SURABHI VANA
Cows - Our Treasure
Cows-Cultural Relevance
In Indian Society and culture, the Indian Cow is a highly respected and revered soul. Cow is looked up on as Goddess, and Mother (Gau maatha) .Cow is widely mentioned and spoken about in Vedas and other ancient scriptures. Cow / Gau is mentioned by different name in Vedas, such as asaghyna which means inviolable ; ahi which means not to be killed ; aditi which means never to be cut into pieces.
Lord Krishna, was born as a Cow-herd boy and is popularly referred to as Go-paala 'protector of Gaus(cows)' and "Govinda" - 'one who gives pleasure to the Cows'.
Lord Sri Krishna and Lord Balaram were protectors of Cows and Bulls.
Lord Balaram represents plowing the land for agriculture and therefore always carries a plow in His hand, whereas Krishna tends Cows and therefore carries a flute in His hand. The two brothers represent krishi-raksha (protecting Bulls by engaging them in farming) and Gau-raksha (protecting the Cows).
As per Skanda purana, "Offering respect to the Cows will help the devotee to diminish the reactions to his past sinful activities".
Nandi, the bull is Lord Shiva's primary vehicle and also the Principal Gana(follower) of Shiva. Nandi is also the gate-keeper of Shiva's abode.
Temples venerating Shiva and Parvati display stone images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine. There are also a number of temples dedicated solely to Nandi.
The Holy and Respectful stature given to the cows in Indian tradition can also be understood from some of the following excerts from our ancient scriptures.
Quoting from Bhagavad Gita (chapter 10, verse 28) Lord Krishna states -
"dhenunam asmi kamadhuk dhenunam"
Among cows I am the wish fulfilling cow.
"SARVE DEVAAH STHITA DEHE SARVA DEVAMAYEEHI GAOU"
All the Gods and Deities of the 14 Lokas reside in cows body. Cow is holy and is equivalent to God.
Hindu scriputres have mention of the sacred cow which can grant any wish "Kamadhenu", which emerged during the "Samudra mandhan" of Ksheera saagara and was presented by GODs to Saptarishis (Seven holy saints).
Kamadhenu is said to have stood steadily upon the earth with its four feet during the Satyug (world's first age of truth), upon three feet during the Tretayug (the second stage of less than perfection), upon two feet during the Dwaparyug (the third stage of dwindling and disappearing perfection) and only on one leg during Kaliyug (the fourth and current age of decadence)
Cows represent our tradition. According to hindu custom, no religious ritual is considered complete without the presence of cows.
Hindu offer pranams to the rear of the cow, where Mahalakshmi dwells and offer "Pradakshina" (go around the cow in reverence) and this is equal to the "pradakshina" of all the 3 crore deities in 14 Lokas
Go-Daan donating a cow to a pious soul, is performed as part of almost all the hindu rituals, whether it be a Gruhapravesha, or it be performing last rights for departed soul.
As mentioned in Mahabharatha, by performing "Go-daan", one frees himself from all sins and also achieves liberation for himself and 14 generations of his family members".