why is a COW the Hindu's sacred animal?

Answer 1

Teachings of Lord Caitanya 14 The Ecstasy of the Lord and His Devotees
Sanatana Gosvami thus inquired into all phases of devotional service, and Lord Caitanya taught him most confidentially from authoritative scriptures like Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Lord referred also to the Vedic literature known as Harivamsa, which gives information about the transcendental abode of Krsna. This information was disclosed by Indra when he offered his prayers after being defeated upon challenging the potency of Krsna. In the Harivamsa it is stated that although birds and airplanes can fly, they cannot reach the higher planetary systems. The higher planetary systems begin with the sun planet, which is situated in the middle of the universe. Beyond the sun there are other planetary systems where persons who are elevated by great austerities and penances are situated. The entire material universe is called Devidhama, and above it there is Sivadhama, where Lord Siva and his wife Parvati eternally reside. Above that planetary system is the spiritual sky where innumerable spiritual planets, known as Vaikunthas, are situated. Above these Vaikuntha planets there is Krsna's planet known as Goloka Vrndavana. The word goloka means "planet of the cows." Because Krsna is very fond of cows, His abode is known as Goloka. Goloka Vrndavana is larger than all the material and spiritual planets put together. In the prayer contained in the Harivamsa, Indra admitted that he could not understand the situation of Goloka even by asking Brahma. Those who are devotees of the Narayana expansion of Krsna attain the Vaikuntha planets, but it is very difficult to reach Goloka Vrndavana. Indeed, that planet can be reached only by persons who are devotees of Lord Caitanya or Lord Sri Krsna. It was Indra who admitted to Lord Krsna: "You have descended from that Goloka planet in the spiritual world, and the disturbance which I have created was all due to my foolishness." Therefore Indra begged Lord Krsna to excuse him.

Bg 8.21 P Attaining the Supreme
The supreme abode of the Personality of Godhead, Krsna, is described in the Brahma-samhita as cintamani-dhama, a place where all desires are fulfilled. The supreme abode of Lord Krsna known as Goloka Vrndavana is full of palaces made of touchstone. There are also trees which are called "desire trees," that supply any type of eatable upon demand, and there are cows known as surabhi cows which supply a limitless supply of milk. In this abode, the Lord is served by hundreds of thousands of goddesses of fortune (Laksmis), and He is called Govinda, the primal Lord and the cause of all causes. The Lord is accustomed to blow His flute (venum kvanantam). His transcendental form is the most attractive in all the worlds--His eyes are like the lotus petals and the color of His body is like clouds. He is so attractive that His beauty excels that of thousands of Cupids. He wears saffron cloth, a garland around His neck and a peacock feather in His hair. In the Gita Lord Krsna gives only a small hint of His personal abode (Goloka Vrndavana) which is the supermost planet in the spiritual kingdom. A vivid description is given in the Brahma-samhita. Vedic literature states that there is nothing superior to the abode of the Supreme Godhead, and that that abode is the ultimate destination. When one attains to it, he never returns to the material world. Krsna's supreme abode and Krsna Himself are nondifferent, being of the same quality. On this earth, Vrndavana, ninety miles southeast of Delhi, is a replica of that supreme Goloka Vrndavana located in the spiritual sky. When Krsna descended on this earth He sported on that particular tract of land known as Vrndavana in the district of Mathura, India.

SB 3.5.7 P Vidura' s Talks with Maitreya
The cow is the most important animal for developing the human body to perfection. The body can be maintained by any kind of foodstuff, but cow's milk is particularly essential for developing the finer tissues of the human brain so that one can understand the intricacies of transcendental knowledge.



SB 8.8.11 P The Churning of the Milk Ocean
Panca-gavya, the five products received from the cow, namely milk, yogurt, ghee, cow dung and cow urine, are required in all ritualistic ceremonies performed according to the Vedic directions. Cow urine and cow dung are uncontaminated, and since even the urine and dung of a cow are important, we can just imagine how important this animal is for human civilization. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, directly advocates go-raksya, the protection of cows. Civilized men who follow the system of varnasrama, especially those of the vaisya class, who engage in agriculture and trade, must give protection to the cows. Unfortunately, because people in Kali-yuga are mandah, all bad, and sumanda-matayah, misled by false conceptions of life, they are killing cows in the thousands. Therefore they are unfortunate in spiritual consciousness, and nature disturbs them in so many ways, especially through incurable diseases like cancer and through frequent wars and among nations. As long as human society continues to allow cows to be regularly killed in slaughterhouses, there cannot be any question of peace and prosperity.

