Do hindus really worship cows?

Answer 1

In Hinduism, the cow is considered sacred and its protection is a recurrent theme in which she is symbolic of abundance, of the sanctity of all life and of the earth that gives much while asking nothing in return. Most Hindus respect the cow as a matriarchal figure for her gentle qualities and providing nurturing milk and its products for a largely vegetarian diet. Hindus DO NOT WORSHIP the cow, yet it holds an honoured place in society, and most Hindus do not eat beef.

Origins
There is no consensus on whether the cow was sacred and forbidden in the Hindu diet from ancient Vedic times. The Vedic sacrifices, after which the sanctified meat was eaten, include bovines, and even at a funeral ceremony, the Ashvalayana Grhya Sutras prescribe the sacrifice of a cow for consumption. Frequently it is specified that the sacrificed cow had to be a barren one, "destined for the gods and the brahmans", or a bull. In their Dharmasutras, Vasishta, Gautama and Apastambha prohibit eating the flesh of both cows and draught oxen, while Baudhya-yana exacts penances for killing a cow, and stricter ones for a milk animal or draught ox. Starting with prohibitions on cow slaughter for ritual brahminical sacrifice, revulsion spread to the eating of all types of beef derived in such sacrifices.

It was possibly revered because the largely pastoral Vedic people and subsequent generations relied so heavily on the cow for dairy products, tilling of fields and cow dung as a source of fuel and a fertiliser that its status as a 'caretaker' led to identifying it as an almost maternal figure (so the term gau mata). Those who believe that Vedic people ate cows propose that the scriptural injuctions against eating it started with Krishna, who tended cows, or alternatively with the rise of Jainism.
Despite the differences of opinion regarding the origins of the cow's elevated status, reverence for cows can be found throughout the religion's major texts.

Sanskrit etymology
The most common word for cow is go, as seen in go-pala, a name for Krishna, which means cowherd. This word is cognate with the English cow and Latin bo-.
The Sanskrit word for cattle is pashu, which is cognate with the Latin word pecu, from which derives words pertaining to money in Latin (and into English) : pecunia, impecunious. This illustrates the parallel in the Roman world and in the ancient Hindu world, of the economic importance of cows and cattle.
The cow is descriptively called Aghanya - that which may not be slaughtered.Depending on the interpretation of terminology used for a cow, the cow may have been protected or offered as a sacrifice and eaten.

The cow in the Hindu scriptures
According to the Rig Veda, the cow represents the maternal aspect of Earth. Vyasa said:

Cows are sacred. They are embodiments of merit. They are high and most efficacious cleansers of all.

According to Aurobindo, in the Rig Veda the cows sometimes symbolize "light" and "rays".Aurobindo wrote that Aditi (the supreme Prakriti/Nature force) is described as a cow, and the Deva or Purusha (the supreme being/soul) as a bull.
The Vedic god Indra is sometimes compared to a bull.
Cattle were also important to the Rigvedic people, and several hymns refer to ten thousand and more cattle. Rig Veda 7.95.2. and other verses (e.g. 8.21.18) also mention that the Sarasvati region poured milk and "fatness" (ghee), indicating that cattle were herded in this region.
Rivers are often likened to cows in the Rigveda, for example in 3.33.1cd,
Like two bright mother cows who lick their young, Vipas and Sutudri speed down their waters.

Krishna

Literature on Lord Krishna, one of the Hinduism's most important figures, who is believed to have lived 5000 years ago, depict him as a cowherd. He is often described as Bala Gopala, "the child who protects the cows." Another of Krishna's names, Govinda, means "one who brings satisfaction to the cows." Other scriptures identify the cow as the "mother" of all civilization, its milk nurturing the population. The gift of a cow is applauded as the highest kind of gift.
The milk of a cow is believed to promote Sattvic (purifying) qualities. The ghee (clarified butter) from the milk of a cow is used in ceremonies and in preparing religious food. Cow dung is used as fertilizer, as a fuel and as a disinfectant in homes. Modern science acknowledges that the smoke from cow dung is a powerful disinfectant and an anti-pollutant. Its urine is also used for religious rituals as well as medicinal purposes. The supreme purificatory material, panchagavya, was a mixture of five products of the cow, namely milk, curds, ghee, urine and dung. The interdiction of the meat of the bounteous cow as food was regarded as the first step to total vegetarianism.

The cow in Ancient India
Recent studies also indicate that the Indus Valley region had an exceptionally high frequency of cattle domestication, and cattle mtDNA studies indicate that South Asia may be one of two regions with cattle domestication. Terracotta cattle figurines, „bullock“ carts and cattle motifs have often been found in the Harappan sites.The cow could be seen as a "cultural link" between the ancient Harappans and modern Hindus, because the cow was economically important for the ancient Harappans and has also a religious importance in post-Vedic Hinduism.
There are also depictions of (Zebu) cattle on pottery, figurines and Indus seals.The domestication of the Zebu cattle is believed to have occurred locally.

