Sage of Kanchi –

Pranams at the lotus feet of Sri Paramacharya !

Paramacharya continues, we have seen various usage of cow’s milk and supplementary products, cow-dung is used for burning fire and the remains are used as sacred ashes, it is used for fire sacrifices, it is used as cleaning property, it removes bacteria works as a disinfectant, it removes air pollution.    In olden day’s cow dung patties were kept in large stock in every home, it is used as burning fire during the winter season and for the religious and spiritual rites at homes.  Panchagavyam is a collective ingredient of milk, curd, ghee, cow dung, and urine, It is used as a purifying agent, it removes external as well as internal impurities.  Panchagavyam works as firewood, it removes the impurities in the air and when it is consumed it removes the sins of the individual.  Cow slaughtering brings severe sin, a sin equivalent to the killing of one’s mother; there is no Prayashchiththam/atonement for this sin.  When the cow get older, it reduces giving milk or completely stops, during this period of time it is our responsibility to take care of her and show gratitude for her long years of service to the family, when our mother get older and physically and mentally worn out, is not that our duty to take care of her?  It is not our practice to send her away from home; in the same manner, when a cow gets older we should protect her until the natural death takes place.  Gorochana is a bright yellow substance prepared from the bile of cattle after its natural death, it has various usages.  In Jabalopanishadh Lord Shiva describes the method of preparation of sacred ashes which remove the sins of the worshiper, and provides Moksha.  Usually, we take bath for bodily hygiene, smearing sacred ashes provides the same result of bathing.  The dust raised from the hooves of the cow is considered as sacred; it provides the piousness of sacred bath in holy rivers.  All the spiritual and religious practices are done for the welfare of the Universe and its living beings, Yajjas and various fire sacrifices are performed for the welfare of the people, all these Vedic rites require numerous ingredients from the cows and collective efforts of Vedic scholars/ priests for the performance, therefore Vedic scholar and cows are fundamental for the continuation of spiritual and Vedic rites, these two are vital for the Universal well-being and righteousness, none of the Vedic or spiritual rites takes place in the absence of these two.  Supreme Lord is the essence of Veda, he is the performer/Vedic scholar, and he represents the performance of Yajja/fire sacrifice and ingredients of Yajja as well.  Protection of cow is our prime duty, for the welfare of the Universe and its living beings.