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== परिचय || Introduction ==

== परिचय || Introduction ==

Cow (Sanskrit : धेनु , गौः , सुरभि , पयस्विनी) is a divine being revered and worshiped as the earthy embodiment of devatas by Hindus. Since times immemorial in Bharatavarsha, the cow has well been recognized for Her selflessness and service to humankind and thus has been worshiped with utmost reverence. Importance of cow in the Dharmic way of life can be summarized in the following words of Vasishta || वसिष्ठमुनिः with Rishi Viswamitra || विश्वामित्रमुनिः regarding शबला, the holy cow in '''as given by Valmiki maharshi in श्रीरामायण'''<blockquote>"

Cow (Sanskrit : धेनु , गौः , सुरभि , पयस्विनी) is a divine being revered and worshiped as the earthy embodiment of devatas by Hindus. Since times immemorial in Bharatavarsha, the cow has well been recognized for Her selflessness and service to humankind and thus has been worshiped with utmost reverence. Importance of cow in the Dharmic way of life can be summarized in the following words of Vasishta || वसिष्ठमुनिः with Rishi Viswamitra || विश्वामित्रमुनिः regarding शबला, the holy cow in '''as given by Valmiki maharshi in श्रीरामायण'''<blockquote>"''śāśvatī śabalā mahyaṃ kīrtirātmagato yathāasyāṃ havyaṃ ca kavyaṃ ca prāṇayātrā tathaiva ca || (Val. Ram Bal 53.13)''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''शाश्वती शबला मह्यं कीर्तिरात्मगतो यथा अस्यां हव्यं च कव्यं च प्राणयात्रा तथैव च || (Val. Ram Bal 53.13)''"</blockquote>'''Meaning:''' Just as a person with self-respect and his fame are inseparable, so also I (Vasishta) am inseparable from Shabala. With her milk my daily activities for the gods and ancestors are conducted, so as my प्राणयात्रा (life’s journey).

''śāśvatī śabalā mahyaṃ kīrtirātmagato yathāasyāṃ havyaṃ ca kavyaṃ ca prāṇayātrā tathaiva ca || (Val. Ram Bal 53.13)''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''शाश्वती शबला मह्यं कीर्तिरात्मगतो यथा अस्यां हव्यं च कव्यं च प्राणयात्रा तथैव च || (Val. Ram Bal 53.13)''"</blockquote>'''Meaning:''' Just as a person with self-respect and his fame are inseparable, so also I (Vasishta) am inseparable from Shabala. With her milk my daily activities for the gods and ancestors are conducted, so as my प्राणयात्रा (life’s journey).

Since time immemorial, in Bharatvarsha the cow is worshiped as it seen to represent selflessness and service to humankind.  the sacredness of the cow is described extensively in the Vedas. Kamadhenu or the bovine-goddess, who resides in IndraLoka is described in the Shastras as the Mother of all cows. She is a miraculous provider who fulfills the desires of her owner. Kamadhenu's lineage including he daughter Nandini also feature prominently in the Nirukthas. Yaska Mahrashi explains the name ‘go’ as a part of the 21 names of || prithvi (earth) given below

Since time immemorial, in Bharatvarsha the cow is worshiped as it seen to represent selflessness and service to humankind.  the sacredness of the cow is described extensively in the Vedas. Kamadhenu or the bovine-goddess, who resides in IndraLoka is described in the Shastras as the Mother of all cows. She is a miraculous provider who fulfills the desires of her owner. Kamadhenu's lineage including he daughter Nandini also feature prominently in the Nirukthas. Yaska Mahrashi explains the name ‘go’ as a part of the 21 names of || prithvi (earth) given below

'''meaning:?'''

'''meaning:?'''

Several explanations are given by Yaska maharishi regarding the origin of the word cow/gau:<blockquote>"

Several explanations are given by Yaska maharishi regarding the origin of the word cow/gau:<blockquote>"''यद्दुरन्गथ भवथि यछस्यम् भुतनि गछति ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''yaddurangatha bhavathi yachasyam bhutani gachati || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>that which is extensively  pervasive and whence all the living entities are traveling on<blockquote>"''पसुनमेहभवति यथस्म देव ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''pasunamehabhavati yathasma deva || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>the same thing is applicable to the specialty : the cow or the word go.<blockquote>"''अदित्योपि गौरुच्यते सर्वेऽपि रश्मयो गवौचन्थि ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''adityopi gauruchyate sarvepi rashmayo gavauchanth || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>आदित्य || Aditya () is also called gahu. Surya rash mi (the sun rays) are also called as gau or cow.  

''यद्दुरन्गथ भवथि यछस्यम् भुतनि गछति ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''yaddurangatha bhavathi yachasyam bhutani gachati || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>that which is extensively  pervasive and whence all the living entities are traveling on<blockquote>"

''पसुनमेहभवति यथस्म देव ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''pasunamehabhavati yathasma deva || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>the same thing is applicable to the specialty : the cow or the word go.<blockquote>"

''अदित्योपि गौरुच्यते सर्वेऽपि रश्मयो गवौचन्थि ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''adityopi gauruchyate sarvepi rashmayo gavauchanth || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>आदित्य || Aditya () is also called gahu. Surya rash mi (the sun rays) are also called as gau or cow.  

The Vishnu Purana says<blockquote>"

The Vishnu Purana says<blockquote>"''गवम्सुर्यह परो गुरुहु ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''gavamsuryaha paro guruhu || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>when Lord Krishna appears, Bhudevi speaks to the devatas.

