MYTHOLOGICAL SYMBOLISM AND ARCHITECTURAL REPRESENTATION OF DOGS IN HINDU TRADITION

Abstract

Dogs occupy a distinctive yet often overlooked place within Hindu mythology, ritual practice, and sacred architecture. This paper aims to examine the mythological significance, symbolic roles, and architectural representations of dogs in Hindu tradition and regional cultural practices. The study adopts a qualitative methodology based on textual analysis of Hindu scriptures and folklore, along with visual and architectural documentation of temple sculptures, iconography, and memorial structures across selected sites in India. The findings reveal that dogs are symbolically associated with protection, loyalty, and liminality, often appearing as companions or vahana of deities such as Bhairava, Dattatreya, and Khandoba, and are represented through diverse sculptural and architectural forms in temples and memorials. The study concludes that these representations demonstrate how mythological symbolism is embedded within built heritage, reflecting the cultural relationship between animals, belief systems, and sacred spaces in Hindu tradition.