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From time immemorial cow is sacred animal in India. A cow cannot be killed, driven away, or treated disrespectfully. And they walk wherever their sacred soul pleases: they lie quietly on the busy streets of Indian cities, go into temples and shops...

A cow - a sacred animal in India - on the streets of cities

The sacred animal lies serenely on the street of Varanasi

Another sacred animal, too - Varanasi

Cows in India are treated with great respect, and they feel it. A sacred cow can not only meditatively stand (or lie) on the roadway in the middle of a stream of cars, but also meditatively wander towards the flow of people, and if you gape and find yourself in her path, then without hesitation she will butt you with a feeling of being completely right. She butted me sacred cow, when I was walking along a narrow street of Varanasi in a crowd of people and found myself in her path. The bruise on my thigh was large and beautiful. They say it's fortunate :)

And at night they park on the streets next to motorized rickshaws.
Parked night cows in Hampi

Cow is the personification of Mother Earth

It is believed that the great god Shiva was born from the ear of a cow. This great event took place in , a small ancient pilgrimage town in the state of Karnataka on the ocean coast.
Goddess Prithivi, who represents the Earth, took the form of a cow and Shiva appeared from her ear.
Indians do not eat beef.
In many states of India, killing a cow is equivalent to killing a Brahmin.

Bull Nandi - vahana (mount) of the great god Shiva

In the Hindu pantheon, each god has a vahana - a mount on which he moves. This mount is often a symbol of the deity himself.
The Vahana of the great Shiva is the bull Nandi.
Nandi Bull in front of Hampi Temple

A sculpture of the bull Nandi must be placed in front of the entrance to any Shiva temple or inside the temple with its head towards the altar.
Shiva Temple at Kedarnath

The Nandi bull in Hinduism is an independent object of veneration.
Sacred animal in front of the temple in Maheshwar

The sacred bull Nandi in front of the highest Shiva temple in Tungnath

And in front of the ancient thousand-year-old Shiva temple in Mahabalipuram there is a whole detachment of sacred stone Nandi bulls.

Ice cave Gomuk in the Himalayas - “the mouth of a cow”

In northern India, in the Himalayas, lies the source of India's most sacred river, the Ganga. The Ganges originates in an ice cave called Gomuk, which means “mouth of a cow.” Again - cows, not tigers or monkeys. This ice cave with the source of the Ganges is one of the most sacred places in India with very powerful energy.

Gomuk Cave - “the mouth of a cow”

Use of products derived from cows

In religious rituals, Hindus widely use the products that cows provide: milk and ghee. This once again speaks of the holiness of this animal.
Milk and ghee are poured over Shiva Lingams in temples during puja and presented as offerings to Indian gods.
Cow dung is also used for heating houses, after drying it in the sun.
Photo from Varanasi. This man dries cow dung directly on the ghats.

Dwellings are coated with cow dung mixed with sand and water. It turns out environmentally friendly and warm.
Photo from a village near Mandu

Cow rangoli for Pongal festival in India

In India, the harvest festival "Pongal" is celebrated for three days. These days, cows' horns are painted with bright paint and decorated with flower garlands. And in front of the house they draw rangoli - patterns of happiness - with the image of a plump, beautiful cow.
Rangoli with sacred animal in Mahabalipuram

Sacred skinny cows of Himachal Pradesh, India

In fact, such well-fed cows are not often found in India; most of them are skinny. When they roam the streets of big cities and eat whatever God provides, then this is understandable. But when in the green, humid, foggy state of Himachal, on green lush grass, you meet the same skinny cows as in Delhi, it is incomprehensible and surprising.
Apparently these are mountain hounds, sacred cows.

Another wonderful Indian animal is the elephant!
Watch the video of a pink temple elephant being bathed in Hampi.

