Hindu: cattle and tradition
The cow as Gau Mata, Nandi the bull of Shiva, Krishna the cowherd, and the gaushala that shelters old cattle.
In Hindu tradition the cow holds a place of deep respect. Many Hindus speak of her as Gau Mata, mother cow, who gives milk as a mother does. Nandi the bull is the mount and gatekeeper of Shiva, and Krishna is loved as Gopala and Govinda, the cowherd of Vrindavan. Cattle are honoured at festivals such as Govardhan Puja, Gopashtami, Mattu Pongal and Pola, and gaushalas across India care for cows that no longer give milk. Practice and belief vary widely between regions, communities and families.
Gau Mata and Kamadhenu
In the Vedas, cattle are wealth and blessing, and the word for cow, go, also carries meanings of light and speech. Later texts describe Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling cow who rose from the churning of the ocean, and her daughter Nandini, kept by the sage Vasishtha. Many Hindus see the cow as a gentle giver who asks for little and gives milk, ghee, curd and the labour of her calves. Feeding a cow a roti or grass before the family eats is an everyday act of devotion in many homes.
Nandi and Krishna
Nandi, the bull, is Shiva's mount and the guardian of his abode. In most Shiva temples a stone Nandi sits facing the sanctum, and devotees often whisper their prayers into his ear. The great Nandi statues at Thanjavur, Lepakshi and Mysore's Chamundi Hill draw many visitors. Krishna grew up among cowherds in Gokul and Vrindavan, and stories of him grazing cows, playing his flute and lifting the hill of Govardhan are among the best loved in India. Braj, the land of his childhood, is still cattle country.
Gaushalas and go-seva
A gaushala is a shelter for cows, especially those that are old, sick, abandoned or no longer give milk. Many are run by temples, trusts and charitable families, and some keep native breeds such as the Gir, Sahiwal and Tharparkar. Go-seva, service to the cow, includes feeding, grooming and giving to a gaushala. In traditional belief, products of the cow such as milk, curd, ghee, dung and urine, together called panchagavya, are used in ritual and are held by some to be purifying; these are matters of faith, not of medicine.
Law and debate
Cow protection has a long history in India and is named in Article 48 of the Constitution, among the directive principles of state policy. Laws on cattle slaughter are made by the states and differ widely: some ban it entirely, some allow the slaughter of older or unproductive cattle, and some have no ban. The subject is often debated in public life, and views differ within and across communities.
Worth knowing
- Kamadhenu: The wish-fulfilling cow of Hindu tradition
- Nandi: The bull of Shiva, facing the sanctum
- Krishna as Gopala: The cowherd of Vrindavan
- Govardhan Puja: The hill Krishna lifted to shelter the cattle
- Gopashtami: Day of worship of cows and calves
- Gaushala: Shelter for old and abandoned cows
- Brihadeeswarar Temple Nandi: Monolithic Nandi at Thanjavur
- Lepakshi Nandi: Large stone Nandi in Andhra Pradesh
Sources and further reading
- Cattle in religion and mythology on Wikipedia
- Kamadhenu, Wikipedia
- Nandi (Hinduism), Wikipedia
- Goshala, Wikipedia
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.
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