The Cow in Hinduism
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Gifting cows (godaan)
Indradyumna
Oct 31, 2021: The Times of India
Indradyumna donated many cows as gifts and, therefore, he was given a place in heaven. One day Indra comes to him and says,‘You have to leave heaven because nobody on earth remembers your good deeds. So you’ll have to go back to earth and live a life and again do some good deeds if you wish to return.’ Indradyumna says,‘I did a lot of good deeds, it’s impossible that people have forgotten what I’ve done.’ Indra then tells him,‘If you can find even one person who remembers one of your good deeds, an act of generosity, you can come back to heaven.’ Indradyumna goes back to earth looking for someone who remembers him. Nobody recognizes him because thousands of years have passed. Indradyumna keeps travelling. He asks the oldest man and the oldest man takes him to the oldest bird, and the oldest bird takes him to the oldest tiger, and they all say ‘No, we don’t remember you.’ Finally, they go to the oldest turtle who says,‘Oh, I remember you. My grandfather used to talk about King Indradyumna, who built the lake in which he was born.’ Indradyumna says,‘But I don’t remember ever building a lake.’The turtle says,‘Well, you did. Remember all the cows you gave as gifts. When they were being given away, the cows would kick and raise a cloud of dust as they walked out of the royal cowshed.The depression they created collected water. Over time, it became a pond, which became home to many animals including birds, fish, turtles, and frogs. My grandfather was one of those who was born in that pond. Everybody told the story of the great Indradyumna, who gave so many cows away and because of this act, a lake was formed in which thousands of creatures were born, including my grandfather. It was over a thousand years ago, but I remember the story because I heard this as a child.’ Indradyumna returns to heaven having learnt a profound lesson. He realizes that good deeds are not simply what you have done. Hope is when there is opportunity. Opportunity emerges when people are generous. Generosity is the ability to give without expecting something in return.
Why the cow is sacred
Sai Rajarajeswari Amma, We Need To Protect Our Bovine Animals, June 3, 2017: The Times of India
In India, the cow is seen as a symbol of the earth; the cow is perceived to be full of grace and abundance. She is called `Kamadhenu', the divine wish-fulfilling cow. According to scriptures, when the churning of the ocean took place, it generated five divine cows or Kamadhenus.
In Vedic literature, the cow is also associated with the dawn since Usha, the Goddess of Dawn, rides a chariot driven by seven cows. She is also referred to as Gau Mata (Mother Cow).The Rig Veda says, “The cows have come and with them brought good fortune.“
Krishna's youth was spent as a cowherd, who played the flute and created music that intoxicated the gopis, the maids in the village. As a child, Krishna and his friends were known to steal butter.
The Indian cow is also regarded as a symbol of dharma, righteousness. When human beings face problems, it is believed that the earth takes on the form of a cow in order to pray for help from heaven. No Hindu ritual is complete without the five sacred elements from the cow milk, ghee, curd, urine and dung.
Many of India's colourful traditions are woven around India's 150 million cows. Even today , in Indian villages, manure is collected and made into dung cakes for burning as fuel. Cow dung is an excellent alternative source of green energy as biogas and is a good natural fertiliser.Cow manure contains several medicinal properties, according to the Ayurveda system of medicine. At a time when many of our traditions are dying out, i feel there is a special need to emphasise how the farming communities continue with this age-old practice of taking care of this wonderful animal that symbolises motherhood, graciousness and generosity. If farmers are not in a position to take care of aged cows and buffaloes, the government should set up `old age gaushalas' for them and this will also provide employment in villages. When the government of India issued an extraordinary notification on restricting the sale of cattle for slaughter, it led to protests, resistance and opposition. Perhaps this decision needs to be viewed in a rational and objective manner. In his infancy a human being depends solely on mother's milk.As a child grows up, throughout his life, he uses milk and dairy products which are given to him by cows and buffaloes.
Cows are sacred and they are gentle animals that give more than they take. Cow dung and urine have medicinal value. Man as a highly selfish being, after regularly consuming milk of the cow, has no hesitation in killing it.Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism emphasise ahimsa, nonviolence. Killing an old cow (or buffalo) is tantamount to killing your mother because the cow, too, is a maternal figure.
The law of karma applies equally to the one who kills and the one who eats, too.Merely because one does not kill, he cannot escape from the karmic effects. It will ensnare all concerned whether one kills and eats or eats what someone else kills.
In this age of Kali Yuga, there is churning happening in creation, externally as well as in the minds of the people which have become full of unrest and turmoil. The process of churning is painful and disastrous.
That is why it is advisable to surrender to the higher power and attempt to do good and lead a life of righteousness.
