Crows were granted boon by Yamadharma of longevity and blessed to be auspicious during shradh period.
This story is narrated in Ramayana.
Once Ravan attacked Yamapuri and tried to subjugate Yama to make himself immortal. Fearing Ravana , Yama hid inside a dying crow until Ravan left.
Yama later granted boon to crow species that their death will only occur due to human's selfishness
- mṛtyutas te bhayaṃ nāsti varān mama vihaṅgama |
- yāvat tvāṃ na vadhiṣyanti narās tāvad bhaviṣyasi ||
- Literal translation
- “O bird, there shall be no fear of death for you because of my boon. As long as human beings do not kill you, so long shall you live.
- एते मद्विषयस्था वै मानवाः क्षुद्भयार्दिताः ।
- त्वयि भुक्ते तु तृप्तास्ते भविष्यन्ति सबान्धवाः ॥
- IAST
- ete madviṣayasthā vai mānavāḥ kṣudbhayārditāḥ |
- tvayi bhukte tu tṛptās te bhaviṣyanti sabāndhavāḥ ||
- Literal translation
- “These human beings dwelling in my realm, afflicted by the fear of hunger, shall become satisfied, together with their relatives, when you have eaten [the food offered to you)
It's Yamraj who granted them boons