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Why is the cow sacred?


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Question: Why is the cow "sacred"?

Answer: In the chatrooms and messages boards of the Internet, there are often found bitter disputes between Indians and Pakistanis. This usually deteriorates into vulgar abuse and I have noticed that one of the commonest terms of hitting out at Hindus is that they worship the cow.

This might as well be cleared up now. The Hindu does not worship the cow, has never worshipped the cow, and is not likely to ever worship the cow. To continue to propagate this delusion is only indicative of ignorance and laziness, but the Hindu has nothing to do with it. The cow is not even sacred, in the way it has been misunderstood by Europeans. The cow is literally taboo, a very different animal indeed from the sacred cow of popular delusion. Taboos in sociological terms are both positive and negative; as in taboos that must be respected and deferred to, as well as taboos that deal with what is abhorrent.

The cow is Aghanya - that which may not be slaughtered. It is true that later sects began to call the cow the mother and even wrote some dubious scripture to support this, but it was a rather childish transference of reverence from the mother to the cow because both provide milk! The "milk-debt" was culturally a very strong more, and it was felt that it would not be fair to leave the cow out of its share of respect for contributing to your health. Nevertheless the cow was originally only Aghanya.

This set of circumstances arose for many reasons. :arrow: Strange as it may seem, the Vedic age was a beef-eating one and animals were constantly being slaughtered. The reaction against flesh foods set in with the advent of Jainism and Buddhism and a remarkable cultural revolution took place - in that a predominantly flesh eating country became a predominantly vegetarian one. The many pastoral tribes that inhabited India could not afford to sacrifice their cow wealth for meat. In fact that is the real reason it became Aghanya. The norms of the time dictated that you sacrifice your best animal, usually the stud bull, for the feast when a distinguished visitor came by. As these worthies multiplied in numbers, the quality of the herds began to decline. You could not escape this obligation, as substitution of another animal would be regarded as a deadly insult. To save animals thus marked out, as well as in deference to the new trends, the inviolability of the cow came into being. Those who are distressed by this revelation of beef eating ancestors ought to be more distressed at their ignorance about it. Swami Vivekananda loved to puncture ostentatious piety by declaring that his favorite section of the Vedas was the bit where five brahmanas used to sit down to feast and polish off a cow at one sitting! The literature about this is extensive, and there is no need to be squeamish about it.

The scriptural reason for this obsession with cows and their protection is even stranger. Vedic Sanskrit is not the classical Sanskrit that exists today. It is an older, more difficult form of the language and one of the words for light that is used there is Go. Now Go primarily meant "light" but it also meant "cows". In classical Sanskrit the word means only the bovine friend. Thus, on the basis of a forgotten meaning of a word has Indian culture wrapped itself round the protection of the cow and rendered it a sacred taboo. "Protector of the Go", in the Vedas meant the keeper of the light not a cowherd! And all the admonitions about protecting the Go means something else altogether, and makes a great deal more sense too. However it was too late, and the word came to mean with all its nuances, cow protection and cow- reverence! A change in language renders a single word archaic, but the impact on a society is amazing.

A more environmentally friendly reason has in recent times been proposed for this cow respect. The cow represents the entire animal kingdom and is man’s link to the dumb animals of Creation. In respecting the cow we are showing respect for all living things, a notion that ties in deftly with ahinsa and vegetarianism. This point of view was propagated by Gandhi.

Whatever be the reasons that appeal to you at least it should be clear that there is no such thing as cow worship in the Hindu Faith.

- Rohit Arya

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  • 3 weeks later...

Singh 47 was Guru Gobind Singh's pet a Falcon/Eagle, and have you evere heard of a vegtarian bird of prey? Where do you think the meat comes from? The guru cuts up the meathimself and feeds it to his pet, read Bajj Natak in Dasam Guru Darbar, if the guru cuts up the meat logic will tell you he probably ate the meat as well, and are you calling the saying that the Guru, the 10th King, the father of the khalsa does not follow Sanatan Sikhi Dharm?

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  • 3 weeks later...
Guest Sardar Moderator Singh

Let's re-look at this topic in the context of the accounts given by Kavi Bhai Santokh Singh in the Sooraj Prakash Granth, where Guru Gobind Singh accepts a request from the Hill Rajas (knowing they will break it) on oath of the Cow...for "we do not respect this oath, then who will...?"

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  • 3 years later...
  • 1 month later...

The cow in Uggardanti:

Command me to kill and destroy the Turks (Muslims).

Eliminate the killing of the cow from the entire universe.

I shall kill the Mughals and end their rule.

