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Project Noah Nature School
Funambulus palmarum
The stripes on the palm squirrel's back are explained by a Hindu legend, which has it that a squirrel helped in the construction of the Adi sethu (bridge) at Rameswaram. The bridge was being constructed by Lord Rama and the Vanara Sena, and the squirrel played its part by rolling in beach sand, then running to the bridge to shake the sand from its back, all the time chanting Lord Rama's name. Lord Rama was pleased by the creature's dedication and, in stroking the squirrel's back, the marks of Rama's fingers were left on the squirrel ever since. This association with Lord Rama explains why squirrels are considered sacred in India. The legend of Lord Rama and the squirrel started in Tamil Nadu. Lord Rama and the squirrel is mentioned in one of the hymns of the Alvars.
Spotted on Oct 12, 2011
Submitted on Oct 12, 2011
3 Comments
ID and INFO updated,
true, alicelongmartin they are so fast and playing all the time,,
My he has a long tail. They move around a lot and so it is a good time to get a picture when they are eating,