Gifts and offerings: the breeds
The cow given as a gift (go-daan), the animals of Eid and the cattle given to temples.
Cattle have long been given as gifts to gods, temples, priests and the poor. In Hindu tradition, go-daan, the gift of a cow, is counted among the most meritorious acts, and calves and cows are given to temples and gaushalas. At Eid al-Adha, Muslims who can afford it sacrifice an animal, often a cow or bull shared among several families, and give much of the meat to others. In Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhism, animals are freed from slaughter as an act of merit. Ancient religions offered cattle to their gods.
Go-daan
Go-daan is the gift of a cow, traditionally to a Brahmin priest or a family in need. It is made at important moments in life: at births, weddings, on festival days and in the rites after a death. In some traditions the gift of a cow is believed to help the soul of the dead cross the river Vaitarani. Many families now give money to a gaushala in place of a living cow, or give a calf to a temple herd.
Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, remembers Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son, and the ram given in his place. Muslims who can afford it sacrifice a sheep, goat, cow or camel. A cow or a camel may be shared by up to seven people, and the meat is commonly divided into three parts: for the family, for relatives and friends, and for those in need. In South Asia, cattle markets grow large in the weeks before Eid.
Temples and life release
Many Hindu temples keep cattle given by devotees, and their milk is used in worship. In Tibetan Buddhist practice, tsethar is the release of an animal destined for slaughter, often a yak or sheep, which is then marked with coloured ribbons and allowed to live out its life. In Bhutan, Nepal and Ladakh, such animals can be seen grazing near monasteries and villages. The act is understood as generating merit for the giver.
Feasts and offerings of the past
In the hills of Nagaland and neighbouring areas, mithun were sacrificed at feasts of merit, which a family gave to raise its standing in the village. Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and Israel offered cattle at temples, and the Greek word hecatomb first meant an offering of a hundred cattle. Many of these customs ended long ago; others have changed into gifts of food, money or symbolic animals.
Worth knowing
- Go-daan: The gift of a cow in Hindu tradition
- Eid al-Adha: The festival of sacrifice
- Qurbani: The sacrificial animal of Eid
- Tsethar: Tibetan Buddhist release of animals
- Feast of merit: Mithun feasts of the Naga hills
- Hecatomb: Greek offering of a hundred cattle
Sources and further reading
Original text by the EveryCow desk, written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Customs are described as tradition, not as advice. If we have something wrong, tell us.
Gifts and offerings on EveryCow
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