The Vedas & Cow Worship

Originally posted by FMF
What do they say about cows? What is prescribed or proscribed?

Nothing, so far as I know.

Originally posted by rvsakhadeo
Nothing, so far as I know.

So who introduced the reverence for cows and in what literature?

Originally posted by FMF
So who introduced the reverence for cows and in what literature?

Subsequent versions of Hinduism. Cannot find immediately what was the first reference to the Cow being venerated in Hindu literature. But my guess-- and guess it is-- it is the Manu Smriti, the first religious code, that has introduced the concept of Cow worship.

Originally posted by rvsakhadeo
Subsequent versions of Hinduism. Cannot find immediately what was the first reference to the Cow being venerated in Hindu literature. But my guess-- and guess it is-- it is the Manu Smriti, the first religious code, that has introduced the concept of Cow worship.

So cow worship is in fact taught in the religious texts, just not the Vedas.

I noticed you dealt the urine drinking and dung eating in an earlier post, but ignored the cow pooja. What is cow pooja?

Originally posted by Rajk999
So cow worship is in fact taught in the religious texts, just not the Vedas.

I noticed you dealt the urine drinking and dung eating in an earlier post, but ignored the cow pooja. What is cow pooja?

There is a day in the monsoon months, when we should not eat any product which has been brought about as a result of the effort of the labour of bullocks e.g.rice or wheat harvested from fields tilled by ploughs pulled by bullocks. On this day we are to eat rice or chappaties prepared from grains harvested from fields where only humans have worked. On this day we express our gratitude to the bullocks by giving them especially prepared sweet chappaties and apply the " tilak " to their foreheads, garland them after giving them a ceremonial bath.We also similarly express our gratitude to the cows on a special day in the beginning of winter.

Originally posted by rvsakhadeo
There is a day in the monsoon months, when we should not eat any product which has been brought about as a result of the effort of the labour of bullocks e.g.rice or wheat harvested from fields tilled by ploughs pulled by bullocks. On this day we are to eat rice or chappaties prepared from grains harvested from fields where only humans have worked. On thi ...[text shortened]... also similarly express our gratitude to the cows on a special day in the beginning of winter.

Is this video a good representation?

http://www.priestservices.com/our-services/gho-pooja/

Originally posted by JS357
Is this video a good representation?

http://www.priestservices.com/our-services/gho-pooja/

Yes, it is. The word Go is misspelt as Gho. Otherwise a true representation of the worship. It was common in the old days to keep a cow or two in the household of every well - to - do person. I remember as a child in drinking milk straight from the udder of our cow in my maternal grandfather's house, as the cow was being milked. Not so in my paternal grandfather's house where no such fun was to be had. Those days, about 60 years back, are gone for ever from most of the middle class India.

Originally posted by rvsakhadeo
There is a day in the monsoon months, when we should not eat any product which has been brought about as a result of the effort of the labour of bullocks e.g.rice or wheat harvested from fields tilled by ploughs pulled by bullocks. On this day we are to eat rice or chappaties prepared from grains harvested from fields where only humans have worked. On thi ...[text shortened]... also similarly express our gratitude to the cows on a special day in the beginning of winter.

I understand from another Hindu, that the cow pooja is actually one done later on in life. The purpose is to pray to a specific cow [chosen for that purpose], and ask the cow to guide the person after death into the afterlife. Without this prayers to that specific cow, the person is lost after death. After the prayers the cow is kept by the pundit who will look after it.

Does this practice exist to your knowledge and have you come across it in the scriptures, Vedas or otherwise?

Originally posted by Rajk999
I understand from another Hindu, that the cow pooja is actually one done later on in life. The purpose is to pray to a specific cow [chosen for that purpose], and ask the cow to guide the person after death into the afterlife. Without this prayers to that specific cow, the person is lost after death. After the prayers the cow is kept by the pundit who will l ...[text shortened]... ctice exist to your knowledge and have you come across it in the scriptures, Vedas or otherwise?

