Hinduism respects cow as mother and it is believed, cow is the living form of all Gods together. It’s become obvious for every Hindu to pray the cow. Cows are the most important and unavoidable requirement for every Hindu rituals.
There are many stories in Hindu mythology that describe the significance and esteem a cow has been offered in a Hindu society. Maharishi Vashisth was even ready to sacrifice his own life to save his beloved cow, Kamadhenu. Maharishi Chyavan declined the proposal to accept a kingdom against a cow. The importance of a cow can be summed up from these exemplary activities of ancient Indians. Cow resembles a mother as it only gives.
Religious texts say:
The cow is a universal mother.
In Agnipuran, the importance of the cow is mentioned. Cow is the most auspicious and virtuous animal. Serving a cow is nothing less than serving the God. Salvation lies in taking care of a cow by making it eat, drink and bath. Milk, curd, butter and ghee are all used in religious offerings and it is provided by a cow. It has been scientifically proved that, cow dung and urine possesses medicinal advantages. The resident of a cow is considered as pure as the environment of a temple.
In the Atharva-Veda, it is said:
The cow is the mother of Rudras, she is a daughter of the Vasus; she is the sister of Surya. She is a storehouse of ghee that is like the celestial nectar.
Markandeypuran describes the religious importance of the cow by symbolizing its back as the Rig-Veda, the body as the Yajur-Veda, the mouth as the Sama-Veda, the neck as a household deity and the good deeds and the soft body hair are like the mantras.
In the Vishnusmriti, it is said, the success of a yagya, depends on the cow’s participation in it. Having cows at home is like going for pilgrimage every day.
As per the Skandpuran, the house premises and temples are supposed to be purified with cow dung.
Cow milk has such miraculous properties that can heal mental and physical disabilities as said in the Atharva-Veda.
In the Mahabharata, Kurmpuran, Yagyavalkya Smriti and several other religious books, it is said that giving a cow in charity enhances the chances to be blessed with happiness in life and salvation after death.
Think it over…
There is an Indian legend, which says that when human beings die they must cross a bridge to enter heaven. At the head of that bridge they meet every animal they encountered during their lifetime. The animals, based upon what they know of the persons, decide which humans may cross the bridge and which should be turned away.
-Anon