''गवम्सुर्यह परो गुरुहु ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''gavamsuryaha paro guruhu || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>when Lord Krishna appears, Bhudevi speaks to the devatas.

This is a significant part in the commentary. Vishnu chitta, an ancient acharya explains,<blockquote>"

This is a significant part in the commentary. Vishnu chitta, an ancient acharya explains,<blockquote>"''अत्रा गुरु शब्ध करनमचि ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''athra guru shabda karanamachi || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>here the word guru also has the causative meaning.<blockquote>"''सुर्य सुथस्ह्छ गअमह ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"''surya suthashcha gaamaha || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>So he quotes samvartha shruthi vakya as evidence.  

''अत्रा गुरु शब्ध करनमचि ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''athra guru shabda karanamachi || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>here the word guru also has the causative meaning.<blockquote>"

''सुर्य सुथस्ह्छ गअमह ||''"</blockquote><blockquote>"

''surya suthashcha gaamaha || '''(REF ??)'''''"</blockquote>So he quotes samvartha shruthi vakya as evidence.  

The sun rays are the सूर्य सुतस्च्य गवः || surya sutaschya gavah  because surya is the cause of their rays (whose rays).

The sun rays are the सूर्य सुतस्च्य गवः || surya sutaschya gavah  because surya is the cause of their rays (whose rays).

== The Go suktas ==

== The Go suktas ==

Let’s analyze the go sukta from the Rg veda (10.169). There are only 4 mantras in this sukta, which addresses the cows as devatas. The mood of these verses are as follows. This sukta is addressed to Rudra deva says,<blockquote>"

Let’s analyze the go sukta from the Rg veda (10.169). There are only 4 mantras in this sukta, which addresses the cows as devatas. The mood of these verses are as follows. This sukta is addressed to Rudra deva says,<blockquote>"''“Let the wind blow pleasingly towards the cows and let the cows enjoy the nourishing milk and the nice grass. Let them drink water which is pleasing and makes life satisfying. This cow which is providing  “Jiva dhanya (life-sustaining grains) to us, let such cows be satisfied as they stand on their own feet.''"</blockquote>Agnidev understands those cows who have got similar forms  or different kinds of form or same size through yoga. The rishis of Angirasa kula, the great ||tapasvis () created the cows. These cows are beneficial to the cause of yajna. Let such cows be given unlimited satisfaction by the पर्जन्य || Parjanya (God of rain). The cows offer themselves to those devatas  who are qualified to perform the yajna. Only Soma deva understands their entire form,<blockquote>"''"Hey Indradeva, please bring them to our cow shed, the cows which are full of milk and one who are always giving children. The paramatama who is the creator has given this cow to me to whom all the glorification is made by me. After the ||pitris () and ||pitridevas () being permitted, let these auspicious cows on their own, let them be tied in cow shed, only because of (go-santan) the family of cows, lets become happy and prosperous.".''"</blockquote>

''“Let the wind blow pleasingly towards the cows and let the cows enjoy the nourishing milk and the nice grass. Let them drink water which is pleasing and makes life satisfying. This cow which is providing  “Jiva dhanya (life-sustaining grains) to us, let such cows be satisfied as they stand on their own feet.''"</blockquote>Agnidev understands those cows who have got similar forms  or different kinds of form or same size through yoga. The rishis of Angirasa kula, the great ||tapasvis () created the cows. These cows are beneficial to the cause of yajna. Let such cows be given unlimited satisfaction by the पर्जन्य || Parjanya (God of rain). The cows offer themselves to those devatas  who are qualified to perform the yajna. Only Soma deva understands their entire form,<blockquote>"

''"Hey Indradeva, please bring them to our cow shed, the cows which are full of milk and one who are always giving children. The paramatama who is the creator has given this cow to me to whom all the glorification is made by me. After the ||pitris () and ||pitridevas () being permitted, let these auspicious cows on their own, let them be tied in cow shed, only because of (go-santan) the family of cows, lets become happy and prosperous.".''"</blockquote>

== Explanation of the Sukta ==

== Explanation of the Sukta ==

Why is it that this is talked about, do only cows have legs?  

Why is it that this is talked about, do only cows have legs?  

One has to study this veda sutra to understand it. Rudra represents death (mrityu). So the prayer: “Let the light not see its end, offered to him indicates knowledge is limitless and the desire to have that is an eternal desire. Similarly when we see external cows, they have the same colour, different or same shape or light rays that take shelter of the power of Sun god could also have different colors'''. The janan surya is they have taken shelter of jnana bala and have different colors, the nature of jnana is necessarily not only one''', it is varieties, therefore satya or truth has diverse facets and appears in different sizes and colours. As the Bhagavd Gita explains in 11th chapter <blockquote>"

One has to study this veda sutra to understand it. Rudra represents death (mrityu). So the prayer: “Let the light not see its end, offered to him indicates knowledge is limitless and the desire to have that is an eternal desire. Similarly when we see external cows, they have the same colour, different or same shape or light rays that take shelter of the power of Sun god could also have different colors'''. The janan surya is they have taken shelter of jnana bala and have different colors, the nature of jnana is necessarily not only one''', it is varieties, therefore satya or truth has diverse facets and appears in different sizes and colours. As the Bhagavd Gita explains in 11th chapter <blockquote>"''"ननवर्नक्र्तिनि च || nana-varnakrtini ca"''"</blockquote>this is all explained by Agni, that is the meaning.

''"ननवर्नक्र्तिनि च || nana-varnakrtini ca"''"</blockquote>this is all explained by Agni, that is the meaning.