Since ancient times, cows are considered sacred, treated as mother and hailed as the bestower of auspiciousness by Hindus. She is a symbol of wealth, health, prosperity, blessing, peace of mind, purification, and success in life. She is identified as a kamadhenu-wish fulfilling.
The cow is revered, honoured, respected as mother, the unselfish giver of bounty without expecting from her children, just like a mother. Hindu scriptures such as Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Mahabharata, Manusmriti extol the virtues of the cow.
All the Gods reside in her and killing her is considered a most heinous crime. A Sanskrit verse says "jivantu avadghnyah ta me vishasya dushanih," meaning let cows live without slaughter for their whole life as they remove poison and toxins. Many sages, many Hindu temples and numerous ashrams maintain goshalas (cow shelters) recognising the numerous benefits that accrue from the cows.
We Hindus believe that Gods reside and manifest in the cow and she is capable of bestowing her blessings on all creatures. All substances that come from the cow are pure, chaste, and wholesome. They have the potential to purify the entire world. Cow's urine, cow dung, milk, curd and ghee are all useful.
In recognition of the virtues of a cow, a special place is accorded to her among Hindus. Cows are associated with prosperity and wealth. A newly purchased cow is welcomed into the home like a new bride. Whenever prana prathista (life infusion ceremony) to the deities is performed, cows are brought into the temples and welcomed as the most revered guests.
During certain festivals the cow's legs are washed, horns are decorated with different colours, hump is smeared with coloured powder, body is beautifully decorated with colourful cloth, forehead is anointed with tilak (forehead dot) and it is greeted with a kula or winnowing fan on which there is a dab of sindur or vermilion.
A cow is welcomed into the house or temple with ingredients such as paddy, soft durva grass, sesame seeds, and a small brass pot containing a mango twig with leaves. It is like inviting all the Gods into the house. In Trinidad, Hindus perform a special pooja or prayer to the cow. It is called the "cow daan." This is almost like a secret ceremony performed by ageing devotees who believe that by giving a gift of a cow to the pundit and performing the appropriate rituals, on death the devotee will be easily transported from this place to Vaikunt, the heavenly region.
In March of this year, an 83-year-old friend of mine invited close relatives and friends to his home at Caroni Village for a "cow daan" ceremony. The pundit is a well-known and respected villager, Pundit Haresh Maharaj. Appropriate Sanskrit mantras were chanted and at the end of the rituals financial and other gifts were distributed. Children were specially treated before the cow was brought to the area where pooja (Hindu prayers) was performed.
The beautifully decorated cow, after undergoing a bath, was brought in. The women came forward and fed the cow ripe bananas and other fruits. In the yard a small two-foot pond was created with sand and filled with water and the pundit and the devotee coaxed the cow to cross the water. This is symbolic of the departed soul crossing from this life into a heavenly abode.
When our ancestors arrived in Trinidad on May 30, 1845, they brought with them their religion and culture. These have been preserved by the Brahmin pundits who themselves were indentured labourers. These pundits have always preached the virtues of the cow and the products of the cow, especially the "gobar" or cow dung which is used to cleanse the altar and homes.
In India, certain states are referred to as the "cow belt." Uttar Pradesh and Bihar combined have a population of over 250 million people and the cows are free to roam the streets. In many town areas, the cow has the "right of way." One of the holiest places of Hinduism is the city of Banares where there are thousands of temples and Hindu shrines.
The Ganges River flows through this city and tens of thousands of devotees flock to the banks of the Ganges (Ganga) every evening to light deyas and place them in small boats made of leaves. These are then placed in the moving waters. It is a beautiful sight and many devotees from Trinidad have taken part in this ceremony. The Banares cows are free to roam among the thousands of devotees.
Following are a couple verses found in Rig Veda, one of our holiest writings:
• "She is like the mother of the cosmic forces, the daughter of the cosmic matter, the sister of the cosmic energy, the centre of the ambrosia. I address to men of wisdom, kill not her, the sinless inviolate cow."
• "May the cows be our affluence; may the resplendent Lord grant us cattle; may the cows yield food (milk and butter) of the first libation. These cows, O men, are sacred as the Lord resplendent Himself, the Lord whose blessings we crave for, with head and heart."
• Satnarayan Maharaj is the secretary general of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha
