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I remember a scene from the Telugu movie Sri Ramadasu in which animals such as elephants, deer and peacocks are filled with ecstasy when Lord Vishnu descends to earth as Lord Rama, and welcomed Him. Now my questions are:

  1. Do animals really know God exists? Or was it just picturization in the film? (You can see that particular scene here).
  2. There is another story that Rama warmly stroked squirrel for the little help it could do while building Ramasethu. You can find the story from here. Does it mean that animals can recognize God (here Squirrel chants Rama-Nama and helps Him) in whatever form he exists? (Here Rama was human and some people who lived at that time saw him as human except Supraja and some other sages).
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    Animals know God exists. Because animals are jivas just like humans and all other creatures. Animals can theoretically get moksha. Because all it takes for moksha is realizing who we really are (Advaita). Hindu scripture is full of references to animals who are closer to God than several human beings such as vahanas, vanaras, etc. :) However from a general point of view, animals have tamasic nature dominating them, demons have rajasic nature dominating them, while humans ideally have a mix of everything. What is the third question?
    – Sai
    Sep 8, 2015 at 14:45
  • You can read an incident about Ramana Maharshi and a cow named Lakshmi whom, Ramana granted Mokhsha -Lakshmi a cow.
    – Nithin Sridhar
    Sep 8, 2015 at 16:09
  • @Sai Demons are characterized by Tamas, not Rajas.
    – Keshav Srinivasan ♦
    Sep 8, 2015 at 20:04
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    @KeshavSrinivasan well yeah I guess you could say that tamasic rajas is possible :). The reason I believe they are rajas is because of the strong activity that asuras have been doing in our Indian history. Asuras are known for doing thousands of years worth penance, as well as doing conquests and such. They are known for indulging in passionate activities to fulfill their desires. Such is the quality of rajas. Rajas is the guna which compels and agitates one to perform acts, motivated by desire. Anyhow this is totally unrelated to this discussion. Will be happy to chat about it if you require.
    – Sai
    Sep 9, 2015 at 0:05
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    @Sai I think the issue is that the prominent Asuras that are featured in popular stories are highly atypical examples. Most Asuras don't do things like perform Yagnas, engage in Tapasya, etc. It's only the rare few who break away from their nature and do such things, but because those rare few are the ones who are most successful in defeating the gods and conquering the three worlds and the like, such that Vishnu, Shiva, etc. have to intervene, they're often highlighted in the Puranas.
    – Keshav Srinivasan ♦
    Sep 9, 2015 at 1:02

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Gajendra elephant got Moksha by chanting name of Lord Vishnu. Once Gajendra elephant went to a lake to drink water. One crocodile came and barked at elephant's feet. Crocodile was very strong and it holds elephant in water only. Gajendra elephant continuosly chanted Lord Vishnu's name and Lord Vishnu came to rescue it. Thus an elephant got Moskha.

Nandhi is also devotee of Lord Shiva. Garuda is devotee of Vishnu and so on many deity has animals as their vehicle.

This describes that even animals know GOD exists and they can get moksha too.

Actually human is also one animal and Lord Shiva/Harihar is Pashupati.

Read More Here at Wikipedia

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