The Indians believe that sinners are reborn as animals. "After having suffered the torments in the hells, the evil-doers pass into animal bodies,"[179] and their classification of such punishment has been carefully worked out.
Mortal sinners enter the bodies of worms or insects. Minor offenders enter the bodies of birds. Criminals in the fourth degree enter the bodies of the aquatic animals. Those who have committed a crime effecting loss of caste, enter the bodies of amphibious animals. Those who have committed a crime degrading to a mixed caste enter the bodies of deer. Those who have committed a crime rendering them unworthy to receive alms, enter the bodies of cattle. Those who have committed one of the miscellaneous crimes enter the bodies of miscellaneous wild carnivorous animals (such as tigers).
A thief (of other property than gold) becomes a falcon.
One who has appropriated a broad passage, becomes a serpent or other animal living in holes.
One who has stolen grain becomes a rat.
One who has stolen water becomes a water-fowl.
One who has stolen honey becomes a gad-fly.
One who has stolen milk becomes a crow.
One who has stolen juice (of the sugar-cane or other plants) becomes a dog.