Mother cow ...

The cow has a special place in Hindu culture it is an integral part of our culture. There are many mentions in our scriptures where Cow is considered as equivalent to god. The value of cow can be reflected by our traditions, culture, and even our day to day life.

Still today some people give their first Chapati to the cow. Almost all Hindu temples consist of sculptures of the cow. Even our are deities have a special place for whether it is Krishna or Shiva. It is also mentioned that all deities reside in the body of a cow. It is not only religious and sacred for us but valuable in our day to day life too. Almost we all are is still dependent on cows in many ways like for the Milk, Uple(Cow dung which is used as fuel), labor in the farming fields, transportation, and many more. It is considered a family member. Even the food which is meant for god is given to cow because we think that cow has all Deities in it. Cow slaughter is considered as one of the most sinful act in Hinduism or the Sanatana Culture.

The value of a cow in our culture can be seen in our scriptures too there are many mentions of the cow in our sacred texts Vedas, and some of them are given below.

महान्तं कोशमुदचा नि षिञ्च स्यन्दन्तां कुल्या विषिताः पुरस्तात्। घृतेन द्यावापृथिवी व्युन्धि सुप्रपाणं भवत्वघ्याभ्यः। (Rigveda 5.83.8) - There should be excellent facility for pure water for Aghnya Cow.

यः पौरुषेयेण क्रविषा समंक्ते यो अश्व्येन पशुना यातुधानः । ये अन्याय भरति क्षीरमग्ने तेषां शीर्षाणि हरसापि वृश्च ॥ (Rigveda 10.87.16) - Those who feed on human, horse, or animal flesh and those who destroy milk-giving Aghnya cows should be severely punished.

विमुच्य ध्यमध्न्या देवयानाऽअगन्म तमसस्पारमस्य। ज्योतिरापाम॥॥ (Yajurveda 12.73) - The Aghnya cows and bulls bring you prosperity.

माता रुद्राणां दुहिता वसूनां स्वसादित्यानाममृतस्य नाभिः प्र नु वोचं चिकितुषे जनाय मा गामनागामदितिं वधिष्ट ॥ (Rigveda 8.101.15) - Do not kill the cow. The cow is innocent and Aditi – that ought not to be cut into pieces.

अक्षराजाय कितना कृतायादिनवद्श त्रेतायां कल्पिनं द्वापरायाधिकल्पिनमास्कन्दाय सभा स्थाणुं मुत्यये गोव्यच्छमन्तकाय गोधातं हुष्े यो गां विकून्तन्तं भिक्षमाणउप तिष्ठति दुष्कृताय चराचार्य पाप्मने सैलगन्॥ (Yajurveda 30.18) - Destroy those who kill cows.

पदि नो गा हानि यहा महिनशन । तय सीमन विष्णामी यमानो तो सीरहा ॥ (Atharvaveda 1.16.4) - If someone destroys our cows, horses, or people, kill him with a bullet of lead.

सहृंदयं सांमनुस्यमविद्वेषं कृणोमि वः अन्यो अन्यमभि हर्यत वत्सं जातमिवाघ्या ॥ (Atharvaveda 3.30.1) - Love each other as the Aghnya – non-killable cow – loves its calf

यज दुहान समित्प्रपीन पुमास धेनु सदन रयीणाम् प्रजामृतृत्वमुत दीर्घमायुं रायश्च पोषैरुपं त्वा सदेम ॥ (Atharvaveda 11.1.34) - May we perform this yajna which always gives strong main, cow, home full of all riches, immortality of children and long life blessed with increased prosperity..

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