The cow in India is considered a sacred animal. This is an unspoken truth. This animal is equated there with the status of “Mother”, and it is sacred. That is, she is characterized by such maternal qualities as kindness, modesty, wisdom and calmness. In addition, she feeds people with her milk all her life. Therefore, God forbid someone in India yells at a cow, or, even worse, slaughters it and then eats it.

Traveling along the Indian road can be as exciting for everyone as visiting art monuments or grandiose temple complexes. It can cause admiration, just like the natural beauty or the skill of yogis in this “mystical” India. But it can also cause horror - a traveler on Indian roads can have his hair “stand on end” from all these various means of transportation. After all, at the same time, cars and buses, tractors and trucks, mopeds and motorcycles, rickshaws (a rickshaw is a light two-wheeled cart driven by a person holding on to two shafts) and cyclists, carts pulled by animals, and just people are moving along the road...

Local traffic can be called “functional chaos”. If in our country people drive in the right lane, and in Japan - in the left lane, then in India they often drive in both. Straightaway. And in both directions! And woe to all pedestrians! Although they themselves, raised in the best local traditions, strive to make their contribution to this chaos. For example, pedestrians do not at all consider it necessary to cross the road only where there is a zebra crossing (if there is one at all). And if tourists and other visitors to India think that cars will slow down for a crossing where there is someone, they are sorely mistaken: in India, cars do not stop for anyone, anywhere. Even at the zebra crossing, there is a real “urban Indian jungle” here even without it...

So golden rule when crossing the road in India it’s “look left, look right, and then run as fast as you can before anyone hits you.” This is very similar to computer game, but that's not it virtual reality, and the most real one!

However, right in the middle of this “madhouse”, there is a serene creature, not paying any attention to the bedlam reigning around. This is the Holy Indian Cow. What kind of creature is this, whose cult is so revered in India?

In India, all animals are sacred, but in the animal pantheon the Sacred Cow undeniably occupies the most important place. They call her “Gau Mata”, Mother Cow, considering her to be the personification of all that is best (among all living beings on the Planet!). That is why this peaceful ruminant animal has a special niche in Indian mythology and philosophy.

... Wealth in ancient Indian agrarian society was measured, as a rule, by the number of cattle owned by an individual or family. The cow was a means of payment - it was exchanged for goods and services, it was given as a dowry, it was reluctantly given as a tax. And “Gau-dan”, the gift of cows to Brahmins (priests and abbots of Hindu temples), was considered as the most pious and righteous ceremony.

Naturally, cows were used not only to satisfy the tax collector, decorate the daughter's dowry and pay the monthly bills. For the huge population of such a large country as India, milk has always been one of the main sources of nutrition. Keeping in mind all its derivatives... And, for example, cow dung, as before, is still used as fuel: manure mixed with straw in the form of cakes is dried in the sun, and then they heat their homes with this fuel. Half of India's rural population lights their stoves this way! In addition, manure mixed with clay is a real miracle material for construction and is used as plaster.

Finally, since Indians are mostly vegetarians, the cow, given its sacred status, is rarely taken to slaughter. But there is also reverse side such a ritual relationship. As soon as the poor animal stops producing milk, its owner finds it quite politically correct to turn the cow out onto the street. According to legend, if a cow living in a house dies, then its owner must, willy-nilly, make a pilgrimage to all the holy cities of India in order to be cleansed of this sin. And upon his return he must feed all the Brahmins living in his village. Thus, letting a cow live outside is more practical option for its owner.

However, one should not think that such stray ownerless cows are doomed to starvation. Whenever a meal is prepared in a Hindu home, the first roti(unleavened bread) goes to the cow. Noticing her on the street, the Indian calls her to his door and treats her with delicacies, which are offered to the Gods themselves on the altar. IN favorable days In the Hindu calendar, cows are also offered sweets and grass, which is considered a very pious act.

