http://www.hinduism.co.za/cowsare.htm\n\nThis is a serious question.\nI am not trying to attack anyone.\nRead this and wondered, incredulous.
202370
first of all let me tell you that this principle is not a must nor is it a custom.\ni myself being a Hindu have not come across this custom in any of the religious books.\nactually we people consider the cow to be the home of many god and goddesses. it is a notion that the goddess of the money(LAKSHMI) resides in the urinary parts of the cow. so the people thinking of becoming rich or those who want to fulfil there desire for anything follow this custom. also u may be knowing that urine helps in killing the microbes in ones body, so it has science involved in it too.
286687
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism
119466
Cattle (called cows in vernacular usage, or kine [archaic]) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. They are raised as livestock for meat (called beef and veal), dairy products (milk), leather and as draught animals (pulling carts, plows and the like). In some countries, such as India, they are subject to religious ceremonies and respect. It is estimated that there are 1.3 billion head of cattle in the world today [1].\n\nCattle were originally identified by Carolus Linnaeus as three separate species. These were Bos taurus, the European cattle, including similar types from Africa and Asia; Bos indicus, the zebu; and the extinct Bos primigenius, the aurochs. The aurochs is ancestral to both zebu and European cattle. More recently these three have increasingly been grouped as one species, sometimes using the names Bos primigenius taurus, Bos primigenius indicus and Bos primigenius primigenius. Complicating the matter is the ability of cattle to interbreed with other closely related species. Hybrid individuals and even breeds exist, not only between European cattle and zebu but also with yaks, banteng, gaur, and bison, a cross-genera hybrid. For example, genetic testing of the Dwarf Lulu breed, the only humpless "Bos taurus-type" cattle in Nepal, found them to be a mix of European cattle, zebu and yak. Cattle cannot successfully be bred with water buffalo or African buffalo. (See aurochs for the history of domestication, and zebu for peculiarities of that group.)
349874
An interesting point.  And, at first glance, I would say yes.  However, from the Christian point of view, nature was corrupted along with the fall of man.   Also, different kinds of animals function in different ways.  Many elements of nature function in a strictly selfish, self-preserving way - in the individualistic sense.  Others are more centred on the collectivity.\nSome animals owned by man (dogs, horses) have been known to behave in seemingly unselfish ways,  putting their owners life before their own.  Hard to know what motivates them - is it the self-preserving instinct for the collectivity that has been deterred toward the human owner?  I don't know.\nSo, not being an expert in zoology, I would still suggest that we need a more absolute measure of morality than nature, even though we can learn some things from nature.
477285
for the record i like cows, they're nice.\n\nseveral religions believe in reincarnation. how you recognize people is different than you might think. some believe you carry similar physical traits in each life. some people are lucky enough to carry glimpses of their past lives, and they figure it out. it's not like you see someone and go "hey charlie where you been buddy?!"..it's more of a recognition on a deeper level. think about someone you've just met and instantly clicked with, and you can't quite put your finger on why. it's possible that you knew them/were related to them in a previous life. i've had that happen with several friends/boyfriends.
334065
It's called Hinduism. I'm a hindu and many many many many ...... hidus like me are not vegetarian. I eat fish but vegetarian hindus don't. As for reincarnation/rebirth many Hindus don't believe in that either. There is nothing compulsory in Hinduism.
168507
It isnt that they worship them... \n\nHinus believe that all animals have Atman or soul and thus should not be killed. Also killing leads to bad karmic consequences and the consumption of flesh is not sattvic; meaning one can not achieve full spirituality or a close connection with Lord.
108905
dont plants and animals reincarnate as all the species then become humans? i think it makes sense that humans were last if u think about the religion as a whole b/c of Bhagwan's respect of nature, etc.  how do u know so much about Hinduism? that's pretty cool :]
281005
A very good question.  \n\nMuch debate has gone up about the POLYTHEISTIC nature of Hindu.  The religion is known to have so many gods it is debated that there is no god at all to Hindu (among western academics), though it is so obviously a religion.\n\nGodhead is the name for the form of god in Hindu.  Godhead is in all things, all objects, all shapes, and all places.  In Hindu, god is worshipped in many shapes, the shapes of the many gods, and yet it is a general, universal god they celebrate, even though it is multitudes of gods.\n\nI understood it best when I heard a (poor) translation of a Hindu prayer, I will try to recall here: \n\n"God forgive me for these sins I commit, \nFor I am human.  \n\nYou are in all things, \nAnd I worship you in these things, \nYou are in all forms \nAnd I worship you in this form, \nYou are in all places, \nAnd I worship you in this place.  \n\nGod, forgive me for these sins I commit, \nFor I am human."
