According to Vedic culture, all living entities are respected from the viewpoint that they are part and parcel of the Supreme Being. However, special care and protection is given to cows because of their special contribution to the human beings' development towards spiritual realization, which is the goal of human life.

The most important contribution is cow's milk (especially when drunk hot), which is a miracle food that nourishes special tissues in the brain, dealing with spiritual realization. Also thousands of delicious and healthy foods can be created by combining milk products (milk, butter, ghee, yoghurt, paneer) with grains, fruits, vegetables etc.

Further, cow dung is the best fertilizer for growing food crops. Krishna Sanctuary gardens are a testament to this fact. When dried, cow dung can be used as a fuel for cooking. Alternatively, it is used to make biogas. Cow dung and urine are the only animal waste products that are antiseptic (get rid of bad things) and are not toxic. Even human waste is toxic. So cow dung is traditionally used in Vedic society to cover the floor and walls of the house to prevent undesirable creatures/organisms from entering. In villages in India, this is still normal practice.

Interesting modern research has shown that even radiation does not enter a house that is covered with cow dung !!! Also cow dung and urine are used in many Ayurvedic medicines to cure many diseases, even cancer.

Traditionally, the bull was compared to the father of society (the bread winner) because the bull used to plough the fields (before the tractor made them unemployed), which could then be used to grow grains etc. Bulls, historically were used for transportation of goods and people. In New Zealand's pioneering days, teams of bullocks were used to pull giant kauri logs out of the forest. 

The cow was compared to the mother of society for supplying milk. We're lucky to get milk for a year or two from our biological mother, and then for the rest of our life we may take milk from the cow. How much they are our mother also...how much they should be given respect...just as we give our biological mother.

Taking into account all these valuable services from the cows and bulls, any civilized society should feel very grateful and indebted to them. In return, it's only natural to give all respect and protection to cows and bulls... at least by not killing them! 

In Vedic culture cows are never to be killed in any circumstances. Killing cows creates very bad karma, which is causal to many of the sufferings in human society from diseases to war.

After a cow or bull dies naturally, people could remove the skin to make leather items and the meat would be given to those that ate meat. So society can still get everything, but it should be done in the proper way... intelligently.

Here at Krishna Sanctuary, we are looking after two elderly Jersey cows, named Ganga and Yamuna (after two of India's sacred rivers). They were given to us four years ago, and they are now around 20 years old. They are too old to milk, but they give us lots of fertilizer for the garden, lovely cuddles, and the best vibes!!! In recent times, cow therapy is gaining much ground in Western society as a means to counter depression and mental illnesses. Spending some time with Ganga and Yamuna is the best antidote for our stressful existence. Don't miss them on your visit here.

Donations/ koha are welcome towards helping us maintain our cows. This includes help towards extending the shelter the cows currently have.