According to mythology, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu was Krishna, who grew up in a shepherd family. Krishna had the habit of pleasing the ears of the cows by playing the flute, which is why he is also called “Gopal” - “The Shepherd” or “one who takes care of the cows.” So the profession of a shepherd has a completely divine precedent and divine protection.

In one of the most ancient sacred texts of Hinduism - Puranas- it is said that, among other wonderful things and creatures, the Gods, churning the ocean, obtained from it the wish-fulfilling cow Kamdhenu. Hindus firmly believe that every cow is Kamdhena!

It is not surprising that in tales and legends there are many stories praising and extolling the cow. Here is one of them:

“In the ancient kingdom of Patliputra there lived a powerful king who had fame, wealth and wisdom. And only one thing was missing for the ruler to be completely happy - a son. When the king, losing patience, went to consult his Guru, he told him: “Once, leaving the temple, Your Majesty did not honor a cow standing nearby. If you want a son, then you must find a cow as white as milk and take care of her.” The king did just that: he found such a cow, fed and watered her, drove insects away from her, accompanied her to the pasture and even slept next to her in the barn. One day a tiger jumped out of the forest, but the king blocked her with himself, begging the tiger to spare the cow. The tiger objected that he, as the mount of the Goddess Durga, also needed a sacrifice. Then the king fell to his knees and invited the tiger to eat him instead of the cow.”
Do I need to tell the end of the story? You yourself already understood perfectly well that in the end the king finally got a son...

There is another reason for cow worship in India. According to Hindu mythology, a Hindu must cross a river to reach heaven after death. And this can only be done by holding onto a cow’s tail...

In India, many animals are revered: monkey, cobra, tiger, peacock and many others. However, the first place still belongs to the Sacred Cow. Currently, there are cow protection organizations, and one Indian political movement has set itself the goal of making the cow the national animal of India (and not the tiger, as written in the constitution).

... let us return to the beginning of the story.

Why do cows prefer not to walk on the outskirts of cities and towns, but mostly come across them on the roads, and choose a place in the middle? They gather under traffic lights looking as if they are helping police officers manage traffic flows. What do cows actually do on the streets of India? Why aren't they on the farms where they should be?

Of course, these cows do not suffer from mad cow disease; there is a reason for their behavior. Recent research has shown that Indian cows prefer busy highways because car exhaust fumes repel insects and the cows themselves get a high from toxic substances.

Vedas about milk and dairy products

The ancient scriptures of India described cow's milk as amrita, literally "the nectar of immortality." There are many mantras (prayers) in all four Vedas that describe the importance of cow and cow's milk not only as a perfect food but also as a medicinal drink.

Rig Veda states: "The milk of a cow is amrita... so protect the cows." Aryans (pious people), in their prayers for the freedom and prosperity of the people, also prayed for cows that provide a lot of milk for the country. It was said that if a person has food, then he is rich.

Cottage cheese dahi(made from cow's milk) and ghee(ghee dehydrated butter) is wealth. Therefore, in the Rig Veda and Atharva Veda there are prayers asking God to provide us with such an amount of ghee that there will always be an excess of this in our house nutritious product.

The Vedas describe ghee as the first and most important of all food products, as an essential component of sacrifices and other rituals, because thanks to them it rains and grain grows.

Atharva Veda emphasizes the importance and value of ghee, in other parts of the Vedas ghee is described as an impeccable product that increases strength and vitality. Ghee strengthens the body, is used in massages and helps increase life expectancy.

The Rig Veda says: "The milk was first 'cooked' or 'processed' in the udder of the cow and thereafter was cooked or processed in fire, and therefore the dahi made from this milk is truly healthy, fresh and nutritious. A person performing heavy labor work, must eat dahi at noon when the sun is shining."

The Rig Veda says that the cow transfers medicinal and preventive effects into her milk. medicinal herbs, which she eats, so cow’s milk can be used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of diseases.

