why do HINDUS believe in COW?
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The sanctity of the cow is perhaps the foremost sentiment of Hindus for whom this sacred animal has far deeper nuances in Indian culture and ethos than is generally understood. For instance, in Sanskrit, the vocabulary used to mention the cow is indeed staggering, revealing the extraordinary importance that was once attached to it.\n\nIndian scriptures tell us that the cow is a gift of the gods to the human race. It is a celestial being born of the churning of the cosmic ocean. \n \n \n  Guias the cow is called in Hindi, is symbolic of Earth itself (similar to Gaia,the Greek goddess of earth). It follows that the cow represents the Divine Mother that sustains all human beings and brings them up as her very own offspring. Much as a mother shows the highest mark of affection for her young, the passion of the cow for her calf is just as legendary and often referred to in Indian literature. The ancient texts describe how the gods run to the succour of a devotee like a cow hastening to feed her calf. In fact, the cow is even more than a mother in the sense that it fulfills all the needs of her children as well. It is in this conception that the cow is understood as Kakadhenu, the wish filling mythical cow, abode of the 330 million Indian gods and goddesses.\n\nBut in Indian mythology and legend, it is with the cult of Krishna that the cow is closely connected. Among other deeds, Krishna is said to have lifted mount Govardhan to protect his group of cows, cowboys and milkmaids. In popular imagination it is Lord Krishna who symbolized the relationship man should have for the cow. Hence to take care of this innocent and self-sacrificing animal is a matter of virtue for Hindus who identify the act ad dharma or moral duty.\n\nConsiderations of conscience aside, it was natural that in a predominantly agricultural and pastoral country like India, cows were and to some extent still are, considered to be the real wealth of the people. After all it is the cow that gives birth to the bulls, bulls that are harnessed to plough the fields and to provide transportation. And then of course, there is the mild--milk that is cultured to become yoghurt--yoghurt which is churned to produce butter--butter which is converted into ghee or clarified butter that in India is used as cooking medium. In addition to this, there is paneer or cottage cheese and buttermilk. Indians cannot forget khoyaand mana--the other milk derivatives used in preparation of sweets. No wonder the cow is considered the backbone of rural society. \n\nPaeans of praise is reserved for cow's milk and ghee which is considered to be an elixir. Dr. D. Bhandari, the former Director of Animal Husbandry in Rajasthan said, "You see it is the wonderful bacterial flora of the cow's stomach that imparts this matchless quality to its milk ideally balanced for humans. Buffalo milk may be richer but it is the cow's milk that sharpens intellect, gives swiftness of body, stability of emotions and a serene nature to the one who drinks it." \n\nAlso taken, but in measured quantities, is cow urine or gau mutra which has a unique place in Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine. Commenting on the chemistry of gau mutra,Dr. C.H.S. Sastry, Director of the National Institute of Ayurveda said, "Cow urine is used to produce a whole range of ayurvedic drugs, especially to treat skin diseases like eczema." Besides, gau mutra is a well known disinfectant. Anti-septic property is also the attribute of cow dung or gobar which is mixed with clay to form a plastering medium for mud huts. It is a proven fact that mud huts plastered with gobar keeps insects and reptiles away. This is the reason why people in the countryside still store grain in huge earthen pots plastered with gobar and gau mutra to keep it free from insect manifestations. \n\nGobarand gau mutrais also mixed with mud and straw to make dried cakes that fuel kitchen fires. Traditional wisdom says that in burning
536933
Some Indians drink cow's urine. It's some religious practice they have and it's very sacred!
574404
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.
