Scientific name

Grus antigone Linn.

Common name

Sarus Crane

Hindi

Saarus, Sras

Sanskrit 

Sarasah

Distribution

North and Central India  

Religious association

When Valmiki, the author of the Ramayana, saw a hunter kill a pair of mating cranes, he cursed the hunter with disquiet and unease for the rest of his life and was then inspired to write the epic Ramayana, celebrating the true love of Rama and Sita.

Bagalamukhi is a crane-headed Buddhist goddess of black magic and poison who, when invoked, eradicates the troubles of her devotees.