COWS ARE COOL: LOVE ‘EM!
29.
Happy Cows, Happy Society
“How now brown cow?”
This is a phrase used sometimes in UK as a greeting. This is equivalent to asking - how are you? That would mean, if cow is fine, so you are and if cow is not, you too are not.
This is about a modern country but in many traditional cultures also, well-being of cattle is taken to be the well-being of human beings. For example, in Mongolian culture, on meeting an acquaintance, or even a stranger, the Mongol salutes him with, ‘How are your cattle?’ This is always one of the first questions, and they make no enquiry after your health until they have learned that your cows, sheep, camels, and horses are fat and well to do.
Also in Vedic tradition, while describing the condition of a society, very often just the condition of cows and bulls is mentioned. Cows and bulls are considered to be a barometer which gauges the happiness and well-being of a society.
Happy Cows, Happy Society
“How now brown cow?”
This is a phrase used sometimes in UK as a greeting. This is equivalent to asking - how are you? That would mean, if cow is fine, so you are and if cow is not, you too are not.
This is about a modern country but in many traditional cultures also, well-being of cattle is taken to be the well-being of human beings. For example, in Mongolian culture, on meeting an acquaintance, or even a stranger, the Mongol salutes him with, ‘How are your cattle?’ This is always one of the first questions, and they make no enquiry after your health until they have learned that your cows, sheep, camels, and horses are fat and well to do.
Also in Vedic tradition, while describing the condition of a society, very often just the condition of cows and bulls is mentioned. Cows and bulls are considered to be a barometer which gauges the happiness and well-being of a society.
Ok I may just really sound like a freak. ...well I love cows. They are so cute and useful. Without cows there would be no milky ice creams, no milky cheese, no milkshakes, no milky chocolate, no white chocolate, no cheese, no yogurts!
How would this world cope?
-Sandra Hall, Jacksonville
Srimad Bhagavatam, a Vedic text, describes the rule of Pandava dynasty in India 5000 years ago:
“During the reign of Maharaja Yudhisthira, the clouds showered all the water that people needed, and the earth produced all the necessities of man in profusion. Due to its fatty milk bag and cheerful attitude, the cow used to moisten the grazing ground with milk.”(SB 1.10.4)
There is no description of populace but cows are described as ‘cheerful’. From this the people’s well-being and their peaceful condition is to be inferred. Happy cows give away their milk in plenty and cheerful bulls do all kinds of work. Sufficient supply of cow products ensure healthy minds, healthy brains and healthy bodies. Not only human beings but all living creatures can thus live peacefully and execute the mission of life. In such a society, there is perfect harmony between man, animals, nature and God. People live a life of freedom from physical ailments and mental agonies.
“During the reign of Maharaja Yudhisthira, the clouds showered all the water that people needed, and the earth produced all the necessities of man in profusion. Due to its fatty milk bag and cheerful attitude, the cow used to moisten the grazing ground with milk.”(SB 1.10.4)
There is no description of populace but cows are described as ‘cheerful’. From this the people’s well-being and their peaceful condition is to be inferred. Happy cows give away their milk in plenty and cheerful bulls do all kinds of work. Sufficient supply of cow products ensure healthy minds, healthy brains and healthy bodies. Not only human beings but all living creatures can thus live peacefully and execute the mission of life. In such a society, there is perfect harmony between man, animals, nature and God. People live a life of freedom from physical ailments and mental agonies.
The bull is the emblem of the moral principle, and the cow is the representative of the earth. When the bull and the cow are in a joyful mood, it is to be understood that the people of the world are also in a joyful mood. The reason is that the bull helps production of grains in the agricultural field, and the cow delivers milk, the miracle of aggregate food values. The human society, therefore, maintains these two important animals very carefully so that they can wander everywhere in cheerfulness. But at the present moment in this age of Kali both the bull and the cow are now being slaughtered and eaten up as foodstuff by a class of men who do not know the brahminical culture. |
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We can cite another instance from Srimad Bhagavatam which relates to the meeting of two friends, Nanda and Vasudeva. Nanda was the leader of a cowherd community and Vasudeva was a dethroned king. As soon as they met, Vasudeva enquired from Nanda, "Please tell me about the welfare of Vrndavana. You have many animals -- are they happy? Are they getting sufficient grass and water? Please also let me know whether the place where you are now living is undisturbed and peaceful."
Srila Prabhupada comments on this episode, “It is also significant that Vasudeva inquired about the welfare of Nanda Maharaja's animals. The animals, and especially the cows, were protected exactly in the manner of one's children. Vasudeva was a ksatriya, and Nanda Maharaja was a vaisya. It is the duty of the ksatriyas to give protection to the citizens, and it is the duty of the vaisyas to give protection to the cows. The cows are as important as the citizens. Just as the human citizens should be given all kinds of protection, so the cows also should be given full protection.” (Krishna Book 5: The Meeting of Nanda and Vasudeva)
Srila Prabhupada comments on this episode, “It is also significant that Vasudeva inquired about the welfare of Nanda Maharaja's animals. The animals, and especially the cows, were protected exactly in the manner of one's children. Vasudeva was a ksatriya, and Nanda Maharaja was a vaisya. It is the duty of the ksatriyas to give protection to the citizens, and it is the duty of the vaisyas to give protection to the cows. The cows are as important as the citizens. Just as the human citizens should be given all kinds of protection, so the cows also should be given full protection.” (Krishna Book 5: The Meeting of Nanda and Vasudeva)
yas tvam krsne gate duram
saha-gandiva-dhanvana
socyo 'sy asocyan rahasi
praharan vadham arhasi
You rogue, do you dare beat an innocent cow because Lord Krsna and Arjuna, the carrier of the Gandiva bow, are out of sight? Since you are beating the innocent in a secluded place, you are considered a culprit and therefore deserve to be killed.
In a civilization where God is conspicuously banished, and there is no devotee warrior like Arjuna, the associates of the age of Kali take advantage of this lawless kingdom and arrange to kill innocent animals like the cow in secluded slaughterhouses. Such murderers of animals stand to be condemned to death by the order of a pious king like Maharaja Pariksit. For a pious king, the culprit who kills an animal in a secluded place is punishable by the death penalty, exactly like a murderer who kills an innocent child in a secluded place.
(Srimad Bhagavatam 1.17.6)