Benefits of Cow

by SatbirSinghBedi,
For those of us who grew up in villages, mention of cow brings nostalgia. Our dawn
was through the cowshed beside the house. Milking cows was a loving early morning
ritual for the mothers. Mother would move to the shed with a shining pot, lovingly
stroke the cow on its back, calling it with its favourite name. The milk that the cow
spared for the household nourished the whole family, especially the children, even
like it nurtured its own calf.
The cow is a moving temple, being abode of thirty three crore Gods of the Hindu
pantheon. She has given sacred Panchagavya with immense medicinal value and is a
moving hospital.
Cow is the mother of the universe (Gavo Vishwasya Matharaha). She helps in
agriculture, transportation, food, medicine, industry, sports, religious functions,

emotional stability, economy, etc. From time immemorial, cow has a special place in
Indian society.
Being part of farming, food, medicine, and industry, cow also contributes to the
health of environment.

Ancient scripture state that Suryaketu nerve on cows back absorbs harmful
radiations and cleanses atmosphere. Mere presence of cows is a great
contribution to environment.
India has approximately 30 crore cattle. Using their dung to produce bio gas,
we can save 6.0 crore ton of firewood every year. This would arrest
deforestation to that extent.
Cow dung has important role in preserving environment.
When we burn cow dung, it balances atmospheric temperature and kills germs
in the air.
Cow dung has antiseptic, anti radioactive and anti thermal properties. When
we coat the walls and clean the floors of house with cow dung, it protects the
dwellers. In 1984, gas leak in Bhopal killed more than 20,000 people. Those
living in houses with cow dung coated walls were not affected. Atomic power
centres in India and Russia even today use cow dung to shield radiation.
African deserts were made fertile using cow dung.
We can reduce acid content in water by treating it with cow dung.
When we offer ghee in fire as part of ritualistic sacrifices, it strengthens the
ozone layer and shields the earth from harmful radiations from Sun.
A relationship between increasing number of butcher houses and earth quakes
is being proven.

Joys of Cow Based Farming

Indian agriculture has variety. There is no farm-product that we dont cultivate. Our
land grows all kinds of grains, pulses, vegetables, fruits, flowers, cotton and silk.
About 70% of our population has embraced agriculture as profession. Majority of
them are small farmers, owning one or two acres of land.
Our agricultural landscape is diverse and vivid in land topology, soil type and
quality, irrigation method and frequency of harvesting.
Cattle are integral part of this huge canvas of agriculture. We use oxen to plough, to
pick and move harvested crops, in irrigation, cow manure as fertiliser, and cow urine
as insecticide.
Unique Role of Cow in Agriculture :

In our country with small holdings and small scale farming, there is no better
alternative to employing cattle in farming.

While ploughing, the oxen stride with gentle gait, not harming the surface of
the earth, unlike tractors.
Even as they plough the land, the oxen defecate and urinate, fertilising the
land.
Cattle Manure : organic manure, green leaf manure, earth-worms, and slurry
manure with cattle manure bond with the nature and make the land fertile.
They do not create the challenge of chemical waste.
99% of the insects in nature are beneficial to the system. Insecticides
prepared from cow urine or well fermented butter milk do not affect these
helpful insects.
Dung from one cow is adequate to fertilise 5 acres of land and its urine is can
protect 10 acres of crop from insects.
As per the Supreme Court, cow dung produced by one oxen can support a
family for 4 years.
Oxen do not pollute the atmosphere.

Cattle in Transportation

India has more than 6,00,000 villages, many which do not have asphalted motorable
roads. In hilly regions where even a horse cannot tread, oxen can pull their carts
with ease.
Superiority of Ox Carts :

Boasting of the largest rail road network of the world, Indian Railways
transported 55.7 crore tons of goods in 2004-05. In the same year, the humble
ox carts transported 278.5 crore tons!
In that year, trains moved 511.2 crore passengers while ox carts had 2044.8
crore customers!
Oxen have carried up to 14 ton goods non-stop 24 hours, without water and
food.
Most importantly, the carts do not produce air or sound pollution.

Food

Food from Cow : from the start to end of a meal

A mother nursing her infant depends on cows milk for her own nourishment. A
mother feeds her child for a year or two; then cow is lifelong refuge for us all. Cow
feeds its own calf and spares plenty for us too.
Uses of cow products :

Different popular beverages like coffee, tea, etc. require milk as an important
ingredient.
Scores of sweet dishes are milk based.
Curd, butter, and ghee are essential part of Indian meal. Taste of items deep
fried in ghee is unmatched.
Butter milk quenches thirst in addition to being a base for many popular
dishes in our cooking.

Cow Products as Medicine

World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as a combination of physical,
mental, spiritual and social wholeness. WHO has also predicted that bacteria will
become immune to antibiotics by the year 2020. That does not scare us! We can
depend on Panchagavya milk, curd, ghee, cow urine and cow dung. These have
excellent medical qualities individually as well as a concoction, without any adverse
side-effect. In addition, if we are already under some other medication, consumption
of panchagavya acts as a catalyst.
Ancient books on Ayurveda state that consumption of cow urine increases
resistance to diseases by up to 104%.
Note : increase to 104% is an increase of 4%. What do we mean?
Health from Panchagavya :

Milk : Charaka Samhita states, Milk is the best life strengthener. While Casin
protein in milk helps growth of infants, calcium and sulphur strengthen our
bones. Milk is also rich in vitamins D and B-complex.
Curd arrests diarrhoea, controls fat, and resists cancer.
Ghee improves intelligence and beauty. It is used to treat eye diseases.
Distilled cow urine is effective in treatment of flu, arthritis, bacterial diseases,
food poisoning, indigestion, oedema, and leprosy.
Panchagavya Mix : Various medical formulations like Panchagavya Ghrita,
Amritasara, Ghanavati, Ksharavati, Netrasara etc. are invaluable medicines in
Ayurvedic system.

Cow in Industry
Milk and milk products from cow are used in preparing wholesome dishes and food
products. Cow products are effective in treatment for cancer, hypertension,
diabetes, heart diseases, neurological problems, psychological problems, skin
diseases, ENT problems, fever, cold, hair loss, etc. They can also be used in
cosmetic products like soap, shampoo and beauty aids. They help in farming and
provide manure and insecticides. We can get cooking gas and electricity from cow
dung.
Cow Industry is Practical :

Gobar Energy

India leads the world in milk production. In 1998 99, India produced 7.5 crore
ton milk. 70% of this produce is from small farmers.
South India has more than 75,000 gobar gas installations, achieved by the
S.K.G. Society of Kolar.
A scientist named Bug Jones established Inland Energy Corporation in
California. They collect 1500 ton cow dung a day from the neighbourhood and
produce 50 MW of electricity.
Gurjarat State Government purchases cow urine at Rs. 3 per kg and cow dung
at Rs. 2 per kg.
Cows Role in Economy

70% of our people depend on agriculture. 98% of them depend on cattle based
agriculture.
India produces more milk than all other countries.
Goods carried by ox carts is 4 to 5 times as much as by trains. This saves
considerable foreign exchange. E.g., Transportation worth Rs. 50,000 crore
was done by ox carts in 2005.
By expanding cow based industry, cow would have a defining stature in our
economy. Sadly its already important position is not accepted by our people.

Shared by cnu.pne