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Lifestyle · May 14, 2022

Cow Worship and its Importance

Cows worship is a long-existing custom of Hinduism. Cows are worshipped as God and are believed to have positive vibrations. Therefore, the Hindus attach great importance to the tradition of worshipping and feeding the cows. Cows are reverentially referred to as ‘Gaumata’ or ‘Gomata,’ meaning the Cow Mother.

Milk, curd, ghee, butter, dung, and urine obtained from the Cow are holy and possess healing properties. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian Medicine system, uses Cow products like Milk, butter, ghee, panchagavya, curd, etc., in their treatments and to prepare the medicine.

Status of Cows in ancient India:

Cows were accorded great significance in ancient India. Several scriptures and edicts that hail the cows. Many seals featuring the cows have been discovered at the Mohenjadaro-Harappan site. Cows were made to participate in several religious and cultural rituals, and donation of cows and maintaining of cows were considered sacred acts.

The act of donating cows was known as ‘Go Dhaan,’ and the act of maintaining them was known as ‘Go Samrakshana.’

Archaeological evidence shows the donation of cows by kings to temples and brahmins. Apart from donating the cows, the kings have sanctioned regular allowances for the maintenance of cows.

Shreds of evidence suggest that Cow care centers existed during those times. Killing of cows was proclaimed as a henious act, and those involved in this crime were duly punished.

In ancient India, the number of Cows maintained by a person was an indicator of his wealth and social status. More numbers of cows meant a person was wealthy and influential in society. The wealth of a nation was determined based on the number of cows it had. When one kingdom went to war with the other kingdom and defeated it, the soldiers of the winning side brought the cows of the kingdom that lost in the battle.

Role of Cows in Worship:

Only cow products have to be used in Hindu pooja and rituals like fire labs, abhisheka, etc. Only the Milk, ghee, curd, and butter from the cows are eligible to be used to prepare bhog (naivedhya) to gods.

Gaupooja is a regular feature the many temples. During Gaupooja, a Cow is bathed and decorated and is taken to near the Temple’s Sanctum Sanctorum. The Cow will face the main deity, and when the screen of the temple’s sanctum opens, the main deity will directly see the Cow, and only then other devotees shall have the main deity’s darshan.

Why do Hindus worship cows?:

Cow occupies a prominent place in Hindu worship. According to the Hindu sastras (holy scriptures), all the 330 million Gods of Hinduism reside in a Cow. Hence, worshipping a Cow is akin to worshipping all the 330 million Hindu gods and goddesses in one go.

Kamadhenu is a divine cow worshipped in Hinduism; it emerged from the Milky Ocean during the churning. Along with Lakshmi and Kubera, Hindus worship Kamadhenu to attain wealth and prosperity. In many homes it is usual to find a portrait or a small statue of Kamadhenu in the pooja room

Friday of every week is an ideal day for cow worship. The Gopashtami festival is onbserved for Gaumata. It falls on the Ashtami tithi of Shukla Paksha in Kartik month. On this day, devotees worship Lord Krishna and cows. People also worship Cows  during the Makar Sankranti / Mattu Pongal festival. On this day, the farmers and otherwith cows, offer prayers to the bulls and cows and serve them a tasty feast.

Why is Feeding Cows important:

  • Hindu scriptures say that if you feed a cow, it shall equal the act of feeding the 330 million Gods of Hinduism.
  • Feeding cows help to burn your previous karma.
  • Several saints and mystics have promoted feeding cows.
  • Feeding Cows will eliminate the negative vibrations present at your home.
  • Inviting a Cow during the House warming ceremony and feeding it will bring prosperity and fortune to your home.
  • Mahalakshmi, the goddess of wealth, resides in Cows, and feeding cows is akin to offering bhog to her.
  • Feeding Cows shall bless you with progeny and health.

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