the parallels between Saint Blaise and Revati Nakshatra
St. Blaise is said to have healed animals (who came to the saint on their own for his assistance) and to have been assisted by animals.
He received a message from God to escape to the hills in order to avoid persecution. He came upon a cave that was surrounded by sick animals. He was able to cure them of their illness. The men who were hunting in this area recognized him as a bishop where he was brought before the governor and killed.
Blaise was apparently forced to flee to the back country. There he lived as a hermit in solitude and prayer, but he made friends with the wild animals. One day a group of hunters seeking wild animals for the amphitheater stumbled upon Blaise’s cave. They were first surprised and then frightened. The bishop was kneeling in prayer surrounded by patiently waiting wolves, lions and bears.
Another story relates that on that journey to jail, a woman begged him to save her pig who had been seized by a wolf. Bishop Blaise ordered the wolf to release the pig and the wolf obeyed.
In an incantation collected by a priest from a herder in 1784 the herder asks Blažej to:
Lock the mouths of all wolves and she-wolves, lynxes, snakes, scorpions, hornets, sorcerers, and witches with three keys from the Virgin Mary,
So that they do not smell, hear, tear the skin, tear the hair, eat the flesh of the cattle, spill their blood, break their bones, or even see God's herd.
The presiding deity of Revati Nakshatra, Pushan, is the lord of cattle and the lord of the paths. He leads, protects and gathers the herd in their movement, particularly to new pastures. In this way he also protects the soul in its journey to the next world.
The following is a hymn to Lord Pushan:
Shorten our ways, O Pushan, move aside obstruction in the path: Go close before us, cloud-born God.
Drive, Pushan, from our road the wolf, the wicked inauspicious wolf, Who lies in wait to injure us.
Who lurks about the path we take, the robber with a guileful heart: Far from the road chase him away.
Tread with thy foot and trample out the firebrand of the wicked one, The double-tongued, who ever he be.
Wise Pushan, Wonder-Worker, we claim of thee now the aid wherewith Thou furtheredst our sires of old.
So, Lord of all prosperity, best wielder of the golden sword, Make riches easy to be won.
Past all pursuers lead us, make pleasant our path and fair to tread: O Pushan, find thou power for this.
Lead us to meadows rich in grass: send on our way no early heat: O Pushan, find thou power for this.
Be gracious to us, fill us full, give, feed us, and invigorate: O Pushan, find thou power for this.
No blame have we for Pushan; him we magnify with songs of praise: We seek the Mighty One for wealth.
Revati is also associated with the Pashupati avatar of Lord Shiva
Pashupati - The herdsman of all creatures
The lord of animals. Sovereignty. Protector of herds and movable wealth. Faces the five directions & rules over the five elements. He is often compared to Rudra, Shiva’s form as the lord of beasts. The difference being is that Pashupati is connected with domesticated animals and moveable wealth. Pashupati is the headman rather than the hunter. But he is also the one who shepards souls in their after life. At least this is suggested by the infamous cremation grounds in Kathmandu called Pashupatinath. Rudra carries the energy from universe to particular; Pashupati carries the soul from the particular to the universal.
