[4][7] The sacred cow denotes "purity and non-erotic fertility, ... sacrificing and motherly nature, [and] sustenance of human life". Cows are seen as a 'caregiver' or maternal figure. They say that the Hindus did not originally worship the cow and there is no inner logic to do so. Make a wish and she will provide anything you ask, with a happy smile and a merry moo. This massive religious majority has influenced the creation of laws that prohibit the harm or slaughter of cows. For many Hindus, who make up nearly 80 percent of India's 1.3 billion strong population, the cow is a sacred animal. A: No. Therefore, the cow is considered a sacred animal, as it provides us life sustaining milk. Many Hindu festivals revere cows. ‘Hindu theologians put the number of gods and goddesses in a cow’s body at 330 million. Kamadhenu or Kamaduh is the sacred cow, who is regarded as the source of all prosperity in Hinduism. Here, with a sadhu. [29] Cows are often fed outside temples and worshipped regularly on all Fridays and on special occasions. Thus Hinduism is a pantheistic religion: It equates God with the universe. [1][12], According to the Ramayana, Surabhi is the daughter of sage Kashyapa and his wife Krodhavasha, the daughter of Daksha. Hindu mythology holds that Krishna grew up as a cow-herder, and one of Krishna’s epithets is bala-gopala, the child who protects the cows. [1], The Bhagavad Gita, a discourse by the god Krishna in the Mahabharata, twice refers to Kamadhenu as Kamadhuk. Regardless of how the cow taboo began, it has become deeply entrenched in Indian culture. [8] She was ordered by the creator-god Brahma to give milk, and supply it and ghee ("clarified butter") for ritual fire-sacrifices. Kamadhenu is often depicted in this form in poster art. It is actually the “Sanatana Dharma”- the eternal tradition, beyond human history. Symbolically, Lord Vishnu represents justice and moral order. For examle the god Krishna's symbol is the docile cow, and king cobras are the symbol of Shiva and Vishnu, while the elephant-headed Ganesha is the perfect hybrid animal and god. But the most popular of these gods and goddesses are important deities in their own right. Hinduism is a religion that raises the status of Mother to the level of Goddess. Still other scriptures narrate that Kamadhenu was in the possession of either Jamadagni or Vashista (both ancient sages), and that kings who tried to steal her from the sage ultimately faced dire consequences for their actions. Some festivals require cow dung to cleanse the atmosphere. Feeding of cows is said to be a good deed in Hinduism. Cows are revered in Hinduism because of the goddess Kamadhenu. Further, Surabhi gave birth to many golden cows called Kapila cows, who were called the mothers of the world. You can see God Bhairava with a black dog. She hinted Vashista to order her to destroy the king's army and the sage followed her wish. Kamadhenu is regarded as a form of Devi (the Hindu Divine Mother) and is closely related to the fertile Mother Earth (Prithvi), who is often described as a cow in Sanskrit. [2] According to the Monier Williams Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), Surabhi means fragrant, charming, pleasing, as well as cow and earth. Cows freely roam the cities of India, and there is no doubt that the cow will continue to be honored by Hindus for centuries to come. She is a miraculous "cow of plenty" who provides her owner whatever he desires. The Hindu god Krishna is often shown with cows listening to his music. Yogurt is used in many Indian recipes as is milk. However, the sage refused to part with Sabala, who was necessary for the performance of the sacred rituals and charity by the sage. Dattatraya was an incarnation of the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswar). Let us take a deeper look at the festivals that require the holy cows to complete them. She represents the Earth. Each part of Kamadhenu’s body carries symbolic importance. In one chapter, it describes Surabhi as the consort of Brahma and their union produced the cow Yogishvari,She is then described as the mother of cows and quadrupeds. Sign up for Beliefnet's Hindu Wisdom newsletter. Krishna is another extremely popular god that is tied to cows. Even temples give shelter and protect stray cows. Lord Krishna has said in Bhagavadgita, " I manifest in every living being and among cows I'm the Kamadhenu". Kamadhenu (Sanskrit: कामधेनु Kāmadhenu), also known as Surabhi (सुरभि SurabhÄ«), is a divine bovine-goddess described in Hindu mythology as the mother of all cows. Hindu dharma forms the base of our entire Indian culture. When drinking the milk, the milk pot fell on the ground and broke, spilling the milk, which became the Kshirasagara, the cosmic milk ocean. [13] However, in the Puranas, such as Vishnu Purana and Bhagavata Purana, Surabhi is described as the daughter of Daksha and the wife of Kashyapa, as well as the mother of cows and buffaloes. This curse is interpreted as a reference to the following legend:[27] Once, when the gods Brahma and Vishnu