11298
As a Hindu we are taught that God is big and vast. It is taught that there are so many religions because every person experiences God differently. These experiences, along with differing desired spiritual goals, are the main reason why there are so many religions.\n\nThere is a simple story told about four blind men who walk in a forest. Each of them comes across an elephant, briefly. One touches the trunk of the elephant, another only its ear. Another man touches the tail, and the fourth one touches the body. Each of these four men have had an individual encounter with an elephant. Each of them was only able to touch a part of the elephant for the brief time the elephant was passing. To each of them an elephant is a very different thing. The meaning is that God is like the elephant. He is big and when we reach to touch God, we can only touch a small part. There are different religions because each of us is touching a different part of the elephant, each religion has touched a different part of God. Religions don't all necessarily have the same goals, either. Yes they want to promote peace and unity, but think for a moment....some want to go to Heaven and be with their personalize manifested experience of God, like Jesus, Krishna. Some people want to just see their family and ancestors in Heaven and some want to experience the paradise of Heaven. Some aren't reaching for Heaven at all, but merely finding peace right now in this life and experiencing God right now, in this moment and not concerned with a future. These are all very different spiritual goals, all touching different parts of God. God manifested to them in various different ways and thus we react to the experiences that those manifestations bring.\nWhy do religions fight? It is usually over not being respectful of other's experiences and trying to force others to experience what they experience. Sometimes conflicts aren't even really about religion at all, but since religion is expressions of our deepest Self, these conflicts begin to get expressed by us in the only way we can understand such things, through our religion.
741984
Vedic Culture is based on Cow Protection. In Varnasrama System, one can simple survive if one has cow and Land. So at the time or Rama in Treta Yuga, and even at the time of Krishna in Dwapar Yuga, all over the world there where many cows, and surplus supply of Milk, Curd, Butter and Ghee. \nGhee being the best for serving the lord, was used to light the Lamps. Real Richness was measured on how many cow one had, and how much Land. \nBut in Kaliyuga, People tend to exploit every thing and hence things are taken away from them. People are made to satisfy with a Loaned House, in a big building, with no garden or even sunlight coming in the house. The wealth is just “printed paper with Politicians Promise” or “numbers in a Bank account”. People even have to purchase water. \nPeople are more interested in eating Cow, rather than the milk or Ghee. Children Grow on Powder milk. And people don’t have even strength to enjoy Butter or Ghee. So Ghee loosing its demand has become costly and people have to satisfy with Oil. \n\nBut if you can afford, then its best to light ghee Lamps to welcome Lord. Most Oils gives out bad smell when burnt where as ghee gives a Satvik fragrance.
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It is .\n\nAccording to Hindu doctrine, The world is called Maya. An illusion.\n\nWhen the soul understands it and is able to see beyond Maya it joins God. Becuase only one thing which exists for real is God.\n\nI guess You do not know what you said but you pointed to a basic belief of Hinduism.
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Domestic cattle, Bos taurus, are extinct in the wild. However wild cattle today is in the Bos genus and are in the bovinae subfamily, a part of the bovidae family. These include gaur of India, Cambodian Forest Ox or Kouprey, Cape Buffalo, Asian Water Buffalo. They are not true cattle like domestic ones but are very closely related animals very similar in appearance to cattle.\n\nAnd remember cows and bulls are just males and females of the same species, cattle, or usually Bos taurus. The females are called cows and the males are called bulls.
903805
Coz they have a lot of cows?
90736
Hindu Beliefs\nThe beliefs of hindu thought are wide and varied, and have been expounded upon by saints and writers throughout the centuries. Some of the salient elements of hindu beliefs are presented below (from an article in Hinduism Today, April 1993). The two articles Duty to masses and Why we differ, also provide tremendous insights into hindu beliefs. Enjoy! \nOn Creation: \nThe universe exists in endless cycles of creation, preservation and destruction. There is no absolute end to the world. \nOn The True God: \nThere is but one true and absolute Self, Supreme Being. God is pure Love. \nOn Paths to God: \nMan is free to choose his form of worship, for all paths lead ultimately to God. Sin is only of the mind; Soul is pure. \nOn Man's Plight: \nMan's suffering is but his soul's immaturity. He is on a progressive path which leads from ignorance to knowledge, from death to immortality. \nOn Evil: \nThere is no intrinsic evil. All is good. All is God. \nOn Virtue and Salvation: \nVirtuous conduct and light belief are the foundation of religious life. Liberation requires knowledge and personal attainment. \nOn Doctrines: \nDoctrines tend to be subtle, complex and even paradoxical. Freedom to worship and to believe in a variety of ways is predominant. \nOn Enlightenment: \nThe goals of enlightenment and liberation are to be found in this life, within man himself. \nOn Sainthood: \nThe path to saintliness is through self-discipline, purification, concentration, and contemplation. Value is placed on ascetic ideals, individual sadhana, and yoga. \nOn Worship: \nWorship is individualistic, highly ritualistic and meditative, centering around the temple and home shrine all days of the week
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Here's the true answer.\n\nCats were the devil's animal in folk belief and were thought to have power over good and evil.  This power extended to control over the weather.  Superstitious people believed that if a cat washed it face then that meant that it was going to rain.  If seen clawing or leaping - that meant gales.\n\nOdin was a Viking god and his attendant was a dog, which symbolized the wind.
