Madgu (Bird)
Madgu · madgu, “the water-crow”
Madgu has other meanings too: see all meanings of Madgu.
Grammar: masculine noun, from the root majj (to dive): the diver, a water bird.
Meaning: the water-crow, a bird that dives in the water; the Telugu glosses it so.
In the scriptures: in the rules of śrāddha, Vyāsa tells the munis of the Vārāha śrāddha-kalpa, the śrāddha-kalpa seen by Vārāha, which names what must not be given to brāhmaṇas at the śrāddha nor eaten. Among the creatures whose offering brings the Raurava naraka are the cakravāka, the madgu, boneless fish, the kurara, the kalaviṅka, the peacock, the bhāradvāja bird, the śārjaka, the mongoose, the owl, the tittiri, the jackal, the tiger, the bear and the hyena. One who offers these goes to the Raurava naraka, and casts even the pitṛ-devatās who are in svarga into naraka. Rather than offer and eat what the Vārāha śrāddha-kalpa forbids, the text says, it is better to eat one’s own flesh (Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 220).
Related terms: Śrāddha · Raurava · Naraka · Pitṛ
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 220