Why do Hindus worship the cow? - hinduismtoday.com

[Dr. Jai Maharaj]

14 Questions

Question Four: Why do Hindus worship the cow?

Hinduism Today Magazine
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A: The cow represents the giving nature of life to every
Hindu. Honoring this gentle animal, who gives more than
she takes, we honor all creatures.

Longer answer: Hindus regard all living-creatures as
sacred -- mammals, fishes, birds and more. We acknowledge
this reverence for life in our special affection for the
cow. At festivals we decorate and honor her, but we do
not worship her in the sense that we worship the Deity.
To the Hindu, the cow symbolizes all other creatures. The
cow is a symbol of the Earth, the nourisher, the ever-
giving, undemanding provider. The cow represents life and
the sustenance of life. The cow is so generous, taking
nothing but water, grass and grain. It gives and gives
and gives of its milk, as does the liberated soul give of
his spiritual knowledge. The cow is so vital to life, the
virtual sustainer of life, for many humans. The cow is a
symbol of grace and abundance. Veneration of the cow
instills in Hindus the virtues of gentleness, receptivity
and connectedness with nature.

Elaboration: Who is the greatest giver on planet Earth
today? Who do we see on every table in every country of
the world -- breakfast, lunch and dinner? It is the cow.
McDonald's cow-vending golden arches and their rivals
have made fortunes on the humble cow. The generous cow
gives milk and cream, yogurt and cheese, butter and ice
cream, ghee and buttermilk. It gives entirely of itself
through sirloin, ribs, rump, porterhouse and beef stew.
Its bones are the base for soup broths and glues. It
gives the world leather belts, leather seats, leather
coats and shoes, beef jerky, cowboy hats -- you name it.
The only cow-question for Hindus is, "Why don't more
people respect and protect this remarkable creature?"
Mahatma Gandhi once said, "One can measure the greatness
of a nation and its moral progress by the way it treats
its animals. Cow protection to me is not mere protection
of the cow. It means protection of all that lives and is
helpless and weak in the world. The cow means the entire
subhuman world."

In the Hindu tradition, the cow is honored, garlanded and
given special feedings at festivals all over India, most
importantly the annual Gopashtama festival. Demonstrating
how dearly Hindus love their cows, colorful cow jewelry
and clothing is sold at fairs all over the Indian
countryside. From a young age, Hindu children are taught
to decorate the cow with garlands, paint and ornaments.
Her nature is epitomized in Kamadhenu, the divine, wish-
fulfilling cow. The cow and her sacred gifts -- milk and
ghee in particular -- are essential elements in Hindu
worship, penance and rites of passage. In India, more
than 3,000 institutions called Gaushalas, maintained by
charitable trusts, care for old and infirm cows. And
while many Hindus are not vegetarians, most respect the
still widely held code of abstaining from eating beef. By
her docile, tolerant nature, the cow exemplifies the
cardinal virtue of Hinduism, noninjury, known as ahimsa.
The cow also symbolizes dignity, strength, endurance,
maternity and selfless service. In the Vedas, cows
represent wealth and joyous Earthly life. From the Rig
Veda (4.28.1;6) we read. 'the cows have come and have
brought us good fortune. In our stalls, contented, may
they stay! May they bring forth calves for us, many-
colored, giving milk for Indra each day. You make, O
cows, the thin man sleek; to the unlovely you bring
beauty. Rejoice our homestead with pleasant lowing. In
our assemblies we laud your vigor."

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