“Cow Protection and Cultural Identity in India”, Centre for Studies in Hindu Conservatism, April 30, 2026
“Cow serves as a revered symbol in the Indian subcontinent, scholars have pointed out the worship of cow in the Harappan civilization as well as several injunctions in the Vedas associated with its worship. The bovine gained absolute importance with the emergence of Puranic Hinduism as several Hindu scriptures maintained that all Gods and goddesses reside in the body of the cow and all pilgrimages have their abode in the cow’s body. According to the Brahmvaivart Puran,
“All the gods reside in the body of the cow and all the holy places reside in the feet of the cow. The person who applies the tilak of the mud from the feet of the cow on his forehead immediately gets the virtue of bathing in holy water. The place where the cow lives is called the holy land and if a person dies in such a place, then his salvation is certain”
In almost all the rituals and worship of the Hindus, it is mandated to have the “Panchgavya” which translates to Five cow’s products. Service to cows is considered the biggest means to accumulate spiritual merit among Hindus. Bhisma in Mahabharat states that “Cow, land and Saraswati, all three have similar names, they should always be donated. The cow is called the mother of all humans, she gives happiness to everyone”. According to Hindu theology, God always takes incarnation to ensure the protection of cows and Brahmins on the earth whenever they are threatened. Explaining the cause of Lord Rama’s birth, Ramcharitmanas says……”
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