hence the blue throated sparrow is called as Neel kanth Mahadev’s bird.

The Blue throat is an olive brown bird similar to sparrow in size it migrates to India during the winter months. The male has a striking brilliant blue throat.