Alawas, Janica BSES 2A

Ballesteros, Angela Contemporary World

Bullong, Johndale Rein 04 November 2019
Dumapi, Methushela Written Report
Mablay, Jiemryll Aik
Silverio, Jim

SOUTH ASIA CULTURE: THE INDIAN CULTURE OF “SACRED COWS”

Objectives:
1. Discuss a brief and concise background of Hinduism and its contribution to Indian culture.
2. Discuss the relationship of treating the cow sacred and the religion of Hinduism.
3. Discuss why cows are still treated as a sacred animal in India until these modern times.
Discussion Proper:
I. Hinduism. It is said to be the oldest religion in the world, dating back to more than 4000 years BCE. It is
the third largest religion after Christianity and Islam. It is unique in nature because it is not just a
single religion but is a compilation of many traditions and philosophies.
II. Beliefs in Hinduism. Some of the beliefs of Hindus are the following:
1. Hinduism embraces many religious ideas. For this reason, it’s sometimes referred to as a “way
of life” or a “family of religions,” as opposed to a single, organized religion.
2. Most forms of Hinduism are henotheistic, which means they worship a single deity, known as
“Brahman,” but still recognize other gods and goddesses. Followers believe there are multiple
paths to reaching their god.
3. Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and
reincarnation) and karma (the universal law of cause and effect).
4. One of the key thoughts of Hinduism is “atman,” or the belief in soul. This philosophy holds that
living creatures have a soul, and they’re all part of the supreme soul. The goal is to achieve
“moksha,” or salvation, which ends the cycle of rebirths to become part of the absolute soul.
5. One fundamental principle of the religion is the idea that people’s actions and thoughts directly
determine their current life and future lives.
6. Hindus strive to achieve dharma, which is a code of living that emphasizes good conduct and
morality.
7. Hindus revere all living creatures and consider the cow a sacred animal.
8. Food is an important part of life for Hindus. Most don’t eat beef or pork, and many are
vegetarians.
9. Hinduism is closely related to other Indian religions, including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
III. The Sanctity of the Cow. In Hinduism, the belief that the cow is representative of divine and natural
beneficence and should therefore be protected and venerated. The cow has also been associated
with various deities and goddesses in general (because of the maternal attributes of many of them).
IV. Origin of Cow Veneration. Vedic Period (2nd millennium – 7th century BCE).
V. Scenarios where cows are given utmost respect and honor. The following are some supporting ideas and
proofs:
1. Cattles are sacrificed and their flesh are eaten in ancient India, yet the slaughter of milk-producing
cows is prohibited.
2. It is forbidden to slaughter cows as stated in many parts of the Mahabharata, the great Sanskrit
epic.
3. Slaughtering of cows is also prohibited in the religious and ethical code known as Manu-smirti
(“Tradition of Manu”).
4. The milk cow was already in the Rigveda said to be “unslayable.”
5. The degree of veneration afforded the cow is indicated by the use in rites of healing, purification, and
penance of the panchagavya, the five products of the cow—milk, curd, butter, urine, and dung.
6. With the rise of the ideal of ahimsa (“noninjury”), the absence of the desire to harm living creatures,
the cow came to symbolize a life of nonviolent generosity.
7. Because her products supplied nourishment, the cow was associated with motherhood and
Mother Earth.
8. The cow was also identified early on with the Brahman or priestly class, and killing the cow was
sometimes equated (by Brahmans) with the heinous crime of killing a Brahman.
9. In the middle of the 1st millennium CE, cow killing was made a capital offense by the Gupta
kings, and legislation against cow killing persisted into the 20th century in many princely states
where the monarch was Hindu.
VI. Cows are not Worshipped but are Honored and Adored. Hindus doesn’t worship cows, instead, they honor
and adore them. To the Hindu, the cow symbolizes all other creatures. The cow is a symbol of the
Earth, the nourisher, the ever-giving, undemanding provider. The cow represents life and the
sustenance of life. The cow is so generous, taking nothing but water, grass and grain. It gives and
gives and gives of its milk, as does the liberated soul give of his spiritual knowledge. The cow is so
vital to life, the virtual sustainer of life, for many humans. The cow is a symbol of grace and
abundance. Veneration of the cow instils in Hindus the virtues of gentleness, receptivity and
connectedness with nature.
In the Hindu tradition, the cow is honored, garlanded and given special feedings at festivals all over
India, most importantly the annual Gopashtama festival. Demonstrating how dearly Hindus love
their cows, colorful cow jewelry and clothing is sold at fairs all over the Indian countryside. From a
young age, Hindu children are taught to decorate the cow with garlands, paint and ornaments.
In the Vedas, cows represent wealth and joyous Earthly life. From the Rig Veda (4.28.1;6) it states
that, “The cows have come and have brought us good fortune. In our stalls, contented, may
they stay! May they bring forth calves for us, many-colored, giving milk for Indra each day.
You make, O cows, the thin man sleek; to the unlovely you bring beauty. Rejoice our
homestead with pleasant lowing. In our assemblies we laud your vigor.”
VII. Recent Issues in Relation to the Treatment of Cows with Veneration and Honor.
1. India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, came to power in 2014 at the head of the Hindu nationalist
Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP. In speeches, Modi has condemned the “widespread killing of our
cows” and has been criticized for being largely silent or late to comment on the slayings of Muslims
suspected of eating beef or slaughtering cows.
2. Vigilante groups such as “Save the Cow” have arisen, barging into the houses of Muslims, looking
for beef. Ten members of “Save the Cow” were arrested in October after they allegedly killed a
Muslim man suspected of having beef in his refrigerator.