GODS

The Greatness and Motherhood of Cows



Why Cows Are Sacred?

The following compilations focus on the greatness and motherhood of cows as
given in Srimath Mahabharatham. The great men from Mahabharath had thus
spoken on the virtues of cows.
Bhishma said:
No sacrifice can be performed without the aid of curds and ghee (clarified butter).
The very character of sacrifice which sacrifices have, depends upon ghee. Hence
ghee (or, the cow from which it is produced) is regarded as the very root of
sacrifice.
Cows have been said to be the limbs of sacrifice. They represent sacrifice itself.
Without them, there can be no sacrifice. With their milk and the Havi produced
therefrom, they uphold all creatures by diverse acts.
Cows are guileless in their behaviour. From them flow sacrifices and Havya and
Kavya, and milk and curds and ghee. Hence cows are sacred and to be treated
with the highest regard.
Afflicted by hunger and thirst, they bear diverse burdens. Cows support the Munis
(sages).
They who make gifts of cows, and who subsist upon the remnants of things
offered as libations on the sacred fire, are regarded, as always performing
sacrifices of every kind.
Of all kinds of gifts, the gift of cows is applauded as the highest. Cows are the
foremost of all things.
Themselves sacred, they are the best of cleansers and sanctifiers. People should
cherish cows for obtaining prosperity and even peace. Cows are said to represent
the highest energy both in this world and the world that is above. There is nothing
that is more sacred or sanctifying than cows.
"Cows are the mothers of the universe."
The human infant is fed breast milk by its human mother for less than three years.
After weaning, the cow acts as the surrogate mother providing milk for the rest of
the human life - through childhood, adult age and old age. Cow is verily the
mother of the world. One would be filled with repugnance at the ungrateful idea
of killing mother, whether surrogate mother or otherwise.).
Vyasa said:
Cows are sacred. They are embodiments of merit. They are high and most
efficacious cleansers of all. One should for three days drink the hot urine of the
cow... For the next three days one should drink the hot milk of the cow. Having
thus drunk for three days hot milk, one should next drink hot ghee for three days.
Having in this way drunk hot ghee for three days, one should subsist for the next
three days on air only.
Vasishtha said:
By bathing in water mixed with cow-dung, people shall become sanctified. The
deities and men shall use cow-dung for the purpose of purifying all creatures
mobile and immobile. One can sit on dried cow dung.
One should never eat the flesh of cows.
One should never show any disregard for cows in any way. If evil dreams are seen,
men should take the names of cows. One should never obstruct cows in any way.
Cows are the mothers of both the Past and the Future. Cows have become the
refuge of the world. It is for this that cows are said to be highly blessed, sacred,
and the foremost of all things. It is for this that cows are said to stay at the very
head of all creatures. Every morning, people should bow with reverence unto
cows.
Cows are the best Havi for the deities. The Mantras called Swaha and Vashat are
forever established in cows. Sacrifices are established in the cows. Cows
constitute the fruit of sacrifices. Cows are the future and the past, and Sacrifices
rest on them. Morning and evening cows yield unto the Rishis, Havi for use in
Homa (sacred fire ceremony).
Vyasa said:
Cows constitute the stay of all creatures.. Cows are the refuge of all creatures.
Cows are the embodiment of merit... Cows are sacred and blessed and are
sanctifiers of all.
One should never, in even one's heart, do an injury to cows. One should, indeed,
always confer happiness on them.
Living in a pure state, in the midst of cows, one should mentally recite those
sacred Mantras that are known by the name of Gomati, after touching pure
water. By doing this, one becomes purified and cleansed.