किलि

{ kili (parrot) }

Puranic Encyclopaedia

KILI (PARROT)   
1) Origin.
About the origin of Kilis (parrots) the following is stated in Canto 14, Araṇya Kāṇḍa of the Rāmāyaṇa. Kaśyapa, the grandson of Brahmā and son of Marīci married the eight daughters of Dakṣaprajāpati, one of them being called Tāmrā. Tāmrā had five daughters called Krauñcī, Bhāsī, Śyenī, Dhṛtarāṣṭrī and Śukī. Śukas or Kilis (parrots) are the offsprings of Śukī.
2) Parrots acquire talking faculty.
Lord Śiva agreed to beget a son to kill Tārakāsura, at the request of the Devas. The coitus between Śiva and Pārvatī for the purpose did not end even after a hundred years. Due to the pressure of the process the whole world shook, and when the world appeared to get destroyed the Devas asked Agnideva to persuade Śiva to stop. But, afraid of approaching Śiva Agni ran off and hid himself in the ocean. The Devas followed him, and animals in the water which were burning with the heat of Agni, told the Devas that Agni was hiding in the sea. But, Agni cursed them all to dumbness, and leaving the ocean hid himself on mount Mandara. The parrots revealed this secret, when Agni cursed them also and made their tongues fold inwards. The Devas and the parrots requested for redemption from the curse. Redemption was granted thus: “Though the tongue be turned inwards your sound will be melodious. Just like the voice of a child your (parrots') sound also will be sweet and wonderful.” From that day onwards parrots began talking and singing. [Kathāsaritsāgara, Lāvāṇakalambaka, Taraṅga 6] ; [Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 85] .