Historical significance
The cow taboo played a role in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 against the British colonial government. Hindu sepoys were told that the new bullets were greased with cow fat. Since gunloading required biting the bullet, the British Army was forcing them to break their religion, and this sentiment, in part, incited the mutiny.

In today's world
Today, in heavily Hindu nations like India and Nepal, bovine milk continues to hold a central place in religious rituals. In honor of their exalted status, cows often roam free. In some places, it is considered good luck to give one a snack, or fruit before breakfast. In holy places where there is a ban on cow slaughter, a citizen can be sent to jail for killing or injuring a cow.
With injunctions against eating the cow, a system evolved where only the pariah fed on dead cows and treated their leather. With the introduction of Islam, Muslims also entered this business.
Rambling cows also served as a social equalizer. A landless farmer could leave his cows to wander and feed on the fields of the rich, who could not keep them away. Studies show that the substitution of work cows with mechanized farming would not be economically sound for India.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Do hindus really worship cows?

Answer 3

The answers here are pathetic. A Hindu may well ask "Do Christians really believe that one man can forgive billions of others?"

"Worshiping the cow" isn't as simple as it seems. From my experience (which means I'm not Hindu, but have sort-of Hindu friends), cows are more revered rather than worshiped, as a sustenance for life. Indians truly could not live without the cow, since it is the only viable option for living in a poor agrarian society. Eating the cow means you get food for a few days, maybe. Putting the cow to work means you get milk, cheese, and produce farmed from easy labor for as long as the cow can live. They're a kind of "investment", I guess you could call it, since it is much too difficult to get any other form of advanced farming tools.

Answer 4

Since Aryan culture was a peasant based society, Cow was very important for them...for milk and for farms.

Hindus believe cow is an angel who helped them in survival...hence they respect cow dont kill her for eating....not really worship cows

Answer 5

yes they consider it Sacred but not worship. but they do have Lord Krishna standing with a Cow statue in their prayer rooms.

Answer 6

Basics of Hinduism: Why do Hindus worship the cow?
By www.himalayanacademy.com




Basics of Hinduism: Why do Hindus worship the cow?

A: The cow represents the giving nature of life to every Hindu. Honoring this gentle animal, who gives more than she takes, we honor all creatures.
Longer answer: Hindus regard all living- creatures as sacredѼa href="/mammals" class="auto-link">mammals, fishes, birds and more. We acknowledge this reverence for life in our special affection for the cow. At festivals we decorate and honor her, but we do not worship her in the sense that we worship the Deity. To the Hindu, the cow symbolizes all other creatures. The cow is a symbol of the Earth, the nourisher, the ever-giving, undemanding provider. The cow represents life and the sustenance of life. The cow is so generous, taking nothing but water, grass and grain. It gives and gives and gives of its milk, as does the liberated soul give of his spiritual knowledge. The cow is so vital to life, the virtual sustainer of life, for many humans. The cow is a symbol of grace and abundance. Veneration of the cow instills in Hindus the virtues of gentleness, receptivity and connectedness with nature.



Elaboration: Who is the greatest giver on planet Earth today? Who do we see on every table in every country of the worldѼa href="/breakfast" class="auto-link">breakfast, lunch and dinner? It is the cow. McDonald's cow-vending golden arches and their rivals have made fortunes on the humble cow. The generous cow gives milk and cream, yogurt and cheese, butter and ice cream, ghee and buttermilk. It gives entirely of itself through sirloin, ribs, rump, porterhouse and beef stew. Its bones are the base for soup broths and glues. It gives the world leather belts, leather seats, leather coats and shoes, beef jerky, cowboy hatsѹou name it. The only cow-question for Hindus is, "Why don't more people respect and protect this remarkable creature?" Mahatma Gandhi once said, "One can measure the greatness of a nation and its moral progress by the way it treats its animals. Cow protection to me is not mere protection of the cow. It means protection of all that lives and is helpless and weak in the world. The cow means the entire subhuman world."

Answer 7

No, they are viewed as sacred, which is not the same thing as worshipping them.Try looking into the Hindu religion.It's pretty cool on a few levels.

Answer 8

cows are the symbol of their fertility goddess kali ma--they are her sacred animal--they worship kali ma and leave her pets to roam

Answer 9

I have never been there, but yes, cows are sacred to them among other things. Even rats, cobras, and several other forms of life. I really don't think a Hindu kills anything, because they believe it may be an ancestor of theirs.

Answer 10

You raise some good points in your question.

Answer 11

Great question