Sanctity of Cows
Hinduism regards cows as having
a divine status. Also, cow urine (gomutra)
consumption and dung-bathing are important ayurvedic principles that should be
incorporated into one's regimen according to the renowned sages of
Hinduism. Two eminent sages'
declarations regarding cows from the Mahabharata are presented below:
I. Vyasa's Declaration
II. Vasistha's Declaration
I. Vyasa's Declaration
In the Mahabharata, the sage Vyasa instructs sanctification through reverence
for cows and the drinking of cow-products, including hot cow urine:
"[Vyasa:] 'He who serves kine (cows) with reverence and who follows them
with humility, succeeds in obtaining many invaluable boons from kine who become
gratified with him. One should never, in even one's heart, do an injury to
kine. One should, indeed, always confer happiness on them. One should always
reverence kine and worship them, with bends of one's head. He who does this,
restraining his senses the while and filled with cheerfulness, succeeds in
attaining to that felicity which is enjoyed by kine (and which kine alone can
confer). One should for three days drink the hot urine of the cow. For the next
three days one should drink the hot milk of the cow. Having thus drunk for
three days hot milk, one should next drink hot ghee for three days. Having in
this way drunk hot ghee for three days, one should subsist for the next three
days on air only.' " -- Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva, Section LXXXI. [Roy, Pratap Chandra. The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana
Vyasa: translated into English prose. Calcutta:
Bharata Press, 1893. vol.: Anucasana
Parva. p.394].
II. Vasistha's Declaration
Likewise, dung-bathing has its merits according to the wise sages of Hinduism;
the sage Vasistha instructs veneration for cows as well as purification by
bathing in water mixed with cow dung:
"[Vasistha:] 'One should never go to bed without reciting the names of
kine (cows). Nor should one rise from bed in the morning without a similar
recitation of the names of kine. Morning and evening one should bend one's head
in reverence to kine. As the consequence of such acts, one is sure to attain to
great prosperity. One should never feel any repugnance for the urine and the
dung of the cow. One should never eat the flesh of kine. As the consequence of
this, one is sure to attain to great prosperity. One should always take the
names of kine. One should never show any disregard for kine in any way. If evil
dreams are seen, men should take the names of kine. One should always bathe,
using cowdung at the time. One should sit on dried cowdung. One should never
cast one's urine and excreta and other secretions on cowdung. One should never
obstruct kine in any way. One should eat, sitting on a cowhide purified by
dipping it in water, and then cast one's eyes towards the west. Sitting with
restrained speech, one should eat ghee, using the bare earth as one's dish. One
reaps, in consequence of such acts, that prosperity of which kine are the
source.' " -- Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva, Section LXXVIII. [Roy, Pratap Chandra. The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana
Vyasa: translated into English prose.
Calcutta: Bharata Press, 1893.
vol.: Anucasana Parva. p.386].