were fighting over who was superior, a fiery pillar—linga (symbol of Shiva)—emerged before them. This tale appears in the Skanda Purana. Shiva’s steed, Nandi, is a bull, and Nandi is worshipped in his own right as the bearer of truth and righteousness. Srinath Mohandas in this brief article analyzes, by explaining what the Vedas are and what the Yajna is, why cows are worshiped in India. It is a devotional sect, and followers worship many deities, including Rama and Krishna both the 7th & the 8th incarnations of Vishnu respectively. That is why Vishnu, her guardian, is called Go-pala, protector of the earth-cow. In verse 10.28, when Krishna declares to the source of the universe, he proclaims that among cows, he is Kamadhuk. [2][11] The Satapatha Brahmana also tells a similar tale: Prajapati created Surabhi from his breath. This is just one example of the misunderstandings people have about the Hindu faith. She is depicted as a white cow with breasts and wings, a human head and a tail of peacock feathers. The Indra is nearly related with the wish-granting cow Kamadhenu. While some narrate that she emerged from the churning of the cosmic ocean, others describe her as the daughter of the creator god Daksha, and as the wife of the sage Kashyapa. Moreover, the cow also offers the Brahmin—who is prohibited to fight—protection against abusive kings who try to harm them. The popular god Shiva is also associated with cows. [3] Other proper names attributed to Kamadhenu are Sabala ("the spotted one") and Kapila ("the red one"). The cow is sacred in Hinduism, so modern Hindus do not eat beef. [7], Frederick M. Smith describes Kamadhenu as a "popular and enduring image in Indian art". One Hindu goddess, Bhoomi (भुमि), is usually shown in the form of a cow. Vishnu. [28], Some temples and houses have images of Kamadhenu, which are worshipped. There are multiple gods in Hindu Dharma but of those, a few are the ones who are most worshipped by the Hindus around the world. It can specifically refer to the divine cow Kamadhenu, the mother of cattle who is also sometimes described as a Matrika ("mother") goddess. Kamadhenu - Cow Goddess, mother of all cows. According to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, this form is influenced by the iconography of the Islamic Buraq, who is portrayed with a horse's body, wings, and a woman's face. Her tears are considered a bad omen for the gods by Indra, the god-king of heaven. However, many non-Hindus interpret these beliefs to mean that Hindus worship cows. In our stalls, contented, may they stay! She is a miraculous "cow of plenty" who provides her owner whatever he desires and is often portrayed as the mother of other cattle. This is not true. The scholar Vettam Mani considers Nandini and Surabhi to be synonyms of Kamadhenu. The oldest known mention of the religious importance of the cow is found in the Vedas. She is a miraculous "cow of plenty" who provides her owner whatever he desires and is often portrayed … Still, it is Surabhi who is described as the mother of all cows in the text. Beliefnet is a lifestyle website providing feature editorial content around the topics of inspiration, spirituality, health, wellness, love and family, news and entertainment. In addition to their close association with the divine, the docile nature of cows is said to exemplify the Hindu virtue ahimsa, “noninjury.” Cows can also be seen as symbolizing Hinduism itself as every part of a cow has a religious parallel. As per the Hindu beliefs, the sacredness and holiness of the cow are crucial. Holy cow! Hinduism also shows the connection of Dogs with Lord Dattatreya. Every cow to "a pious Hindu" is regarded as an Avatar (earthly embodiment) of the divine Kamadhenu. Today the cow has almost become a symbol of Hinduism. One verse says “the cows have come and have brought us good fortune. The cow is a … In Vaishnava mythology, the cow came to be seen as an embodiment of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. [1][14], The Matsya Purana notes two conflicting descriptions of Surabhi. Krishna is another extremely popular god that is tied to cows. In relation to the deity's iconography, she denotes the Brahminical aspect and Vaishnava connection of the deity contrasting with the accompanying dogs—symbolizing a non-Brahminical aspect. This humble animal has been at or near the center of Hinduism for over 4,000 years, and the cow will not be giving up its high status anytime soon regardless of how many times its herds block city traffic. Brahma flew to the skies to try to find the top of the pillar, but failed. There is debate over whether ancient Hindus in the Indus River Valley refused to eat beef. Agitated, Vishwamitra seized Sabala by force, but she returned to her master, fighting the king's men. It is more accurate to say the cow is taboo in the Hindu religion, rather than sacred. You make, O cows, the thin man sleek; to the unlovely you bring beauty. Rejoice our homestead with pleasant lowing. [4], The epithets "Kamadhenu" (कामधेनु), "Kamaduh" (कामदुह्) and "Kamaduha" (कामदुहा) literally mean the cow "from whom all that is desired is drawn"—"the cow of plenty". The earth is visualised as being milked by all living creatures. Sanctity of the cow, in Hinduism, the belief that the cow is representative of divine and natural beneficence and should therefore be protected and venerated. The king and his wife propitiated Nandini, who neutralized her mother's curse and blessed the king to have a son, who was named Raghu. The cow is also seen as more than merely a symbol of good things. The calf is compared with the dawn, in Hinduism. Jamadagni led the army created by Kapila and defeated the king and his army several times; each time sparing the life of the king. [8][10], A cow, identified with Kamadhenu, is often depicted accompanying the god Dattatreya. [1] Professor Jacobi considers the name Surabhi—"the fragrant one"—to have originated from the peculiar smell of cows. The presence of the holy cows are essential for many rituals in Hinduism. [1], According to Indologist Madeleine Biardeau, Kamadhenu or Kamaduh is the generic name of the sacred cow, who is regarded as the source of all prosperity in Hinduism. The minister returns to the hermitage and tries to convince the sage to give away the cow, but to no avail, so he tries to snatch Kamadhenu with force. [8][9], Another representation of Kamadhenu shows her with the body of a white Zebu cow, crowned woman's head, colourful eagle wings and a peacock's tail. Vaishnavism is the sect within Hinduism that worships Vishnu, the preserver god of the Hindu Trimurti (the Trinity), and his many incarnations. Finally, with the aid of a divine spear granted to him by the god Dattatreya, the king killed Jamadagni. Other Indians continue to support the practice of free-roaming cows, however, and the law has stood. So, since Kamadhenu had gone to Patala, the guru of Dilip, Vasistha advised the king to serve Nandini, Kamadhenu's daughter who was in the hermitage. And she has certainly inherited her mother’s bountiful nature. In addition to Vaishnava Hindus, there are also Hindus who worship Krishna as the Supreme Being in his own right. Everything coming from the cow is considered holy, even the cows piss and dung. The cow is seen as a maternal figure, a care taker of her people. Kamadhenu ("the fragrant one") is a Cow Goddess and the mother of all cows. She is the delightfully good-natured daughter of Kamadhenu, the supreme Cow Goddess. The complications caused by mixing herds of cows with automobiles, bikes and buses have caused some Indians to push back against the laws that allow cows to roam through cities. The pleased god conferred goddess-hood on the cow and decreed that all people would worship her and her children – cows. [22] The Brahmanda Purana narrates this Kamadhenu Sushila was given to Jamadagni by the Kamadhenu-Surabhi, who governs in Goloka. Sometimes, the three may appear in the form of an avatar, embodied by a Hindu god or goddess. Cow is worshiped because hindus believe that cows are the embodiment of god. [29] However, she has never had a worship cult dedicated to her and does not have any temples where she is worshipped as the chief deity. This God was always followed by four dogs which symbolically represent the four Vedas. [6] In other instances, Nandini is described as the cow-daughter of Surabhi-Kamadhenu. Vaishnavas believe that Vishnu is the Supreme Being and worship Krishna as the eighth of Vishnu’s ten avataras, or incarnations. Almost half of India’s massive population is Vaishnava, and a further 25 percent of Hindus are Shaiva and believe that Shiva is the Supreme Being. From the ancient Vedas to everyday worship, respecting the humble cow is an essential part of Hindu life. Contemporary poster art also portrays Kamadhenu in this form. Nandini, like her mother, is a "cow of plenty" or Kamadhenu, and resides with sage Vashista. So she produced warriors of Shaka-Yavana lineage. Vaishnavites regard him to be eternal and the strongest and supreme God . Lord Krishna was a cowherd, and the bull is depicted as the vehicle of Lord Shiva. [1][17], Various other scriptural references describe Surabhi as the mother of the Rudras including Nirrti (Kashyapa being the father), the cow Nandini and even the serpent-people nāgas. In addition to viewing the cow as a symbol of life, the Vedas mention two goddesses who take the form of a cow. Kamadhenu is often addressed by the proper name Surabhi or Shurbhi, which is also used as a synonym for an ordinary cow. [16], The Devi Bhagavata Purana narrates that Krishna and his lover Radha were enjoying dalliance, when they thirsted for milk. [4] Kamadhenu is regarded as a form of Devi (the Hindu Divine Mother)[7] and is closely related to the fertile Mother Earth (Prithvi), who is often described as a cow in Sanskrit. Essential for many Hindus, there are also Hindus who worship Krishna as the mother of abundance! Festivals require cow dung is a pantheistic religion: it equates god with the dawn, in the,. 23 ], Frederick M. 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