Why cows are worthy of worship

From a practical point of view, cows (and bulls) help us sustain ourselves by playing a crucial role in farming practices. In ancient days, cows were seen as the first visible deity and worshipped accordingly in many cultures. The Silapathikaram song, Vidu nila marugi makkat kellam explains the ethos better. It say the cow grazes on grass, provides milk in abundance, without differentiating between young or old. It adapts to any environment; even if it is raised in the south and traded off to someone far off in the north, it will continue to provide milk. This is the highest dharmic principle— that you continue to do whatever you have to do, without discrimination. This is one of the reasons why gow dhanam (donating cows) is hailed as the highest form of charity. It is better than donating clothes, far better than gifting gold, better than anna dhanam or even teertha dhanam (thaneer pandal). 

According to statistics provided by Rev John Mariyam, a cow’s life span is about 15 years. In its lifetime, one cow provides milk for 15,440 people, so we should not hurt cows but treat them well, he says.

Such is the holiness of the cow that it is a symbol of purity and prosperity. Many people bring a cow for their grihapravesam (house warming) ceremony. If it enters the house first, the resident evil spirits would take flight, and the ill-effects are nullified. In the Ramayana, there is this interlude where sage Gargeya approaches Lord Rama who has denounced royal life and is about to head to the forest. When the sage asks for a cow, Rama agrees and the benefit of that charity comes back to benefit Rama later on. Likewise, Lord Krishna, always seen with a cow or calf, famously lead all cattle to Brindavan, and people followed him, celebrating Maattu Pongal in their own way. 

Our scriptures say that one should donate a cow at least once in a lifetime. It is believed that over 33,000 devas reside in a cow. But more importantly, Mahalakshmi is said to reside at the back of the cow. When one donates a cow, one is asked to massage the tail of a cow (where Mahalakshmi resides) three times. It is a belief among Hindus that when one dies, in order to reach heaven, the soul has to cross the Vaikarnai river, which is normally filled with blood and other matter. If a person had donated a cow in his lifetime, then the benefits are translated for the final journey, and a cow would await the soul at the gory river and ferry it to Viraja river, which is the entry point for Vaikuntam.

Cows are said to be musically inclined. The Tyagaraja aradhana, held in Thiruvaiyaru every year, celebrates the life of Rama and the kirtans are said to please cows. Celebration of cattle is a hallowed tradition. 

The Rig Veda says that for timely, bountiful rainfall, cattle should be treated well wherever they reside. Bulls too are revered. Lord Siva trusted his Nandi (bull) to such an extent that He sent him to earth to help people flourish. He instructed, “If people have any issues, listen to them and bring the problems to my notice.” This is the reason why devotees are often seen whispering in the ears of a bull in a temple.