The Atharva Veda says that the cow, through milk, makes a weak and sick person energetic, provides vitality to those who do not have it, thus making the family prosperous and respected in a “civilized society.” This indicates that good health in the family was an indicator of prosperity and respect in Vedic society. Material wealth alone was not an indicator of respectability, as it is now. In other words, availability large quantity cow's milk in household was taken as an indicator of prosperity and social status.

It is very important to know that there are certain times prescribed for taking milk for the purpose of curing diseases and normal functioning of the body. Ayurveda An ancient Indian treatise on the harmony of soul and body says that the time to take milk is the dark time of the day and the milk taken must be hot or warm; good with spices to regulate doshas (kapha, vata and pita), with sugar or honey.

Chharak-shastra is one of the oldest books in the history of medical science. Sage Chharak was an eminent Indian physician, and his book is followed to this day by those who practice Ayurveda. Chharak describes milk as follows: "Cow's milk is tasty, sweet, has a wonderful aroma, dense, contains fat, but is light, easily digested and does not spoil easily (it is difficult for them to get poisoned). It gives us peace and cheerfulness." The next verse of his book states that due to the above properties, cow's milk helps us maintain vitality (ojas).

Dhanvantari, another ancient Indian physician, stated that cow's milk is a suitable and preferable diet for any ailment, its constant consumption protects the human body from vata, pita (Ayurvedic constitution types) diseases and heart diseases.

Publication 2017-11-27 I liked it 10 Views 614

Ancient texts about cows

Divine friend of Shiva

In India, the cow is considered a sacred animal and the mother of all living things. This has been the case since time immemorial. And no wonder - the cow feeds Indian families. It provides milk, without which it cannot exist - many foods are prepared from it.

There are a lot of cows in India, especially near temples and on the streets. They are even found on the roofs of houses.

Sacred Nurse of Indian Families

A cow in India, which is carefully looked after, is a real helper for the whole family. These animals have an easy-going character and faithfully serve their loving owners. And, even when the sacred cow dies, she donates meat, horns, bones and skin.

Good-natured animals are happy to be photographed

However, Hindus do not eat beef. prohibits the consumption of meat and fish, and treats the meat of sacred cows with particular severity. Indian law criminalizes those who kill these animals. And indeed, it is extremely, extremely difficult to find meat from these animals here.

In 2015, a Muslim man was lynched for killing a cow. Riots were pacified by police and army

Interesting fact: "cow" is translated into Sanskrit as "go" and "dead" as "videh", "विदेह". It turns out that “beef” literally means “dead cow.” This is how this strange name was formed.

They have almost the same rights as people. A revered animal is not uncommon in Indian stores.

Sacred texts about cows

Vegetarianism is one of the integral aspects of Hinduism. Since non-infliction of harm and pain to other beings is the basis of this. In addition, sacred texts often say that by eating the flesh of another being, especially a sacred cow, one takes on its karma. The fear of violent death that the animal experienced reduces energetic vibrations, and the person falls into tamas and rajas (ignorance and passion).

Arambol beach. Motorcycles, cows, traders, vacationers... Quite a common picture

Considers sacred cows as a source of the most sattvic (good) products: milk, kefir, yogurt, fermented milk products, ghee and others. In moderation, they are very beneficial for people who live in hot climates. Even if we put religious rules aside for a moment, it is easy to understand that in Asia it is dangerous to eat meat - in the heat it can turn into a deadly poison in just a few hours.

Ghee is one of the main components of puja

The role of cows in sacred rituals of India

The gifts of sacred cows - milk, kefir and ghee - are used for offerings. On major holidays, Hindus bring dairy products to the temple and offer them to the gods. This is a kind of analogue of sacrifice, because it does not involve murder. Moreover, such an offering helps to feed the sick and poor after the ceremonies.

Ghee oil is used in religious rituals, cooking, and Ayurvedic procedures.

It is customary to pour milk on the Shivalinga, leave a small cup of milk on the altar, place food next to the statues of gods - the consecrated food turns into prasad. The role of sacred animals in these rituals cannot be overestimated.