LoB 27
If we really want to cultivate the human spirit in society we must have first-class intelligent men to guide the society, and to develop the finer tissues of our brains we must assimilate vitamin values from milk. Devotees worship Lord Sri Krsna by addressing Him as the well-wisher of the brahmanas and the cows. The most intelligent class of men, who have perfectly attained knowledge in spiritual values, are called the brahmanas. No society can improve in transcendental knowledge without the guidance of such first-class men, and no brain can assimilate the subtle form of knowledge without fine brain tissues. For such important brain tissues we require a sufficient quantity of milk and milk preparations. Ultimately, we need to protect the cow to derive the highest benefit from this important animal. The protection of cows, therefore, is not merely a religious sentiment but a means to secure the highest benefit for human society.

681127BG.LA Lectures
Prabhupada: And one Dr. Ghosh, a great chemist, he examined cow dung, that why cow dung is so much important in the Vedic literature? He found that cow dung contains all the antiseptic properties. In Ayur-veda, cow dung dried and burned into ashes is used as toothpowder. It is very antiseptic toothpowder.

SB 3.2.8 P Remembrance of Lord Krsna
according to Ayur-vedic medicine the cow's urine is very effective in treating patients suffering from liver trouble. Such patients may not have any experience of the cow's milk because milk is never given to liver patients.

Govinda 760814mw.bom Conversations
Prabhupada: Gomutra is good medicine for liver disease. If you drink urine of...
Dr. Patel: Yes, it is proved scientifically so many hormones and by-products and hormones which can be resynthesized into human hormones, modern science.

Answer 2

That guy Govinda gave the really detailed answer. It was too long for me to read the whole of it but on the whole it seemed accurate. The simple thing is the cow is associated with some diety or other and also people are supposedly re-incarnated as cows. Now when you're grandpa is a cow I bet you're going to respect it. Unfortunately in many countries people have made fun off this idea. In Uganda, where I used to live there was a joke that I thought was rather offensive. Some non-practising Hindus eat beef. The justification in this joke was that Ugandan cows aren't their grandpas.

Answer 3

Because it is associated with Vishnu?

Also I believe one might reincarnated as a cow or they are at least comparable to people. Monkies however aren't...

HERE"S THE WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_cow

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 it is part of Hindu tradition to avoid the consumption of beef.

And it was KRISHNA, not Vishnu:

The Harivamsha depicts Krishna 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.

Answer 4

There are many views, including how ancient Aryans practiced cow slaughter and ate beef (there are dissenters to this view though), but later cows were declared sacred as their use for cattle was more valued than meat. Some texts mention the mythic Kamdhenu, or the cow equivalent of the horn of cornucopia, and Hindu mythology has it that this divine cow was capable of granting any wish made by men who worshiped her.

Answer 5

Because a living cow is worth more than a dead cow. A dead cow will feed you for a week or two. A living cow will continue to provide milk, dung (for fuel) and bullocks (to pull ploughs) throughout its useful life. Without the cow India would not exist.

Answer 6

Is it because they provide leather, food, milk, and you can use there bones and tail etc.. as well. I'm not sure if it is Hindu's that keep them and the more you have the more respected you are, but they do this in some tribes. So basically they are an all rounder and they are my favourite animal, that's why I don't eat beef. Cow's Rock !!

Answer 7

Animals are more important than Humans in Hinduism.
Low born Hindus are suffering allot due to the fever of untouchability in high born Hindus and the animals are enjoying as being worshipped in temples.

Answer 8

In Hindu mythology, the cow is supposed to be Lakshmi, one of the many Hindu gods

Answer 9

cuz for different religious reasons..there r no specific reasons ...n the forefathers used 2 worship thm..thatz y hindu's still worship cow as a sacred animal..am a hindu!!

Answer 10

It provides milk for food whereas the rats only eat grain and don't provide any sustance. I'll chooze the cow anytime
Its easier to bow to a cow than a rat too'

Answer 11

Has to do with Mahavishnu, he is reincarnated as a cow...
A billion population, and they would rather go with out than feed the children properly......All In The Name Of God.
What a pitiful world we live in.