ARTICLE : Why do Hindus regard the cow as sacred?
Posted By Ram Chandran (chandran@nmaa.org)
Wed, 30 Apr 1997 22:21:54 -0400
Why do Hindus regard the cow as sacred?
The question is a complex let me try my level to answer as complete as I
can. I am aware that there are other valid explanations besides this
available in Hindu scriptures. Hinduism is truly a way of life. In
Hindu families there are givers and takers. The parents and grand
parents are givers and children are the takers. The takers always the
treat the giver as sacred! In my family, my grandmother gave her body
and soul for the welfare of the entire family. She was the role model
for our family for undertaking spontaneous actions. Rightly, my
grandmother was sacred to everyone in my family. The family members
have experienced the presence of God in the form of my grandmother and
my parents. During Vedic time period, the cow was an integral part of
a Hindu family. It is no wonder that cows, the greatest giver of all
its possession for the benefit of the family, became sacred! According
to Rig Veda, cow symbolically represents the maternal aspect of Earth!
According to Hinduism, God is Omnipotent and omnipresent. Hindus believe
that God resides in everywhere. The Tamil Proverb "Thoonilum Iruppan,
Thurumbilum Iruppan" implies that God is present in not only living
objects but also in material objects of Nature. Agni (creator of fire),
Varna (creator of water), Surya (creator of light -sun), Indira (creator
of space), and Vayu (creator of wind) became symbolic representation of
the "CREATOR." The Nature (all other than human beings) is always the
gift giver and we are the takers. In Hindu scriptures there are
references to Kamadhenu, the mythical and miraculous "wish-cow" and
Karpakavirucha, the incredible-tree. Kamadhenu, the cow gives
everything that anyone wishes became the symbolic representation of all
other creatures to the Hindu.
Trees and plants accept the garbage that was discarded by all living
creatures and in return give everything that they possess! It is no
wonder why Hindus treated flowers, fruits and milk as sacred. All
materials such as the flowers, fruits, milk, honey and others used in
Hindu Temples represent the symbolic presence of God everywhere! Lord
Krishna in Bhagavad Geetha advises Hindus to follow Karma Yoga -
perform duties spontaneously without expecting rewards! The behavior
of trees, flower plants and the cows remind the Hindus to follow their
examples! I cannot think of any more valid reason treating cows as
sacred! The fundamental goal of ancient traditions, customs and beliefs
was to conserve the environment and hence the nature was considered
SACRED!