Night streets of Indian cities look about the same

In the animal pantheon of India, the cow occupies a central place

The sacred cow gives more than just milk

Sacred cows serve in a sense as “vacuum cleaners” of the streets in India. The inhabitants of this country, unfortunately, have a bad one. There are no trash cans, except in a few large cities. In those times when food industry did not yet exist on a production scale, and food products were not packaged in plastic, metal and glass; scraps were thrown directly onto the road, where homeless sacred animals killed them with pleasure.

Are you hungry? Feed the sacred animal first

Relative cleanliness was maintained. Cows still clean the streets, eating the peels and peels of fruits and vegetables, the remains of cooked food and even... cardboard. Thus helping Indians in recycling waste. But artificial materials are not suitable for cows, they remain to decompose underfoot on for many years.

They can stand in the middle of the road for a very long time. This causes traffic jams

In addition to dairy products, cows produce manure, which is used as fuel and building materials. Indians dry cow dung and sell them in markets. This “fuel” flares up quickly, burns well, is cheap and environmentally friendly. Cow dung is used in adobe block mixtures to build strong walls of houses. Cow urine is also recycled: according to Ayurveda, it is an indispensable healing agent. Cow urine is added to some pharmaceutical preparations.

For Indian families, cow dung is another source of income.

Sacred friend of Shiva

Not only the cow, but also the bull is considered a sacred animal in India. Shiva's most devoted servant, assistant and friend is Nandi the bull. He is revered by Hindus along with the pantheon of major gods. Gifts are presented to him, they pray to him, monuments and temples are erected to him throughout India.

Bull Yuvraj is a cash cow for his owner. It is valued at US$1.5 million

In modern India, it is easier to see a cow on the street than a cat. They, like full-fledged residents of this country, walk along the roads, look into traffic, create traffic jams, go about their important business and coexist amicably with people.

It’s a rather interesting question why in some countries a cow is not just a livestock looked after by a person, but a creature that is placed almost on an equal footing with people. What is the reason for that worship? Are our cows somehow different from their animals? Perhaps the sacred Indian cow was raised in special conditions? You will learn about this and much more from the article below.

A living being in India is always a subject of reverence. Indians love and respect all animals, but the cow receives special treatment. The taboo on eating beef applies not only to local residents who care for animals, but also to visitors and tourists. An Indian cow has the right to walk down the street free of charge, while not a single person dares to raise his voice at her, much less hit her.

If you are interested in the reason for this attitude, you should dig deeper to find out the answer to this question. Explore Indian mythology and find out that in fact the wisest elders considered the cow sacred because it was a symbol of fertility. In addition, the cow is sacred in India because it brings benefits not only during its life, but also after death. Man used it not only for milk yield, but after death he took the skin, meat and even horns.

Since then, one might think, the image of a cow as a sacred creature began to appear in cults, stories and legends. Indians to this day believe that cows can bring not only material wealth, but also happiness and even fulfill wishes. But the only difference from antiquity is that previously cows were also given as a wedding gift as a mandatory dowry. And in ancient times they also brought it as a gift to priestesses.

Cow in Ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece

In the mythology of Rome and Greece, the cow often appears as a saint, as a character filled with strength, intelligence and a big heart. As an example, we can recall the incomparable legend about Zeus and his beloved woman, the beautiful priestess Io.

God did his best to hide his love for an ordinary human girl. He resorted to various tricks so that his wife would not find out about the relationship, and then one day Zeus turned his beloved into a cow. Since then, Io was doomed to wander around the world. Her soul could not calm down and was sad for a long time. Her body became the same only many years later, in Egypt.

Since then, the holy cow has been considered a special animal capable of actions and exploits. There are other sources through which you can find out that in ancient times the cow was considered sacred.

