Try loving an animal Last Updated: Jun 11, 2021, 10:49 PM IST Share Synopsis In ancient Egypt, animals were considered reincarnations of gods and were worshipped. Native American religious traditions assign one of nine animal guides to every person to provide spiritual direction in this life and the next. Eat, Pray, Live. Read spiritual articles and blogs related to spirituality, wellness and lifestyle Anyone who has ever cared for a pet dog, or a neighbourhood cow, will verify French writer Anatole France’s statement that, ‘Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.’ Do animals function as spiritual doppelgangers? The idea is evident when Yudhisthir is accompanied to heaven by a faithful dog at the end of the Mahabharata. The dog, it turns out, is a physical embodiment of Dharma, the virtue Yudhishthir kept close to him through his life.