Scientific name

Araneae (Order)

Common name

Spider

Hindi

Makda

Sanskrit 

Lootha

Telugu

Saalapurugu

Distribution

Throughout India

Religious association

Sri Kalahasti in Andhra Pradesh is named after three animals—Sri or the spider, Kala or the snake and Hasti or the elephant—who regularly worshipped the lingam of Shiva situated at this temple and attained salvation.

The spider was actually Vishwakarma's (architect of the devaganas ) son Urnanabha. He was replicating Brahma - the creator's job and an annoyed Brahma cursed him to become a spider.