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The question is complex and let me try my level best to answer it. I
am aware that there are other valid explanations besides this in Hindu
scriptures. Hinduism is truly a way of life and certain traditions such
as treating cows sacred are symbolic. 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. Hindus experience the
presence of God in the sacrifices of mother, father and teacher (The
Sanskrit Poem "Matha, Pitha, Guru Deivam" means the same). During
Vedic time period, the cow was an integral part of a Hindu family. It
is no wonder that cows, the greatest sacrificer of their 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!
Reference
Primeval Mother: Aditi, Infinity, begetter and origin of the Gods is a
mythical figure of light. Cf. RV I, 136, 3; X, 72, 4-5 (§ VII 2). In
point of fact, in RV I, 153, 3, Aditi is referred to as a cow. In RV I,
72, 9, she is compared to the Earth. She represents the maternal aspect
of Earth. Kamadhenu, the mythical and miraculous "wish-cow," is
colorfully described in the Ramayana. This reference comes from
Professor Raimon Panikkar's excellent English translation of Vedas
(Hinduism's Contemporary Holy Bible). The Electronic Version is
available from Hinduism Journal's Home Page in the Internet.
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