Why is cow a holy animal in India?

Question

I dont want offense any religion, ok. I just want know.

Answer 1

Indians consume milk on a daily basis, and the cow as a provider of milk, is equated to one's mother (hence the expression Gomäta = mother cow). Traditionally, Indians had cows in every household. They were part of the family, with names and personalities. Just like one would not hurt/eat their pets, the Indians did not hurt the cows and respected them. The cow has a special role in the Hindu mythologies; Kamadhenu is a wish-fulfilling cow. A cow is also depicted as vehicle of several deities. Many social reform movements in India (Jainism, Buddhism, the Bhakti Movement, Gandhi's non-violent movement) advocated non-violence, and no cruelty to animals. So in India, other animals also (like elephants, mice, monkeys) are considered holy.

Answer 2

India is largely Hindu, and the Cow is revered in Hinduism. This possibly outdated Hinduism, and relates to agriculture. During Vedic age much of the population relied on cattle for sustenance, for both dairy as well as its fertilizer for growing food, and as such the cow was viewed maternally as looking after the people, many Hindu Vedic scripts call the cow 'mother' such as the Rig Veda. It is also believed in Hinduism that the presence of a soul in all creatures prohibits the killing of any animal, as to why most Hindus are vegetarian.

Answer 3

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. It holds an honored place in society, and it is part of Hindu tradition to avoid the consumption of beef.

Answer 4

The truth is that we hold cows in high regard and treat them as god's gift to man.The Indian economy(in the ancient times) was mainly based on agriculture.Cows used to be farmers' most important assets.They were used to plow field,their dung was used as manure and fual ,and their milk(well you know what we use milk for).That made cows almost indispensable for farmers and ancient Indian society.That's why cows are respected so much and that's why true Hindus don't eat beef.

Answer 5

Contrary to popular belief, Hindus don't "worship" cows. Cows are just valued because in the old time they gave butter, milk, did work & etc. Therefore, they didn't eat them. It's just a tradition that's been passed down.

Answer 6

I don't know their reasoning but I read a book that explained it (it was about the logic behind organized religion)

- If you eat the cow, you'll have food for the short term, but if you let it live, you will have milk, butter and cream for as long as it lives

- Make it illegal by law to kill the cow, and they will do it when the laws not looking.

- make it illegal by god, god is allways looking = they'll never kill the cow

Answer 7

The English word "COW" per se is not holy to Hindus.The Religious terminlogy in Sanskrit(Angel's language) is "GO" or "GOU"---Please refer sir Monier Williams---Go/Gou means Sacred Religious texts=Vedham-Govindham =God sri.Vishnu who lifted(recovered) Vedham from the depth of the sea hidden by a Devil---Go/Gouri=Goddesses of Education/Wealth Health/long life---Go/Gou=Earth--All the things enumerated above -sacred Religious Texts-Goddesses of Education-Wealth-Health-Earth are all portrayed in the body of a sacred COW with wings (Kaamadhenu) supposed to be in Heaven--Since people can not perceive this Divine COW with cognisible senses ,Symbolically the Cow on earth is taken as Holy animal.According to Mythology this heavenly cow is supposed to help Hindus, eligible to go heaven by their benevolent Karma, to cross the impediments(Vaitharini)

Answer 8

basically what everyone else said. also because the cow feeds the world. a cow feeds us, how can we kill it? all the cow gets in return is grass. we get milk, from which we make butter, ice cream, yogurt, etc. but the cow eats grass, thats it!we even use their feces for fuel.. thats another reason :]

Answer 9

I don't know,but I hear this a lot here in the states.Why just the other day I heard someone
say,"holy cow".

Answer 10

yes it is so sacred to them that they dont eat cows and they dont wear leather..