For example, the goddess Hathor from Egyptian mythology was revered in the form of a heavenly cow. The heavenly cow Hathor was considered the embodiment of love and femininity, and was the mother of the sun. Some time later, she was called the daughter of the god Ra, who was the sun. According to legend, it was on a cow that he moved around his domain in heaven. Milky Way According to legends, it was considered milk left by a cow.

Based on this, we can conclude that in ancient times cows were loved and respected. This animal could be placed on a par with a deity, so cows were always treated with due respect. Cows were the personification of femininity and fertility in Ancient Egypt. They were the embodiment of motherhood and love, and therefore it was forbidden to sacrifice a cow.

In Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is closely intertwined with Hinduism, which is why the cow appears here more than once or twice. This religion often uses the phrase “cow spirit.” If you come across such an expression, know that it means the very soul of the earth. The embodiment of the very spirit of all earthly beings on our planet. The founder of Zoroastrianism, Zarathustra, whom many have probably heard of, was an ardent defender of animals. He opposed the killing of animals.

However, as you might think, this trend of religion does not at all prohibit eating beef. In fact, she is generally unpretentious and does not taboo foods. True adherents of a movement such as Zoroastrianism believe that there should be no prohibitions on food, but all food on the table should be in moderation. People show respect for cows through love and care. You won't find it here either evil people who take their anger out on their cloven-hoofed charges.

In Hinduism

One of the oldest and most respected religions on earth, practiced by millions of people, is Hinduism. This religious movement dates back to the times of the Vedic civilization, which means that Hinduism originated 5 thousand years BC. Since then, cows have been on everyone's lips as a symbol of selflessness, love and care. Even then, cows were the embodiment of motherhood and fertility. And after many years, a lot of stories, legends and myths have accumulated.

Many of them praised these animals, calling them "Gau-Mata", which means Mother Cow.
After studying the myths and legends of India, you can learn that the Indian deity Krishna was a cow herder and loved and cared for his charges. For this reason, in India, the profession of a shepherd is very prestigious and pleasing to God.

Modern India and cows

Modern India may differ from ancient times, but not in its attitude towards cows. There and now you can see an animal walking on the road without a hint of fear. The symbol of motherhood in India is still a subject of praise and love, and not only is the cow loved and respected by the locals, it is also protected by law. No one dares to harm these animals, and murder is punished cruelly. Cows in India live a free life, they are free to do whatever they want: they can freely walk along the roads, walk in courtyards and gardens, and even relax on the beaches.

Besides caring, special attention devoted to feeding the cow. Her feeding is considered good sign. Those who have a pet love to share their food with the cow. Occasionally, you can treat a cow on the street with grass and some treat, not just bread.

Another interesting fact is that none of the drivers really thinks about letting a pedestrian pass, but no one will drive away a cow, even if it gets stuck in the middle of the road. To cross the road, some pedestrians patiently wait for the animal, which is a pass to the other side. And having already waited for the Burenka, people can freely cross the busy highway (the author of the video is Him4anka).

Sacred Animal Products

Those who recognize the situation of cow cows in India are immediately amazed and ask the question: is it even possible to take the products of this animal for food?

Yes, you can. Indians do not eat beef, but they accept from the animal what it readily offers. For example, milk and what can be obtained from milk: cheese, sour cream, local residents actively consumed as food. Most people choose milk because milk has healing properties for Indians.

An equally popular product that Indians love is butter. This oil is called ghee. Ghee is melted, thoroughly cleaned of impurities and used in the kitchen, in medicine and for various religious rituals.

Another derivative product, manure, is widely used by local residents. Cow dung, especially in villages and villages, is dried and used as fuel to heat their homes. Therefore, we can say with confidence that even though cows are not eaten in India, they are still used for the benefit of the people. Everyone is happy and alive.

