Protecting the Cow is protecting the World

Vedhas are the back bone for the welfare of the world. Yajna is the backbone of the Vedhas. The kartha who performs the yajna and the cow which yields the important materials for the yajna are the backbone of the yajna. Therefore it means that the cow is there for the welfare of the world.

That is why it is said ‘Go rakshanam is Bhurakshanam’. It is for this reason that when prayer is offered for the welfare of the world, the cow and the kartha (who performs yajna) are first mentioned separately and then prayer is said for the welfare of the world.

Go brahmanebyo subamasthu nithyam
Lokah samasthah sukino bhavanthu

லகா - ப்ராிமலதுப்லயா ோபமகது நித்யம்
லோகா : ாமகதா : ாந்கிலநா பவந்து

The reason why the cow and the Brahmin have been mentioned separately when there are so many animals and there are so many jathis is that the two are most useful in yajnas which are performed for the welfare of the world. This was not said out of any feeling of partiality.

These lines are from the first of the ‘Mangala slokas’ recited at the conclusion of Ramayana Parayanam. Since the sloka comes at the end of the recitation of Ramayana which is the story of Ramachandramurthi who ruled his kingdom in accordance with Vedhas, performing Asvamedha yajna etc, first it is said that the king should rule justly and then the welfare of the cow, the Brahmin and the world has been mentioned.

Swasthi prajabyah paripalayantham
Nyayyena margena mahim mahisah
Go brahmanebyo subhamasthu nithyam
Lokah samasthah sukino bhavanthu

கவகதி ப்ரஜாப்ய பாபாேயந்தாம் :
ந்யாய்லயந மார்லகது ம ீம் ம ீசா : | லகா ப்ராிமலதுப்லயா ோபமகது நித்யம் லோகா ாமகதா ாந்கிலநா பவந்து : ||

Rama and Krishna are the two eyes of this country. When praying to Krishna Paramathma for the welfare of the world, before mentioning the good of the world, the welfare of the cow and Brahmin are mentioned.

Namo brahmanya devaya go brahmana hithaya cha
Jagadh hithaya Krishnaya govindaya namo Namah

நலமா ப்ரிமண்ய லதவாய லகா ப்ராிமது ிதாய ச | ஜகத் - : ிதாய க் பதுாய லகாவ ந்தாய நலமா நம ||

Although the two are the pillars of yajnas, the cow has been given the first place and then the Brahmin – ‘go brahmana’.

The Brahmins are called ‘Bhudevas’, they are the devas who are not in devaloka but are in bhuloka. Those Brahmins who have dedicated themselves to the Vedhas and are doing yajnas and other anushtanas for the welfare of the world are referred to like this, not the present day Brahmins who have given up the swadharma.

The cow is mentioned before such true Brahmins who are bhudevas. It is said of someone that he not only spoiled himself but spoiled the holy temple tank. Similarly since the Brahmin has given up the swadharma of Vedha rakshanam and therefore yajnas and homas have declined, the virtuous function of the cow (of giving its ghee, dung etc) has been affected.

The cow which protects the yajnas by giving the important materials needed for the same has the power to protect the efficacy of the manthras by its mere presence. That is why it is said that doing japa inside a cow shed yields crores of times the benefit that normally accrues. There is no place as pure as a ‘koshtam’, the cattle shed. All the holy waters are within it. In our temples there are sannidhis for different deities and there is a holy tank. But the cow is the temple in which all the deities and all the holy waters are there.