TatTvamAsi
27 July 2011, 03:20 PM
Cows are said to be divine beings and in India, they are worshiped and adored by people of all backgrounds and walks of life.
Some try to explain to those who can't understand this adoration from a utilitarian perspective; cows give milk, help with farming, their dung is used for fuel and cleaning, and is a personification of LakSmI. Other Hindus maintain that it is actually philosophically and physically viable that the cow is indeed divine as gau mata.
One can read up on the differences of perspective there and see.
In India, in villages usually, I've seen that many people have cows similar to what one would consider "pets" but in a much better way; as part of the family.
Even milkmen who milk cows every morning by hand, give first priority to the calves so that they can get the fresh milk from their mother before any of it is taken to be sold. What a beautiful, yet simple, act of kindness! I find that absent in dealings with people at various levels, both abroad and in India in the bigger cities.
Here is a really beautiful Tamil song I came across (an older movie) that shows this. This is what India is still like in villages; Hindu Dharma in practice. Indian culture = Hinduism in practice. Unfortunately, this is fading in the bigger metropolitan areas but that is expected.
Anyway, here is the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Dr-j2rguk&feature=relmfu
Almost brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it.
Some try to explain to those who can't understand this adoration from a utilitarian perspective; cows give milk, help with farming, their dung is used for fuel and cleaning, and is a personification of LakSmI. Other Hindus maintain that it is actually philosophically and physically viable that the cow is indeed divine as gau mata.
One can read up on the differences of perspective there and see.
In India, in villages usually, I've seen that many people have cows similar to what one would consider "pets" but in a much better way; as part of the family.
Even milkmen who milk cows every morning by hand, give first priority to the calves so that they can get the fresh milk from their mother before any of it is taken to be sold. What a beautiful, yet simple, act of kindness! I find that absent in dealings with people at various levels, both abroad and in India in the bigger cities.
Here is a really beautiful Tamil song I came across (an older movie) that shows this. This is what India is still like in villages; Hindu Dharma in practice. Indian culture = Hinduism in practice. Unfortunately, this is fading in the bigger metropolitan areas but that is expected.
Anyway, here is the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-Dr-j2rguk&feature=relmfu
Almost brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it.