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There are about 33million deities in Hindu religion. Lord Ganesha is the god of knowledge.Goddess Durga is The god of Power. Ram(a) &Krishna are thesame gods but of diffrent era's.They are the gods of dasha avatar (10 births). thoes births are 1)Matsya(fish) 2)Kurma(tortoise) 3)Varaha(pig) 4) Nrisingha(head of lion & body of man) 5)Vaman(short man) 6)parshu Ram 7)Ram 8)Krishna 9)Buddha(to whome buddhist follow) 10) Kalki (who will take birth after 38000 years after). You asked about Shiva , he is one of the 3main Gods Vishnu(who gives birth),Bhramha(who takes care),Shiva(who kills).Krishna is the only god  who has been called the supreme personality of godhead. If you still want to know more visit a sight, India divine.com.\nAnd yes these gods are not only taking care of this earth but also of this universe\n                                Thank you for reading!
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They worship one God who has many manifestations.  Used to have a friend who was hindi.
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Drinking the milk of cows and goats has been practiced since ancient times.  I would expect it began shortly after man began domesticating these animals.  It would seem logical as milk is obviously a source of nutrients for the offspring of the cow or goat and ancient society did not have the same taboos we are encumbered with today.
721742
As u said Hindus are the ones who worship cows, so they don't eat meat. But muslims are allowed to eat meat, except for pork. The reason for not eating pork, was identified recently by scientists and doctors, it was discovered that due to the prok eating manners, that they eat whatever they find infront of them, and this causes that some of what they eat are stored in their body [meat] which when a human being eats its meat, it becomes part of his body, and causes some diseases.\n\nso after all Allah had his reason to forbidden us from eating pork. He always knows the best for us.
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The activities of ancient Indians were woven around the animals. Therefore, they knew the happenings of animal world as much as today's ardent student of zoology. This vast knowledge has been recorded in the scriptures of the time. The Upanishads contain detailed descriptions of horses and cattle. The Garudapurana contains life-histories of fishes and turtles. There are also religious books dedicated to a specific animal. Nagamahdimya, Nandi-purdoa, Mayiratrahimya and Pashu-puriltia are only a few of them. These writings are older than other scriptures of the world; they contain very modern concept such as, origin of life, organic evolution and environmental science.\n\nRam- The goat-vehicle of Agni(fire)\nSwan- Vehicle of Saraswati & Brahma\nBull - Vehicle of Shiva\nLion -Vehicle of Kali & durga\nMouse - Vehicle of Ganesha
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Following reasons\n\n1----Seeing multiple manifestations of the one God or source of being, which is often confused by non-Hindus as being polytheist. It is however properly seen as one unity, with the personal gods being different aspects of one Supreme Being, like a single beam of light separated into colours by a prism, and are valid to worship.\n\n2----These deities represent forces of nature or devas and are not equivalent to Brahman represented as Vishnu or Shiva. The Devas hold a similar place in relation to God as angels do in Judaeo-Christian traditions.\nThese Devas may variously be translated into English as gods (which is rather a mistranslation), or better, as demigods, deities, celestial spirits or angels\n\n3---Hindus had pantheistic tendencies. They saw God in everything and worshipped it as God---anything belonging to God was God\n\n4---WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, people turn to religion to help them answer two questions: Why did this happen? and What should we do about it? Call the first the meaning question and the second the action question.---Before scientific inventions, ignorant people reacted to the cruel forces of nature by praying to them to appease them---praying to the sun and the moon and the water and the snake etc.\n\nThere is still a lot of poverty and illiteracy in India and a lot of superstitions and misbeliefs
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I know that where I live in the Silicon Valley of California there's a lot of Hindus from India who work in the high tech industry. probably more than 60% of their restaurants are strictly vegetarian. I think it may depend also on what sect of Hinduism is most prominent in the specific region of India they come from.