The triumphant clarion call of morality will again resound in the universe.

Kindly adhere to my specific request.

Annihilate the evil demons and safeguard the cow (destitute).

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  • 6 years later...

Cows are not sacred at all.

Life is sacred, in all forms. The jeeva, the soul, is the reason for the liife in any form, and we have no right to take away any life....

Each form of life is due to its karmas, is a prisoner in the wheel of eighty four.

Mankind is the highest form of life.

Each specie on earth is made from the 5 tattwas, which are as we all know: air, water, earth, fire and ether.

The lowest ladder of the creationis the vegeatble kingdom, which has only one element active in it, which is water.

Then comes the insect kingdom, with 2 elements active, then the bird kingdom, or those which are born from eggs, which have three elements active in them.

Then in the fourth place comes the mammals or four legged animals, which have the air, fire, water and earth elements active in them, the ether element is dormant, that is why they have no "budh".

In the last step of the ladder of the creation,on top of all is the man, who has all the elemnts active in them, and who is called as Nar Naraeenee deh, means that form of life, where the Lord can be realized.

We also know: jaisa dhiaeeyeh, waisa hoeeyeh. This means: as you dwell upon, there you shall go.

So if we worship cows, parrots, bulls, serpents, etc .... what will happen? We shall fall from this human form, top of the creation, to the level of the objects of our devotion.

Is that not moorakhta? Is that not agyanta?

That is why the Bani tells us: bhai parapt manukh deh hooreeya, Gobind milan kee yeh teree bareeya.

O soul, you have got this human form after so long time, and that also, to redeem yourself once and forever from the cycle of births and deaths, and this freedom, is only possible, by attaching your chit, with Gobind, the Lord. And attching one´s chit with the Lord, does not mean, to do karam kaands, or rituals, or pilgrimages.... no ... nothing of that sort.

Wahiguru is Nirgun, it is only by His chintan, His Simran, that our chetanta, our soul consciousness arises in the inner realms, and with the Grace of Shabad Guru, it reaches its True Home: Sach Khand.

So dear sangat jee, if ever there is anything sacred, it is His Naam, because it is the only fact, which allows us to reunite ourselves with Him, by merging in Him; apart from that, everything is maya, is koor, is fanah....

However the history, traditions or culture, may give us the picture of that our misconcepts being something sacred.

The Bani clearly says: Saacha Prabh, Saacha Naao. Only one Wahiguru, and His Naam, is the only one Truth

Sat Sree Akal.

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The jeeva, the soul, is the reason for the liife in any form, and we have no right to take away any life....

What about in war - or self defense?

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Maharaj mentions of cow protection...

XhI dyh AwigAw qurkn gih KpwaUN ]
gaU Gwq kw doK jg isauN imtwaUN ]
ieh hukm idE ik qurkW nUM mwr imtWvW [
gaU mwrn dw duK swry sMswr ivcoN imtw dyvW [
Command me to kill and destroy the Turks (Muslims).
Eliminate the killing of the cow from the entire universe.

XhI Aws pUrn krhu qum hmwrI ]
imtY kst gaUAn CutY Kyd BwrI ]
ieho myrI ie`Cw qusIN pUrI kro [
gaU, kSt Aqy BwrI duK qoN mukiq ho jwvy [
Grant me this boon.
Relieve the cow of agony and all ailments.

XhI bynqI Kws hmrI suxIjY ]
Asur mwr kr r`C gaUAn krIjY ]
ieho myrI Kws Arz suxo [
rwkiSSW (AsurW) nUM mwrky gaU (grIb) dI rkSW kro [
Kindly adhere to my specific request.
Annihilate the evil demons and safeguard the cow (destitute).

lol has any one read ughardhanti ????? dasam granth ???? it says people who eat cows are malesh !!!

Edited by jaikaara
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The animal earned the respect of 'mother' due to its utility and psychologically we treat it n the same way..might not hesitate to eat beef of buffalo jhatkaed but cow is one of the animals i wouldn't want to consume.

1lb beef takes 8-10000l water

Even chankya said the melch who eat beef are dirtier than 1000 chandals (sons of prostitues)

Krishn said the nation which harms its cows will never grow. Think he said same about daughters


Cow is mother bro, that is why we protect it.

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Life is sacred, in all forms. The jeeva, the soul, is the reason for the liife in any form, and we have no right to take away any life....

In self defense it is ok, because it is necessary for one´s survival, otherwise one may get killed....

In the war, well, I have heard that, one is not responsible for one´s actions, as one is following some superior rank´s orders....

