Since the dawn of Hinduism, cows and Indians go hand in hand. This ain't a myth nor it is a new thing either.
I ain't a learned scholar in Hinduism nor do I profess to be one, but there is a need in me to write what I feel within, what I see and what I think should be at my best neutral conscience way. Being born a Hindhu, I can say, with the indoctrination spells from my late parents, I do know a thing or two about Hindus, Hinduism and the very significance of the cow and how both cows and Hindhu live entwined.
It’s a known fact Hindus don’t consume beef. Thus, anyone in Malaysia, from any walk of life know that for a fact and that too Hinduism being a sacred religion involving cows. This is no ‘Peter-Pan' fairly tale legend of any sorts. There is a reason why the cow or as the English say - holy cow comes into existence in Hinduism.
Getting straight to the point – the only reason why beef is not consumed by *Hindus is all because of traditional beliefs and not because of the sanctity of the religion. By the way, Hinduism ain't a religion. It's simply a way of life.
* Hindus do consume beef if a need arises but this is a scattered fact.
Hindus from all over the globe belief cows are the sacred gift from the puritan Gods and thus they should be gratefully. A gift from the Gods is akin to Zeus’s gift in Perseus.
Why sacred one may ask? When a calf is in hunger, the mother cow rushes in to feed its offspring. The same animalistic instinct transcends even amongst Hindu Goddess when there is a need to offer help. It’s a synonym factor.
In Hinduism, the cow is believed to be at par with the land the Hindus walk on meaning the earth or in Sanskrit ‘Bumi’. Thus the cow is also termed as mother; the same as Mother Earth. From Mother to Child, both have a role to play in sustaining or depleting life for the sake of its earthly 'children.'
If we look at the life of Hindu farmers or peasants using the services of the cow, one will begin to see the bonding sacrament between cows and Hindus – it all comes down to essential survival eudamonia.
Even in ancient times or even in biblical times cows have played their part well in the lives of the ancients, especially the Hindus. Scores of archaeological artifacts have been earthen out and have proofed cows been there right along humans in every bit and parcel of time in agriculture and livelihood. This goes back for reaching circa 2500 – 1500 BC.
In simplicity, one does not need a tertiary education to know and understand that cows were the very commodity the Hindus used and needed in their daily lives. Even today, in India though with the advancement of machinery in agriculture, cows are still used in agriculture farming.
In Purana, (fabled tales of Hinduism) or somewhat classic Hindu text, stories of the Gods are depicted in not only humans depended on cows but God and Goddess as well.
Lord Shiva (the supreme Lord) uses a cow or “Nandi” as his royal ‘transport’. This is well rendered by way of stone statues in all Shiva temples anywhere. The cow is also the ‘transport’ vehicle for Lord Krishna and that too mind you Krishna was a cowherd.
In one epic tale told by the ancients, Lord Krishna so loved his peasant farmers including the cows toiling the field, He hoisted up Mount Govardhan and held it as shelter for the scores of farmers and cows devastated by rain and floods.
From ancient times Indian farmers have celebrated “Ponggal” – a festival to honour Mother Nature in three different forms; one of which is the Cow Ponggal. One would wonder there must be a strong and vehement reason why the cow is taken into as part of a poignant celebration here.
Cow Ponggal or to Indians “Mattu Ponggal” is a thanks giving celebration to honour the services of the domesticated cow. Believe it or not, on Mattu Ponggal day, cows are cleansed and bathed and their horns painted in motley colours. Bells are hung round their necks as well. This is the only day in a calendar year food, sweet rice, is cooked and fed to the cows. Farmers pay homage to their holy beast in prayers in inland villages and farms all over India.
One may wonder why this is as such. It’s simple. Man though born good nor evil will always in some part honour his cows. Why? A bull (male cow) gives the biggest satisfaction to a household when it is the bull that takes the load off the farmer. The bull ploughs the land and transports goods whilst the cow gives milk which may go into making yogurt or oil. Milk and oil are two most significant household commodities in any Hindu home. So, thus the cow the sacred beast.
And as for the dung, it is used as an organic food for farming and plantation. In India, dried cow dung is used as fuel for cooking and cremation. Hard to swallow but scientifically it has been proven cow dung actually is a good disinfectant for plants as not only it feeds the plantations, it too kills pest of crops.
In India, cow's secretion be it dung or urine is used to cleansed households. Again here cow's urine is scientifically proven to contain cleansing agents to cure skin diseases thus a way of antiseptic. It is also used to cleanse one's home to rid of any bacterial residue and this was done way back 2000 BC.
The smouldering of dried dung is also used to clean and purify the air in homes - makeshift huts made out of clay or mud or even twigs.
Cow's milk is a growth ingredient of humans - rich in protein and calcium. If cow is deemed impure or its excretion grime, humans would not have used it to feed themselves with its milk. For centuries humans have lived on the embodiment of the domesticated cow. It is a decree amongst the Indians, their domesticate cows to give them their daily nourishment and none else.
To Hindus, a cow symbolises prosperity, wealth and happiness. When a house is bought or built, a cow is used to purify the house and its surroundings. This happens till today in India. The purifying process symbolises the arrival of the Goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth) into their homes. It is an auspicious ritual and if during the purifying process if the cow were to excrete, it is viewed as 'extremelly lucky.' Yes, it is laughable when a newly built house is smeared with dung and urine but such is the 'modus-vivendi' of Indians.
Such is the cow to a Hindu. This is the sole reason why Indians won't eat beef, torture or kill cows. Not even shoo them away from the streets it sleeps or excretes till today. It is also known cows are never chased away for hogging traffic in India.
Though mute, Mahatma Gandhi said cows are the representation of humans in mute form. Whats more, farmer or king Hindus all over the world pay homage to cows and except it as part of an Hindu embodiment.
But then again, there are Hindus who don't follow the teachings of Hinduism, who have moved away from outdated ideologies and some have gone to consume beef as part of their daily diet.
But the sacred cow - beaten and worked without pity still has a place in every Hindu life be it in purity or muddy.
Thanks for sharing. Informative article that one should read about other's culture. Do believe that only a handful who knows abt the sacred of cow in Hinduism lives.
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