Kamadhenu – the Mother of All Cows
Posted in Uncategorized on 03/07/2011 05:33 am by admin
Animals are mentioned with great respect in various Hindu scriptures. Among them cow is considered to be equal to a mother as she provides food (milk) for human beings. Hindu believers consider Kamadhenu as the mother of all cows and she is represented in white with a female face and breasts. Also known as Surabhi, she is also pictured with all the deities in her body.
Kamadhenu is being referred in many scriptures as the wife of Kashyapa, daughter of Daksha and to be residing in Goloka (the world above Earth, Heaven and Hell - Paataala) and Paataala. There are many tales associated with Kamadhenu in epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana and scriptures like Rig Veda and Atharva Veda. Bhagavat Gita also refers to Kamadhenu as Kamadhuk.
Hindu mythology also tells many tales of Kamadhenu giving birth to warriors to protect the house of the Brahmin priests (where she lived), from cruel kings. Priests looked at her with respect as she gave milk, ghee and other things, which were essential for homa. In India, cows are treated with respect because they are considered to be embodiments of Kamadhenu. Some state governments have even banned the killing of cows because of this.
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