And he is responsible for those orders.

Again the question arises, If I do not kill , I may get killed by the enemy... And usually it is for the defense of one´s nation in those moments.

The thing is, not to kill for pleasure, nor for any other motive, except as you have said in the cases of self defense or in war.

Anyhow, something tells me, that the equation of karma is very much beyond one´s imagination, so one should very much take care and be consciouss of one´s behaviour and karmas in the creation.

Once I read, that if even one grain of rice , due to the wind is carried to our house from the neighbour´s one, even then one will have to account for it.

So from this example we can see how accurate and unavoidable it is.

Nothing in this creation goes away just as like that, though usually our consciousness warns us many a times, but the fact is we ignore it.

Anyhow going back to your questions, I have learnt and herad from Gurmukhs, that if one lives by His will, He, Dayal Purukh, arranges the life of His sikh in such a way, that, one hardly incurrs in any karma, as, He is with us at all times.

Haven´t we heard: "jisko raakhe Saeeya, mar na sakeh koee" .

So you see as per sikhee, Wahiguru is already there, but if we want His hand over us, we have place our chit, our surtee, at His Lotus Feet.

And do we know, how to do that?

I think it is not difficult at all. Just as we lovingly call our near and beloved ones, in the same way, repeat His Name(Naam Simran) with full love, devotion and faith.

As simple as that Singho.

Sat Sree Akal.

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1lb beef takes 8-10000l water

Even chankya said the melch who eat beef are dirtier than 1000 chandals (sons of prostitues)

Krishn said the nation which harms its cows will never grow. Think he said same about daughters

Cow is mother bro, that is why we protect it.

Holy cow!
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  • 1 year later...
Guest Shaleen
On 6/15/2004 at 7:57 PM, Guest Javanmard said:

1. The sacrifice of several types of animals and the consumption of their meat is inscribed in the Vedas!!!

2. Rama and Lakshmana used to hunt!

3. According to Dharma shastras kshatriyas are allowed to drink wine, hunt, eat meat and enjoy polygamy!!!

4. Animal sacrifices are an essential part of the Shakta rituals where goatas and buffalos are sacrificed to the Devi.

1. Vedas are scientific books and.........these are not sacred books to be exact u cant see god by following these scriptures... and u can always do changes to vedas with sufficient proof.......its written in themselves...

2. I guess u hv only watched ramayana from tv but never hv listened to it... well u should bcz sita mata or lord rama were against killing animals......

3. And dharma shastras are the rules or laws provided by rulers at that time..........nothing else.

4. U can read any puran on any goddess.. they dont want animal sacrifice they all condemn it its just some stupid ppl who are doing this to get money out of ppl

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On 3/25/2015 at 2:19 PM, Koi said:

1lb beef takes 8-10000l water

Even chankya said the melch who eat beef are dirtier than 1000 chandals (sons of prostitues)

Krishn said the nation which harms its cows will never grow. Think he said same about daughters

Cow is mother bro, that is why we protect it.

Totally false, in India and in many countries cows are not raised for beef, they are raised for milk.Since people love double and triple standards they just want to blind eye toward cruelities of milk industry

1) Since much of India now uses tractors can anybody tell me what will a nation do with male calves?

2) If you allow male calves to grow and live naturally it requires thousands and thousands of crore, from where this money will come

3) The nations which are harming its cows are now most developed nations

4) A desi cow gives milk upto 12 years and lives upto 22 years. who will take care of her next 10 years. again it require thousands and thousands of crores to take care of unproductive cows

5) Since India started buffalo meat export Indian farmers abandoned cows and do buffalo farming Haryana has 79% of Buffaloes while Punjab has 75% of buffaloes out of total milk animals as non productive cows have minus value

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9 hours ago, kdsingh80 said:

Totally false, in India and in many countries cows are not raised for beef, they are raised for milk.Since people love double and triple standards they just want to blind eye toward cruelities of milk industry

1) Since much of India now uses tractors can anybody tell me what will a nation do with male calves?

2) If you allow male calves to grow and live naturally it requires thousands and thousands of crore, from where this money will come

3) The nations which are harming its cows are now most developed nations

4) A desi cow gives milk upto 12 years and lives upto 22 years. who will take care of her next 10 years. again it require thousands and thousands of crores to take care of unproductive cows

5) Since India started buffalo meat export Indian farmers abandoned cows and do buffalo farming Haryana has 79% of Buffaloes while Punjab has 75% of buffaloes out of total milk animals as non productive cows have minus value

For the record Bro, kharku84 said that, not me

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  • 5 years later...

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