Gods & Cows

 

1) THE COW: ONE OF THE REASON FOR INCARNATION OF LORD RAMA:

 

When the sages and the gods are troubled by the atrocities of the demons on the earth, the gods go to Gaulok along with Brahma and the cow (the divine form of the earth) and seek help from Lord Shri Hari, then the Lord tells them to rest assured. He frees everyone from fear by telling them that I will take birth as a child in the house of King Dashrath and Queen Kaushalya in order to establish the Dharma.

And The Famous Chaupai of Ramcharitmanas everyone knows said.

बिप्र धेनु सुर संत हित लीन्ह मनुज अवतार।

(Ramcharitmanas, 192)

Here धेनु Representing for Cows. It means For the Welfare of Cows I take incarnation on earth.

As King Dasharath’s desire for a son remained unfulfilled and he entered the fourth stage of life without an heir, he sought the advice of Guru Vasishtha. Following the guru’s counsel, King Dasharath decided to perform a yajna.

The success of the yajna depended on the offerings made by cows like Ghee and Panchgavya etc. It is said:

गावो यज्ञस्य हि फलं गोषु यज्ञाः प्रतिष्ठिताः ।
(Mahabharata, Anu. 78.8)

During this yajna, King Dasharath generously donated ten lakhs of cows:

गवां शतसहस्त्राणि दश तेभ्यो ददौ नृपः ॥
(Valmiki Ramayana 1.14.50)

In the context of obtaining the results of the yajna, the form of cows was used on a large scale in donations. At this auspicious occasion of the yajna, Agni Dev, the deity of fire, appeared with divine nectar in a golden vessel. He instructed King Dasharath to offer this nectar to his queens.

After consuming this divine nectar, the queens became pregnant (Here people do not consider it to be a mockery. It has been clearly stated in Ramcharit Manas by Gau Swami Tulsi Das ji “भए प्रगट कृपाला” means lord Rama directly appeared and manifest himself in child form and he did not remain in the womb like an ordinary human being.) And at an auspicious time, Lord Shri Ram incarnated along with his brothers.

Further emphasizing the importance of cows in the divine leelas and the birth of Lord Shri Ram, King Dasharath again generously donated many cows to Brahmins:

हाटक धेनु बसन मनि नृप बिप्रन्ह कहँ दीन्ह ॥
(Shri Ramcharitmanas 1.193)

2) THE MENTION OF CURD IN BAAL LEELA, REMINDS COWS.

Parents desire to provide their children with nutritious food for their health, and the child expresses their desires. In “Sri Ramacharitamanas,” it is mentioned that Maharaja Shri Dasharatha would call the playful young Sri Rama to eat with him, but Sri Rama wouldn’t leave his group of child companions. Mother Kaushalya would catch him and make him sit for the meal. Sri Rama, while eating, would sometimes get a mouthful of curd and rice:

“भाजि चले किलकत मुख दधि ओदन लपटाइ॥” (Sri Ramcharitmanas 1.203)

3) DONATION OF COWS IN LORD RAMA’S MARRIAGE:

On the occasion of Lord Rama’s marriage, King Janaka requested Maharaja Dasharatha: “O King! Perform the donation of cows with Sri Rama and Laxmana, and fulfill the duties of the ancestors. After that, begin the marriage ceremony.”

“राम लक्ष्मणयो राजन् गोदानं कारयस्व ह। पितृकार्य च भद्रं ते ततो वैवाहिकं कुरु॥” (Valmiki Ramayana 1.71.23)

Upon this request, Maharaja Dasharatha performed an excellent donation of cows: “चक्ने गोदानमुत्तमम्।” At that time, he donated four lakh cows with golden horns and vessels made of bronze to Brahmins:

“सुवर्णशृंग्यः सम्पन्नाः सवत्साः कांस्यदोहनाः। गवां शतसहस्त्राणि चत्वारि पुरुषर्षभः॥” (Valmiki Ramayana 1.72.23)

For each son’s auspiciousness, Maharaja Dasharatha donated one lakh cows. Even after the marriage of all the sons and daughters, King Janaka provided many cows equal to Kamadhenu to Emperor Dasharatha. After performing the morning rituals, King Dasharatha went near Guru Vashishtha and made this request:

“अब सब बिप्र बोलाइ गोसाईं। देहु धेनु सब भाँति बनाईं॥” (Sri Ramcharitmanas 1.330.7)

At the time of donation, four lakh cows resembling Kamadhenu were requested, and given to saints :

“चारि लच्छ बर धेनु मगाईं। काम सुरभि सम सील सुहाई॥ सब बिधि सकल अलंकृत कीन्हीं। मुदित महिप महिदेवन्ह दीन्हीं॥” (Sri Ramcharitmanas 1.331.2-3)

4) DONATION OF COWS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE VAN LEELA:

The forest journey of Lord Sri Rama was a matter of sorrow for the neighborhood & relatives, but of joy for Sri Rama himself because his incarnation on earth was to establish dharma, . He enthusiastically began his forest journey by donating immense food, wealth, gems and many cows. At that time Lord Rama told Lakshmana to satisfy Maharishi Agastya and Vishvamitra by giving them thousands of cows: ‘ ‘तर्पयस्व महाबाहो गोसहस्त्रेण राघव।’ . Similarly, he gave Chitraratha, the best secretary of the thread, one thousand cows ‘गवां दश शतेन च’ with goods, vehicles and wealth, twelve hundred oxen carrying rice and gram, and one thousand cows for yogurt and ghee – शालिवाहसहस्त्रं च द्वे शते भद्रकांस्तथा ।।
व्यञ्जनार्थ च सौमित्रे गोसहस्त्रमुपाकुरु ।
(वा० रा० २।३२।२०-२१)

5) A STORY OF TRIJAT BRAHMIN:

On the occasion of Lord Shri Ram’s (Van Leela) forest journey has appeared in Sri Valmiki’s Ramayana. Shri Ram was ready to go to the forest. Unaware of that, a poor and weak Brahmin named Trijat was inspired by his wife –

‘Oh Naath ! If you visit Shri Ramchandraji, you will definitely get something, Trijata approached Lord Shri Ram and said – ‘I am poor, I have many children. Please be kind to me. Hearing the words of the Brahmin who was pale due to weakness, Lord Shri Ram said – ‘Vipravar! Throw your stick as far as you can. Wherever it falls, all the cows up to that point will be yours.’ Hearing this, Trijatna quickly whipped the dhoti tightly, twisted the stick and threw it with such force that it fell near a bull amidst thousands of cows across Saryuji. Lord Shri Ram embraced Trijata and sent all the cows to him as per his request. After finding the group of cows, sage Trijat along with his wife became happy – ‘गवामनीकं प्रतिगृह्य मोदितः।’ (वा० रा० २। ३२।४३)

Lord Rama, told Trijata to throw his staff as far as he could, promising that wherever it landed, all the cows there would be his. Trijata, with great force, threw the staff, and it fell near a bull among thousands of cows across the Sarayu River. Lord Rama embraced Trijata, and gave all the cows to him.

6) RAN LEELA: FIGHTS FOR COWS AND RISHIS:

Lord Rama’s valor in protecting the cow & Rishi Muni is seen during the time of Vishwamitra’s yajna. Vishwamitra urged Lord Rama to slay the terrible demoness Tadaka for the welfare of the Cows and Rishi Muni.

“गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय जहि दुष्टपराक्रमाम्।”
– Valmiki Ramayana, 1.26.5

Lord Rama, resolutely, agreed to Vishwamitra’s request, stating his readiness to follow the orders of the sage:
“गोब्राह्मणहितार्थाय देशस्य च हिताय च। तव चैवाप्रमेयस्य वचनं कर्तुमुद्यतः॥”
– Valmiki Ramayana, 1.26.5

7) THE BATTLE WITH RAVANA:

Lord Rama’s battle with Ravana also had a significant aspect related to cows.

Ravana’s enmity towards cows and Rishi muni(Saints) was evident in his orders to his followers to set fire to the lands where cows and Rishi Munis resided:

“जेहिं जेहिं देस धेनु द्विज पावहिं। नगर गाउँ पुर आगि लगावहिं॥”
– Ramcharitmanas, 1.183.6

Therefore, Lord Rama engaged in a fierce battle in Lanka to destroy the demons who were a threat to cows and Saints,

8) RETURN TO AYODHYA – GRAND WELCOME AND COW DONATION:

Upon returning to Ayodhya for his coronation, Lord Rama was welcomed by a massive crowd. Along with other auspicious symbols, cows were also led in front of him:

“अक्षतं जातरूपं च गावः कन्याः सहद्विजाः। नरा मोदकहस्ताश्च रामस्य पुरतो ययुः॥”
– Valmiki Ramayana, 6.128.38

During his royal consecration, Lord Rama generously donated:
“One hundred thousand horses, an equal number of milk-producing cows, and one hundred bulls to the Saints/Bhramins.
“सहस्त्रशतमश्वानां धेनूनां च गवां तथा। ददौ शतवृषान् पूर्वं द्विजेभ्यो मनुजर्षभः।”
– Valmiki Ramayana, 6.128.73-74

9) SIGNIFICANCE OF COWS IN LORD RAMA’S LIFE:

Daily Life and Worship of Cows:
Anand Ramayana narrates the daily routine of Lord Rama, indicating his deep reverence for cows. It is mentioned that upon waking up, Lord Rama remembered the gods, Brahmins, teachers, mother, father, and the cow Kamadhenu.

Sita Ji, on a daily basis, worshiped Kamadhenu by offering her various food items. Kamadhenu, pleased, would provide a variety of edible items, which Sita Ji would keep in the kitchen and serve to Saints, friends, and family:

10) CONCLUSION:

In the life of Lord Rama, the cow holds immense significance symbolizing prosperity, protection, and divine grace.

The scriptures emphasize the importance of cows as not just physical beings but also as sacred entities deserving respect, care, and Worship.