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Dogs Getting Into Heaven

Twilight Zone episode, also in the Mahabharata

the Twilight Zone

An old man and his dog were walking down this dirt road with fences on both sides, they came to a gate in the fence and looked in, it was nice - grassy, woody areas, just what a 'huntin' dog and man would like, but, it had a sign saying 'no trespassing' so they walked on.

They came to a beautiful gate with a person in white robes standing there. "Welcome to Heaven" he said. The old man was happy and started in with his dog following him..

The gatekeeper stopped him. "Dogs aren't allowed, I'm sorry but he can't come with you." The old man replies "What kind of Heaven won't allow dogs? If He can't come in, then I will stay out with him. He's been my faithful companion all his life, I can't desert him now." .

The gatekeeper stands firm : "Suit yourself, but I have to warn you, the Devil's on this road and he'll try to sweet talk you into his area, he'll promise you anything, but, the dog can't go there either. If you won't leave the dog, you'll spend Eternity on this road."

So the old man and dog went on, getting ever more tired and thirsty. They came to a rundown fence with a gap in it, no gate, just a hole. Another old man was inside.

"Scuse me Sir, my dog and I are getting mighty tired, mind if we come in and sit in the shade for awhile?" said the old man..

"Of course, there's some cold water under that tree over there. Make yourselves comfortable" replied the other..

"You're sure my dog can come in? The man down the road said dogs weren't allowed anywhere." "Would you come in if you had to leave the dog?".

"No sir, that's why I didn't go to Heaven, he said the dog couldn't come in. We'll be spending Eternity on this road, and a glass of cold water and some shade would be mighty fine right about now. But, I won't come in if my buddy here can't come too, and that's final."

The man smiled a big smile and said "Welcome to Heaven.".

"You mean this is Heaven? Dogs ARE allowed? How come that fellow down the road said they weren't?".

"That was the Devil and he gets all the people who are willing to give up a life long companion for a comfortable place to stay. They soon find out their mistake, but, then it's too late. The dogs come here, the fickle people stay there. GOD wouldn't allow dogs to be banned from Heaven. After all, SHE created them to be man's companions in life, why would SHE separate them in death?"

(OK, I've designated GOD as SHE, which wasn't in the Twilight Zone version.)

the Mahabharata

But this story actually goes back to the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, circa 500 B C. The hero , King Yudishthira, arrives at the gates of Heaven, after a long and arduous journey during which all his original companions have deserted him or have perished. Only the stray dog who has followed him remains as companion. He is told that the dog may not enter heaven, but he refuses to leave the dog behind. Yudishthira declares that to cast off the dog would be sinful.The dog has been faithful to him and he will be faithful to the dog. He refuses to enter heaven without his dog. The dog suddenly transforms into the god Dharma, the God of Righteousness, and Yudhishtira is acclaimed and enters Heaven.

(note : in the Hindu pantheon, some deities are male and some are female. So the idea of a female GOD is not objectionable to Hindu thought.)

King Yudishthira and his dog entering Heaven

reference site : https://www.storypick.com/yudhishthira-and-dog-story/, which will open in a separate window.