COWS ARE COOL: LOVE ‘EM!
22.
Kids And Cows
In Ancient India
Five thousand years ago, Lord Krishna incarnated in the holy land of Mathura in India. Srila Prabhupada gives the following description of His pastimes as a cowherd boy.
“Nanda Maharaja, the foster father of Krsna, was keeping 900,000 cows. And He was rich man. He was maharaja, king. But see the behavior. His beloved son, Krsna and Balarama, he has entrusted to take care of the calves or cows: "Go in the forest." He is well dressed with ornament, and nice dress, everything. All the cowherds boys, they are very rich. They have got enough grains and enough milk. Naturally they will be rich. But not that the cows and the calves will be taken care of by some hired servant. No. They would take care himself.
Kids And Cows
In Ancient India
Five thousand years ago, Lord Krishna incarnated in the holy land of Mathura in India. Srila Prabhupada gives the following description of His pastimes as a cowherd boy.
“Nanda Maharaja, the foster father of Krsna, was keeping 900,000 cows. And He was rich man. He was maharaja, king. But see the behavior. His beloved son, Krsna and Balarama, he has entrusted to take care of the calves or cows: "Go in the forest." He is well dressed with ornament, and nice dress, everything. All the cowherds boys, they are very rich. They have got enough grains and enough milk. Naturally they will be rich. But not that the cows and the calves will be taken care of by some hired servant. No. They would take care himself.
How egocentric of humans to think we are the only beings who can think, feel, bond with others, etc. As the “dominating” species, we have a responsibility to care for and protect the entire planet, including the other animals.
~Sioux Komoroski, Tucson, Arizona, USA
That was children's sport, to go to the forest, take the calves and cows and carry some tiffin. Eat there, dance there, play there, and again come in the evening. Then they will take bath and change their dress and take their meals and immediately go to sleep. This was the boy's, children's, engagement. So how they would grow healthy because they go outside and play and work and very happily, they enjoy the company. So there is no question of becoming contaminated. Yamuna-tiravana-cari. Yamuna-tira, on the bank of the Yamuna... Just like we go to the seaside, the beach, similarly, there is bank of Yamuna, very nice river, and there are trees. So these boys, Krsna and His friends, with their cows they will go and loiter on the bank of the Yamuna and sport and frivolities, everything, so nicely. So there was no question of education at that time. After the child is grown up, healthy, nice, then he goes to school. Otherwise first of all eat sumptuously milk, butter and yogurt, and play sufficiently in open air with friends, take care of the cows. This is labor. But it is sporting, very nice. So these things were taught by Krsna Himself, although He was the son of king. (Lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.2, Los Angeles, May 16, 1973)