The Historical Significance of Sacred Cows in Hinduism

Cows have been in existence since the start of Hinduism. These creatures roam many parts of the world. Cattle are consumed as we eat beef ribs, sausages, beef tenderloin, steak, and hamburgers. But, cattle are sacred in Hinduism.

Dating back to Hinduism's history, the cow is dear to Lord Krishna who is deemed the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vedic literature states that protection must be given to the weak. The cows are deemed to be weak yet they provide us with life sustaining milk. We drink the milk and have to accept the cow as a mother figure. In Hinduism, they cannot allow violence to be inflicted on the cow.

Like Buddhists, Hindus find living plants and creatures to be sacred. The same can go with the Japanese religion of Shinto finding those same things to be sacred. Overall, everything living creature is held sacred in Hinduism just the cow. But of all creatures, the cow is held in the highest regard and reverence in the Hindu faith. One would question why the cow of all animals is sacred in Hinduism.

To the Hindus, the cow is the representation of life and the sustenance of life to the Hindu. That makes logical sense as cows give birth to calves. The calves in turn drink milk from the mother's breast. Also, we all drink that very same milk. The milk that you get at your local grocery store comes from a cow. A friend of mine said that he doesn't drink milk because it's for calves.

In turn, the Hindus would not slaughter a creature that provides us life in the form of milk. Asides from the calves, humans drink that same milk. Radical animal rights activists have used this to further their cause saying that it's abuse on the cow to keep them pregnant to produce more milk. In a sense, it is true because when mammals give birth they feed the young-lings their milk. The same applies to the cow.