- Introducing
- the
- concept
- of
- a
- "sacred
- cow"
- often
- evokes
- images
- of
- untouchability
- or
- blind
- adherence
- to
- tradition.
- In
- common
- parlance,
- it
- can
- refer
- to
- something
- immune
- to
- criticism
- or
- change,
- sometimes
- even
- to
- the
- detriment
- of
- progress.
- However,
- within
- the
- rich
- tapestry
- of
- Vedic
- culture,
- the
- reverence
- for
- the
- cow
- holds
- a
- far
- deeper
- and
- more
- profound
- significance,
- one
- that
- touches
- upon
- the
- very
- essence
- of
- life,
- sustenance,
- and
- our
- relationship
- with
- the
- Divine.This
- book,
- "Sacred
- Cow,"
- seeks
- to
- unravel
- the
- layers
- of
- meaning
- behind
- this
- seemingly
- simple
- phrase,
- delving
- into
- the
- wisdom
- of
- the
- Vedas,
- the
- ancient
- scriptural
- tradition
- of
- the
- world.
- It
- will
- explore
- why
- the
- cow
- occupies
- such
- a
- unique
- and
- revered
- position
- within
- this
- culture,
- extending
- beyond
- mere
- dietary
- restrictions
- to
- encompass
- profound
- spiritual
- and
- practical
- principles.As
- the
- gopis
- in
- Vrindavana
- exclaimed
- upon
- hearing
- the
- transcendental
- sound
- of
- Krishna's
- flute,
- even
- the
- cows
- are
- charmed
- by
- its
- nectar-like
- melody,
- eagerly
- spreading
- their
- ears
- to
- catch
- its
- divine
- essence.
- This
- intimate
- connection
- between
- Lord
- Krishna,
- the
- Supreme
- Personality
- of
- Godhead,
- and
- the
- cows
- is
- a
- central
- theme
- in
- Vedic
- thought.
- Known
- by
- names
- such
- as
- Gopala
- (protector
- of
- the
- cows)
- and
- Govinda
- (one
- who
- gives
- pleasure
- to
- the
- cows
- and
- the
- senses),
- Krishna's
- affection
- underscores
- the
- cow's
- special
- status.The
- Vedic
- tradition
- elevates
- the
- cow
- to
- the
- position
- of
- one
- of
- the
- seven
- mothers.
- Just
- as
- a
- human
- mother
- provides
- life-sustaining
- milk
- to
- her
- child,
- the
- cow
- offers
- this
- vital
- nourishment
- to
- humanity
- without
- discrimination.
- This
- selfless
- giving,
- a
- result
- of
- pure
- love
- for
- its
- offspring,
- mirrors
- the
- unconditional
- care
- we
- associate
- with
- motherhood.
- The
- seven
- mothers,
- according
- to
- Vedic
- injunction,
- include
- the
- real
- mother,
- the
- wife
- of
- a
- teacher
- or
- spiritual
- master,
- the
- wife
- of
- a
- king,
- the
- wife
- of
- a
- brahma?a,
- the
- cow,
- the
- nurse,
- and
- mother
- earth.
- The
- cow's
- inclusion
- in
- this
- sacred
- list
- highlights
- its
- indispensable
- role
- in
- sustaining
- life
- and
- society.Beyond
- its
- practical
- utility,
- the
- reverence
- for
- the
- cow
- is
- rooted
- in
- the
- understanding
- of
- the
- spiritual
- equality
- of
- all
- living
- beings.
- The
- wise,
- those
- with
- true
- knowledge
- (vidya),
- see
- with
- equal
- vision
- a
- learned
- and
- gentle
- brahma?a,
- a
- cow,
- an
- elephant,
- a
- dog,
- and
- even
- a
- dog-eater
- (sva-pake).
- This
- perspective
- acknowledges
- the
- presence
- of
- the
- same
- spirit
- soul
- (puru?a)
- within
- all
- living
- entities,
- emphasizing
- the
- interconnectedness
- and
- sanctity
- of
- life.This
- book
- will
- also
- address
- common
- justifications
- for
- animal
- killing
- and
- how
- the
- acaryas,
- the
- great
- Vedic
- saints
- who
- lead
- by
- example,
- have
- resolved
- these
- misconceptions.
- It
- will
- explore
- why
- the
- cow,
- in
- particular,
- warrants
- our
- protection
- and
- respect,
- contrasting
- the
- Vedic
- viewpoint
- with
- other
- perspectives.
- Ultimately,
- "Sacred
- Cow"
- aims
- to
- illuminate
- the
- profound
- wisdom
- embedded
- in
- this
- seemingly
- simple
- concept,
- revealing
- its
- relevance
- to
- our
- own
- well-being
- and
- our
- connection
- with
- the Divine.
pro-mbooks3 : libris
