What is the significance of Godaan, the act of charity?

Answer 1

Cow is the representative of Kam dhenu who came out of the churning of the ocean of milk. She is the abode of all deities (supposed to be 33crores) So Go daan (gift of cow) is regarded as the most auspicious deed a Hindu can perform. (it should be a young milch cow and not one which has gone dry)
Gifting a dry cow would send him to raurav narak.

Answer 2

Cows (Go) are very sacred animal in for Hindus and in Hindu Mythology. It is said that 33 crores of devas, rishishes, and all Gods and goddesses are part of the holy Cow. Cows are gifted when any aspicious occassions. Also it is believed all the sins will be wipedout if a cow is gifted to someone, preferably a Brahmin.

Cows are venerated within the Hindu religion of India. According to Vedic scripture they are to be treated with the same respect 'as one's mother' because of the milk they provide; "The cow is my mother. The bull is my sire.". They appear in numerous stories from the Puranas and Vedas, for example the deity Sri Krishna is brought up in a family of cowherders and Lord Shiva is said to ride on the back of a bull. Bulls in particular are seen as a symbolic emblem of selfless duty and religion. In ancient India every household had a few cows which provided a constant supply of milk and a few bulls that helped as draft animals.

Answer 3

Out of the various charities, the Hindus regard the gifting of a holy Cow as earning maximua merit for the donor. That is Godaan.A dying person will get all his sins washed away, if he donates a Cow to a brahmin priest before death.

Answer 4

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 Hindus will not eat beef even at the risk of starvation.

The term 'sacred cow' has also taken on a meaning in today's society as a figure of speech, referring to someone or something that is sacrosanct.

Answer 5

Godaan is very important for hindus... it is said that the one who offers cow in donation..gets the help of cow while crossing Vaitrani...a horrible river which every soul has to cross after death

Answer 6

Godaan

Answer 7

Can we donate statue of cow if actual cow donation is not possible?

Answer 8

Thanks for 2 points!