The Hindu concept of animal and cow protection

Global Urgency for
Cow Protection

The Hindu concept of animal
and cow protection is of
global importance. Hindu scriptures,
often relayed in stories with
rich science, metaphysics and
wisdom stuffed carefully within
them by the ancients, proclaim
the venerable and gentle cow as
all-bestowing.
To a Hindu, the sacred cow is
akin to a communal mother, richly
deserving of veneration and protection.
This was violently highlighted
on Oct. 9, 2015, in Moodbidri,
India, by the brutal killing
of Prashant Poojary, a 29-year-old
Hindu involved in a non-violent
struggle to protect cows from illegal
slaughterhouses, by cowardly
thugs allegedly sanctioned by
spineless and greedy politicians
and businessmen. A fundraiser
was arranged on Nov. 7, 2015, in
Houston, Texas to help his family.
Hindus cringe at the thought
of eating flesh, especially beef.
Karmic consequences of cruelty
against defenseless creatures cannot
be escaped. Spiritual ascension,
the goal of human life, is
unlikely without compassion for
all of creation, especially the cow.
Consciousness aside, cows are far
more valuable alive. The demure
cow allowed early nomadic humans
to settle. Cow milk and its
products are nutritious, and are
also used in sacred Hindu rituals
that purify the atmosphere and
the restless human mind, alleviating
conditions like depression
and anxiety. Cow dung, a natural
insect-repellant and a more potent
fertilizer than toxic chemicals, is
extremely valuable in sustained
farming by increasing moisture
retention, gradually eliminating irrigation.
It is used as rural building
material, and for producing biogas,
which could potentially drive
the fuel needs for transportation
of entire countries.
Animal farming is the major
contributor to global warming,
a looming catastrophic threat.
It is causing rapid depletion and
pollution of fresh water supplies,
deforestation and species extinction,
pollution of water bodies and
food supplies, and many diseases
including cancers. Rising ocean
levels, sinking land masses, whitewashing
of coral reefs from desalination
resulting from melting
ice caps, and prolonged droughts
with intermittent flash floods are
all real.
Cow and animal protection is
a global urgency that shouldn’t
remain merely a Hindu struggle.
The responsibility starts with each
of us. Vote with your wallet, the
only language that human greed
understands, for the stakes are
high – your health, the future of
mankind and our beautiful blue
planet, no less! What’s on your
plate?
Deepak N. Kotecha
Optometric glaucoma specialist
Via E-mail