 |
||
|
||
| Advertise with us! |
|
|
>Can someone explain the supreme position of the cow among the animals?
>
>Hans
The cow is held sacred due to the fact that it is very dear to Krishna,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
This is explained in the Visnu Purana (1.19.65) as follows:
namo brahmanya-devaya
go-brahmana-hitaya ca
jagad-dhitaya krsnaya
govindaya namo namah
"I offer repeated obeisances unto Lord Sri Krishna, who is the protector
and well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas. He is also the protector of
the entire society. Unto that Lord Govinda I offer my obeisances."
The words go-brahmana-hitaya indicate that the Supreme Lord is concerned
first with the welfare of the cows and the qualified brahmanas. After the
cows and the Brahmanas, then He is interested in the welfare of all
(jagad-dhitaya). So the Lord is concerned with everyone's welfare, but the
cows are especially dear to Him. The brahmanas are dear to the Lord
because they worship him, as indicated by the words brahmanya-devaya (the
Lord of the Brahmanas). When Lord Krishna appeared on this planet 5,000
years ago, he appeared as a cowherd boy because the cows are especially
dear to the Lord. Even in the spiritual real, the Lord is engaged in
herding the spiritual cows, as stated in the Brahma-samhita:
cintaamani-prakara-sadmasu kalpavrksha-
lakshaavrteshu surabhir abhipaalayantam
lakshmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamaanam
govindam aadi-purusham tam aham bhajaami
"Lord Krishna is situated in a spiritual abode made of transendental gems.
In that abode he is surrounded by millions of desire fulfilling trees
(kalpavrksha), and he takes pleasure in tending the cows. He is always
being served with great reverence and affection by hundreds of thousands
of lakshmis. To that Supreme Lord Govind, who is the original person, I
offer my worship."
The great aacaarya, Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, while commenting on
this verse states:
"Kaama-dhenus (cows yielding the fulfillment of desire) give milk
when they are milked; but the kaama-dhenus of Goloka [Vaikuntha]pour forth
oceans of milk in the shape of the fountain of love showering
transcendental bliss that does away with the hunger and thirst of all pure
devotees."
The very name govinda means one who brings satisfaction to the cows. And
Lord Krishna has many such transcendental names which reflect His
relationship to the cows. Gopaala means the protector of the cows, and
Krishna is famous throughout India as baala-gopaala.
Thus a civilization where there is no respect for the cows and brahmana's
is condemned. Though foolish people may claim that cow slaughter is
sanctioned by something they term as "Hinduism", they can never support it
from any of the scripture that "Hindus" claim to follow. Perhaps they are
mixing the Vedic religion with some neo-christian following in certain
states of South India.
|
||
|
||
| Advertise with us! |
|
|