Interesting facts about Indian cows

Another interesting thing is that the cow lives in a Hindu family exactly as long as it is healthy. As soon as she gets sick and old, and ceases to be useful, for example, to give milk, there is only one way out for her: to go outside. The owners kick their wet nurse out of the yard, and the cow becomes a street cow, where tourists and locals can feed it with unleavened bread and occasionally grass and tasty treats. There is a reason for this behavior and it is quite logical. You cannot kill a cow, because this is a grave sin, but at the same time, if she dies a natural death at home, this is also a sin and, among other things, also promises trouble.

If, however, this grief could not be avoided, the owner of the house is forced to set off on a long journey and make a pilgrimage to the sacred Indian lands. In addition to this journey, the owner of the deceased animal must feed all the priests in his city for free. That's why the cow is driven out of the house. Such travel and feeding of many people is not affordable for everyone, so there is only a known way out.

This behavior of the owners also explains the fact that there are so many cows walking along the streets of India. Luckily, life on the streets is not so bad either, because they are still considered saints.
In addition, it is also curious that drinking regular cow's milk is considered healing. And not just healing, but the teaching in India says that a person who regularly uses this product is able to live for many years and even gain immortality!

Perhaps someone actually succeeded, but people in India, in addition to hoping for the supernatural, also use cow products in a practical way, not without admixtures of faith in the best. Hindus dissolve cow dung in water and then wipe the floors and walls of their homes with this mixture. It is generally accepted that in this way the house can be rid of harmful spirits and evil forces.

Video “About cows and people in India”

In this video, kindly provided by the author Ričardas Mikas, you can find out even more interesting and educational information about the holy cows.

India. Cows. Cows in India. Everyone knows that cows in India are considered a sacred animal. But what does this even mean? Are they idolized? Are they worshiped? How is the life of these darlings of fate? Is it true that they just walk along the streets of Indian cities? That they all belong to no one?

Since childhood, Varvara was very curious and loved bazaars

Let's figure it out.

Hinduism really dedicates itself to cows special status. Since ancient times, they have been considered symbols of wealth and abundance. By the way, this was not only the case among the Hindus - the ancient Egyptians and Romans also saw them as status animals. But among the Hindus, this respect moved to the next level - the cow was not just a nurse, but also a source of heat (flat cakes cow dung in India it is still used as fuel), fertilizers and labor.

IN ancient religion India's earth goddess Prithivi appears in the form of a cow. And although in Hinduism the cow is already a deity, its meat is Taboo for believers. The cow is considered the embodiment of selflessness - after all, it gives so many useful things to humans. How can you eat the meat of such a creature?

Walking along the streets of Indian cities, you actually see cows every now and then. Even in the huge () Delhi there are areas where they exist, and even in smaller cities, it’s like this at almost every step.

Olga also parked

At first glance, it may seem that all these cows are ownerless. Actually this is not true. Every cow has an owner who lets her out to “graze” on something that is not lying well.

Boris decided to get acquainted with the proposals of local farmers

Cows wander freely through the city streets all day, and in the evening they return home. By the way, as they explained to me, bulls, unlike cows, often don’t belong to anyone. What is the point of keeping an animal that does not produce milk, Hindus argue. Bulls simply live on the street, and sometimes walking cows get knocked up by them.

Antonina loved to go to the sacred river. There she thought better about the eternal.

At the same time, Hindus treat cows without unnecessary trepidation. If necessary, they are whipped with rods and even beaten with sticks. Screams drive them away from places where they are not allowed. That is, there is no talk of any idolization, or even special veneration here.

Sergei felt awkward. He was the only guest from the groom's side at this wedding.

Cows can often be seen grazing on piles of urban garbage. Many food waste they dump them directly into the street, and the cattle do not hesitate to chew them with a peaceful, thoughtful look. But some are not averse to trying “stronger” delicacies, gnawing at pieces of iron from landfills, or even trying to bite into rusty cars.

In fact, Diana prefers German cars, but no fish and no fish.