531094
The Hindu religion is base on:\n\nUpanishads.\n\nVedas.\n\n............\n\nThey have three Main God, that were created by God.\n\nShiva.\nVishnu.\nBrahma.\n\nThey have 1001 name for their Gods.\n\nGreek and Romans also had many Gods.\n\nVishnu is a preserver of universe.\nShiva is a destructer of Evil and protector of good.\nBrahma is a Creator of this earth and things in it.\n\nAll other gods are just the Avatar or reincarnation of mainly Vishnu or Shiva.\n\nThe deference between the Christianity and the Hindu is, in your religion God sends his only son, to earth. The Hindu believe that from time to time Vishnu or Shiva were send to this earth or they decided to visit the earth to create order of a kind. They took the shape or form or Avatar of Rama(Vishnu) or Krishna(Shiva). These are the two main Avatar of the the God.\n\nIf you ask any Hindu he may have slightly different twist on the events. But most will have same gereral info, along the above line of thinking and some will disagree completely.\n**************************************************************\nMy answer is based on my interpretation of the Q?, If you did not get the Q? answered please do re-phase it and I will try and answer it or others will.\n******************************************************************\nThis is for the people who have grilled you over, for your, English.\n\nMost of the people who write poor English, are attempting to write a foreign language for the first time. They are like baby learning to speak, but they have to write in this forum, so we should give them credit for trying. \n\nOnly way you can learn and master the language is to try, so please do not give up.\n\nBy all means correct them, instruct them, but do not discourage them with harsh comments.\n\nExample: (this was one of the "q?" from a second grader).\n\nMy 'grandpa' told me that does'nt disclose u r secret with any females why? please give me explanation for it\n\nYou should have broken this up in to small manageable sentences.\n\nMy 'grandpa' told me that, do not disclose your secret to any female. Can you please explain me why?\n\nDo you understand it batter? First thing I did was to type this in word. In word you can check spellings and grammar. Then I took it to the answer block.\n\nOn the top right corner, there is a "Check spelling" you can use that too, but it will not correct grammar.
326425
That is the worst evidence for god I have ever heard.\n\nHow can you see an animal an not realise the wonder of evolution .... equaly weak AND just as valid.
49158
yes it it true that all of us agree that their is only one god. even in hinduism where apprentlly many gods are worshipped even the uneducated devout hindu agrees that all of them are just different facets of one divine gem.\n  the real problem is not that there is someone other than god being worshipped but everbody thinks his is the only right way of worshipping.\n\n Regarding OPM's post:\n   the paragraph is not out of context. The Upnishads contain deep philosophical theories and maintain that there is only one abstract god. in hinduism it is just accepted that worshipping something you can feel but not see is not possible for everyone. and most of the people need a symbol. so hinduism allows you to worship and pray to god in whatever form you like .\n\nKrishna says :\nif any worshiper do reverence with faith to any god whatever,\ni make his faith firm and in that faith he reverences his god and gains his desires for it is i who bestow them.\n\n accept it or not, while people may not be worshiping  actual idols every faith has something as a symbol of god . Be it a book or be it a cross or a place or a structure.
125606
the heffers(female) are keep for breeding and or milking later.\nthe bulls used to be killed or given away so as not to use up the milk that could be sold. now most dairy's sale them to be hand raised for beef. i have raised two, many years ago myself.
271023
We euroamericans probably misunderstand this "sacreness of cows" I thought before that everybody is running around them worshipping, but it is very down-to earth worship, as one sage tells. Hazrat Inayat Khan, the leader of one of Sufi orders explains, that cows in India are worshipped because they give milk, or their urine is healthy, or they are peaceful animals - for very practical reasons. So it must be not ritual, but everyday life...\n\nYeah to us such naturalism seems strange or disgusting, but I know from childhood that to piss immediately on a burned hand is very effective method.
