Importance of Gomatha

gomatha

The cow is called “Gow” in Samskrit. The holy scriptures of Sana:thana Dharma including the Rig Veda, the Yajurveda, the Upanishads, and the Pura:na:s refer the cow as “Gomatha” (meaning “Cow – the Mother”).

They extol the importance of Gomatha in the Vedic way of life because of the kind of central role she plays in Vedic religion/spirituality.  Ghee is the most important contribution of gomatha because without cow ghee we cannot perform yagnas/homas which is the single most important ritual in the Vedic religion/spirituality and way of life. Cow’s milk, curds, butter, ghee and other daily-use products and their derivatives are invaluable in A:yurveda medical system, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and other spheres of our life.

Such is the importance of gomatha that she is extolled in the holy scriptures with the sayings “Ga:vo: Viswasya Ma:tharaha” which means “Cows are the mothers in the Universe” in the Rig Veda, the Yajur Veda, and the Atharva Veda; and “Ma:tharaha Sarva Bhutha:na:m Ga:vaha Sarva Sukhaprada:h” which means “Cows are the mothers for all living beings and the providers of all pleasures and happiness”.

Even Lord Krishna himself was a cow-herder in his childhood in Vrinda:van city and always played with cows along with his friends. He loved the company of cows, which are the most sa:thvic beings, so much that he said the sloka “ga:vo mey cha:grathaha santhu ga:vo mey santhu pa:rsvathaha | ga:vo me: prushtathaha santhu gava:m madhye vasa:myaham ||” which means “Let the cows be in front of me, on my either side, behind me. I will always be in the middle of cows.” in the dasama skanda (10th Canto) of Srimad Bha:gavatham. This one sloka tells so much about the importance of gomatha.