Never came across any such practice so far.Hindu religion is overgrown with much superstition and malpractices. Nothing like this in the Vedas or scriptures.

Originally posted by rvsakhadeo
Never came across any such practice so far.Hindu religion is overgrown with much superstition and malpractices. Nothing like this in the Vedas or scriptures.

Ok .. thanks. So there is in fact 'cow worship' as part of the Hindu religion not just 'cow reverence'.

I found this ..

A human's bodily waste can only cause harm, whereas a cow's bodily waste can heal! A cow's bodily waste in the form of urine and dung are used in Siddha and Ayurveda medicinal systems to create drugs. Cow dung is used in havan and homam fire ceremonies. Thus a cow's bodily waste can contribute to the spiritual upliftment of humans! A cow's bodily waste helps us get rid of the impurities in our minds! This is something that humans should think about. This is an "atma vichar" point; we should think about it for extended periods of time and realize the spiritual significance of cows. This is the advice of the Siddhas

http://www.agasthiar.org/AUMzine/0010-darshan.htm

Who are what are the Siddhas and how influential is it in the religion of the Hindus. Is not this a clear example of firm established religious beliefs and not just malpractice or superstition?

Originally posted by karoly aczel
My only experience with cows and hindus was at a krsna temple that I used to visit.

The milk I drank there was tastier than any other milk I had drank in my whole life and the cows looked happy, their eyes had a positive glow to them.

Mind you, I myself do not know or really care why some hindus elevate cows above other animals.
Also it was not ...[text shortened]... that did.


edit: please note that "vedas" is plural. "veda" is one book , vedas is many.

"...and the cows looked happy, their eyes had a positive glow to them."

Happy cows are in California. 🙂
Kelly

Originally posted by Rajk999
I think its common knowledge that Hindus worship the cow [yes the animal that most people kill and eat]. I found out from reading around on the net, that the following is also practiced by some Hindus

- drinking cow urine
- eating cow dung
- performing cow prayers, also called cow pooja.

Is all of this sanctioned by the Vedas [that wonderful truthful book]?
Maybe some Hindus on this site can comment.

If you ask a Hindu anything - you will only get speculation.

I will answer this question as soon as I reach Sydney .

Give me 48 hours please.

Originally posted by rvsakhadeo
Never came across any such practice so far.Hindu religion is overgrown with much superstition and malpractices. Nothing like this in the Vedas or scriptures.

Not true - and I will amaze everyone when I get to Sydney with the wonderful answer to this baiting question question.

Originally posted by Rajk999
Ok .. thanks. So there is in fact 'cow worship' as part of the Hindu religion not just 'cow reverence'.

I found this ..

[i]A human's bodily waste can only cause harm, whereas a cow's bodily waste can heal! A cow's bodily waste in the form of urine and dung are used in Siddha and Ayurveda medicinal systems to create drugs. Cow dung is used in havan and ...[text shortened]... ample of firm established religious beliefs and not just malpractice or superstition?

In a nation of 1230 million people, out which there could be about 600 million adult theistic Hindus,there could be several bogus and cracked up people and websites belonging to such types are bound to sprout up. A Siddha means one who has reached the perfection in his/her yogic study. Never heard of these types of Siddhas.

Originally posted by rvsakhadeo
In a nation of 1230 million people, out which there could be about 600 million adult theistic Hindus,there could be several bogus and cracked up people and websites belonging to such types are bound to sprout up. A Siddha means one who has reached the perfection in his/her yogic study. Never heard of these types of Siddhas.

Ok it goes on to say that only the pure human souls could be born as a cow ..

The Siddhas instruct us that Go Puja is an important daily worship procedure. They point out that a cow is so spiritually pure that millions and millions of deities take residence in and around a cow. Thus the very space occupied by a cow is holy ground. Only very pure souls can take birth as cows. Humankind should realize the spiritual significance of cows and learn how these docile animals can contribute to our spiritual upliftment.

Do you agree?