Why Worship Cows?
Niti Chalisa
मातरः सर्वभूतानां गावः सर्वसुखप्रदाः। वृद्धिमाकाङ्क्षता नित्यं गावः कार्याः प्रदक्षिणाः ।।
(महाभारत – अनुशासनपर्व ६९.७)
“गायें सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंकी माता हैं। वे सबको सुख देनेवाली हैं। जो अपने अभ्युदयकी इच्छा रखता हो, उसे उनकी सदा प्रदक्षिणा करनी चाहिए, अर्थात् उन्हें दाहिने करके चलना चाहिए।।”
Essence
This verse from the Aanushasan parva of Mahabharata emphasizes on the divine nature of cows and how an astika must behave with them.
The verse occurs within the Dana-Dharma Parva- the first subsection of Anushasana Parva, where Bhishmaji continues his teachings to Yudhishthira on the principles of dharma and the merits of dana.
This chapter emphasizes the spiritual and material benefits of donating cows i.e, go-dana.
The literal interpretation of the verse can be given as:
Cows are the mothers of all beings and they provide everybody with happiness. Those who desire prosperity should always perform circumambulation around cows and walk with them keeping them on the right side.
Saṃskr̥ta words in context:
- Abhyudaya – Prosperity
- Astika/Āstika – One who believes in Vedas
- Dana/Dāna – Charity
- Dharma – Righteous duty
- Pradikshana/Pradikṣaṇā – Circumambulation