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You really think so? Read more on hinduism and make your judgement-\n\n\nHinduism:  can be best defined as Sanatana Dharma... something which exists from times immemorial. Hinduism does not have a beginning... it exists ever since Humanity came into existence. The bane of Hinduism is Dharma... which also forms the base of all Religions existing on Mother Earth. No Religion can ever survive without a Dharma. Dharma is the root of all Religions. Why?\n\nTalking of Jainism we cannot understand the basics without delving into the Life of the 24th Tirthankara Bhagwan Mahavira. It was only in the time of the 24th Tirthankara Bhagwan Mahavira that Jainism rightly came into existence. Whatever form of Jainism existed before the 24th Tirthankara was limited to the Spiritual Masters only. All that was knowable to these Spiritual Masters was not available to the masses for the prime reason that the intellect of a common man was not as developed as was required to fathom the depths of the Sacred Wisdom we know as jaina doctrines.\n\nDuring the times of Bhagwan Mahavira... the common masses came to understand what was being taught by the masters of the era. Gradually as the momentum picked up... the followers of Jaina doctrine came to be known as Jains and the following Jainism. Before Bhagwan Mahavira the existence of Jainism as such did not hold good as it was only limited to the Spiritual Masters of the day.\n\n\nSimilarly, the Teachings of Gautama Buddha came to be known as Buddhism and its followers Buddhists. Buddhism is also known as the eightfold path. Gautama Buddha advocated the eightfold path also known as the middle path for he realized that not while living in the family and nor while attempting the Life of the dense forests could one gain knowledge of the Sacred Scriptures. He advocated maintaining a balance between the two and advised the common man to take the middle path. Neither getting totally immersed in family Life nor practicing austere practices to its extreme.\n\nWe need to understand that before the advent of Gautama Buddha... there was nothing we can call as Buddhism. The Teachings of Gautama Buddha primarily form the core Teachings of Buddhism. The existence of Buddhism Religion... the following of Gautama Buddha came into being only after the advent of Gautama Buddha.\n\nIn Christianity also, the core Teachings of the Bible contain the Essence of the Teachings of Jesus Christ and his trusted followers. Before the advent of Jesus Christ nothing existed on Mother Earth we could call as Christianity. The following of Jesus Christ is known as Christianity and the followers Christians.\n\n\nSimilarly, before the advent of Prophet Mohammed there existed nothing we could call as Islam. The advent of Islamic Dharma came into being after Prophet Mohammed and his Teachings came into the scene. The followers of the Islamic Dharma are called Islamists and also Muslims and the Teachings of Prophet Mohammed are contained in the sacred book of Islamic Dharma, the Koran. More on hinduism here- http://www.godrealized.com/Hinduism.html
192965
Hindus are ENCOURAGED not to eat meat but Hinduism does not have any rigid laws regarding what God wants. Mostly it is the Brahmans that are not to eat meat- other castes may eat it.
184495
thank you for the link. it gave me some food for thought.\n\ni would not say that it is not a problem of monothism.main problem is  the way it was tried to force on everyone else. and made them all accept only one person as their leader.\n\nthe main difference between Indian  and western tradition is acceptance of all types of forms of worship as legitimate in hinduism or india. at least till it is not harming or hurting someone or others. not all Hindus practice all of the traditions and we like some and we do not agree with some other philosophies but none of them is called false. just that everybody has his own interpretation and is free to express his devotion as s/he wants. \n\nit is really confusing for an average westerner to understand that hindus are Monothist and believe god can is beyond depicting yet they worship him in form of icons.\nwhen muslims came to india they destroyed thousands of temples and thought they have proved supremacy of their god by destroying local ones. it was a surprise for them that hindus threw away broken icons and built a new one and kept worshipping them. they had learnt to respect and understand the concept to some extent. and you will get some devotional songs and poetry written by muslims writers in hindu tradition .in some sufi traditions muslim saits even used name rama (not rama of ayoddhya; it means supreme creater too) as an antonym for god. \n\nthe truth is the present character of such assimilation and tolerance of hinduisn did not developed in a short span. it is result of efforts of several scholors and sages over the centuries.  \n\nRigveda written around 5000 BC ( came into present form around 3000BC ) is not only monothist but accepts god as an abstract supreme soul. all the upanishads and educated philosophiers have described god as abstract. he has many synonims but always one.\n\n"Truth (God) is one, the wise call it by various names"\n-Rigveda\nand exhort us to "let good thoughts come to us from every where" in the Bhagavad Gita.\n\nKrishna assures the adherents of all religions that "those who pray with devotion to another god, it is to Me that they pray." \n\nthough i doubt krishna was supposed to be a god, avatar among his contemporaries and think later devotees made this up but still this comment was very wise and it led towards tolerance and assimilation of small sects. krishna also succeeded in stopping worship of gods depicted as a king of heaven Indra or others (depicted in a similar way as greek gods) smoothly and without any hate campaign. he encouraged nature worship instead. and only those of gods(Indra and his mates) are revered today who were connected with nature as surya(sun) and agni(fire).\n\nsages like shankarachraya while themselves wrote relegious philosophies on abstract god. yet he got constructed temples in a way to unite india.\n\nGupta Dunasty played a very important role in assimilation. first it combined all less popular gods to main forms of god Vishnu or Shiva. then they created a joint icon of god Hharihar(vishnu+shiva). next they joined icon of god shiva and female god shakti as ardhnarishwar(half female god). these two icons were never much popular but this fusion helped in these different sects in merging to a great extent. the icons were sanctioned as avatars and represented god though not they were god in themselves.The point was to tell lay man that all of the deities are just different aspects of one devine and followers should learn to respect each other too.\n\nother saints in later dates  kept reinforcing these ideas and that is how the hinduism developed in current form. sometimes even  muslim sufi came forward to reinforced it.\n\neven an uneducate villeger in India will tell you there is only one god.\n\nproblem is the idea of being special , chosen people , and thinking like " we are the only ones enlightenned and others idiots or under influence of satan and it is our duty to convert others