Hinduism and Cow are inseperable from each other. Cow is worshipped with immense devotion among Hindus from ancient times. It is not that from beginning Cow slaughter is banned in Ancient India, but during course of time, Cow has become sacred for Hindus and killing of Cow is considered as a sin.
The origin of veneration of Cows can be traced to Vedic period (2nd Millenium - 7th century B.C.). In 2nd Millenium, the Indo-European people entered into India. They were all herders. The main economic elements of those people were cattle and their meat and other products. Though cattle were sacrificed to gods and to perform other religious related rituals and also ate them, the slaughter of milk producing Cow was increasingly prohibited. Even in those times when people ate meat, the vedic scriptures encouraged vegetarianism. one scripture says "There is no sin in eating meat.., but abstention brings great rewards." The people started noticing the various uses of Cow. Slowly cow became a religious symbol throughout the Hindu religion. Thus Cow was given high place in religious matters of Hindus. Later , with the introduction of Jainism and Buddhism to India, the Hindus gave up eating even the beef and non-veg food in ancient India.
Rigveda referred Cow as Devi (Goddess), and identified Cow with Aditi (Mother of Gods). It is widely known that Cow is regarded as Mother of all Gods in India. Killing a Cow was considered as sinful as killing a Brahman. Such was the importance given to the Cow by Hindus.
The five products of the Cow (Panchagavya) - Milk, Curd, Ghee, Urine, Dung are all used in Puja ( Worship ) as well as in rites of extreme penace.The name for cow in the vedas is AGHYNA, meaning INVIOLABLE.
Statements regarding Cows in Hindu Scripts:
In Rig veda X.87.16 - One who eat flesh of humans,horses or of other animal and deprives others from milk by slaughtering Cows their heads can be cutoff by your powers or King.
In Mahabaratha-Anusasana parva, 115.43-116.45 - That wretch among men,who would kill living creatures from greed of flesh would certainly go to hellish regions.
In Manu samhita,chapter 4, verse 162 - A guru,a teacher,a father,a mother,a brahman,a cow and a yogi all should never be killed.
In Srimad Bhagavatam,Canto 11,chapter 5,verse 14 - Those who are ignorant of the absolute truth and believe they are virtuous although wicked and arrogant who kill animals without any feeling of repentance or fear of punishment are devoured by the same animals in the next birth.
In Atharva veda,VIII.6.23 - Those who eat cooked or uncooked flesh, who eats eggs and embryos are following an evil addiction that must be put to an end.
Even in the old Testament of the Bible which applies to both christians and jews in Issaiah,chapter 66,verse 3 - He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man.He that sacrifices a lamb is as if he slit a dogs neck,he that offereth it as an oblation is as if he offered swines blood,he that burneth it as incense as if he blessed an idol.
Festivals of Cows:
On 12th day of 12th month of Hindu calender, a Cow ritual is performed in Jodhpur palace, Rajasthan state of India. Gopashtami is a festival of Cows in Ujjain,Madhyapradesh. A similar festival is also celebrated in Maharashtra called as Govatsa Dwadashi. Pongal is festival in Tamilnadu state which includes worshipping of Cows. On this day Cows are adorned with Kum Kum and their horns are painted. Gaijatra is a Cow festival celebrated in Nepal.
Gowardhan Puja is celebrated on the day before Diwali,it is also called the festival of Cow dung.Cow dung is considered Holy by the Hindus. Deepali - Tihar is a well known festival Diwali.On this day Cows are treated as the goddess Lakshmi and worshipped with great devotion.
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