Cows like to lie down in the middle of the street, which greatly annoys local tuk-tuks and pedicabs. In old cities, the streets are narrow, and sometimes you can’t avoid the lying animals.

After afternoon tea, Zlata liked to relax a little - it was her “me time”

But they get along well with other residents of Indian streets - dogs.

She felt responsible for these cute (but generally useless) dogs - after all, she tamed them

And Indian cows have learned to walk up stairs. This spectacle is very comical; it is clearly not easy for the clumsy animals to go down the steps, but nevertheless they have become alert and do it every day.

Mikhail was philosophical about the steps. There was the most delicious garbage down there

The Hindu ban on eating cow meat has repeatedly played an important role in the history of the country.

For example in mid-19th century, the British had entire armies of mercenaries from the local population in the service of the British. They were called sepoys. One day a rumor spread among them that new packages of cartridges were rubbed with either cow or pork fat. (Some of the sepoys were Muslims, who are not allowed to eat pork). The fact is that the soldiers of that time, in order to load the gun, had to tear this packaging with their teeth. The British authorities hastened to assure the soldiers that they were not using any animal fat, and offered to supply the sepoys with ungreased cartridges. But this only confirmed the original rumors, and in 1857 the soldiers rebelled. The Sepoy Mutiny lasted over a year and is considered by some to be India's first (albeit unsuccessful) war of independence.

"Am I not a sacred animal?" thought Gregory, “Who else if not me to eat from this urn?”

When India gained its independence from the British a hundred years later, the ban on cow meat again influenced political situation. There were many Muslims living in the country who loved to eat beef. They were not ready to give up such an important part of their diet. The Indian desire to ban cow slaughter exacerbated already strong tensions between Hindus and Muslims, and Pakistan eventually separated from India, becoming an independent state with Islam as the official religion.

They liked to call themselves the Three Musketeers

Today, cow slaughter is prohibited in the vast majority of states, although no such law exists at the federal level. And some states even prohibit the sale of cows (this is disrespect for the animal!) Transporting cows from one state to another is also often illegal, although this does not stop anyone.

Vyacheslav was restless in his soul all day

It should be noted here that some of the cows are actually buffaloes (and therefore buffalos... buffalos?) To my untrained urban eye, they are all the same, but for Indians the difference is quite significant. After all, the slaughter of buffalos is no longer subject to either religious or legal prohibitions!

"You need to sunbathe your whole body!" Julia always told her friends

If you are offered beef in India, be skeptical. It may very well be that this is actually buffalo meat. It is not as tasty and much tougher than the meat of “real” cows that we are all accustomed to.

Christina tried to popularly explain to her colleagues the advantages of a market economy over a planned one.

It is true that they say that there are illegal slaughterhouses where real cows are slaughtered. Since 24 out of 29 states have laws against this, there are ten times more of these underground businesses than legal ones.

An endless stream of people did not allow Alexander to cross the road

But enough about the sad stuff. Most cows (and even buffaloes) in India live happy and serene lives. If you look at them from the outside, here they are, the masters of life. Wherever you can find these animals. For example, at the station, I met several people right on the platform.

Katyukha hoped that the train would not be too late

I still don’t understand, to be honest, they wandered here themselves, or the owners dragged them in and were going to load them onto the train. To be honest, after what I saw on Indian trains (), I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised.

Yashka was very afraid of bumping into the ticket inspector because he forgot his ticket in his other trousers

Some more photos of Indian cows in their natural environment:

“I don’t see anything difficult in this,” thought Yana, “I’m sure I can do it”

Evgeniya recently started doing yoga

Anna got up on the wrong foot, everything pissed her off today

Veselchak Viktor, through his connections, got some delicious straw

Not all of them lead carefree lives. Some are harnessed - literally. It’s not clear whether this is a cow or a buffalo? How to distinguish?

It's good to be a sacred animal. I want that too. What about you? Would you agree to be reincarnated as an Indian cow?