Atharvana Veda illustrates how our culture holds cows as divine beings.
आ गावो अग्मन्नुत भद्रमक्रन सीदन्तु गोष्ठे रणयन्त्वस्मे |
परजावतीः पुरुरूपा इह सयुरिन्द्राय पूर्वीरुषसो दुहानाः ||
“The cows have come and brought us good fortune, May they stay in the stall and be pleased with us; May they live here, mothers of calves, many-colored, and yield milk for worship on many dawns.”
इन्द्रो यज्वने पर्णते च शिक्षत्युपेद ददाति न सवं मुषायति |
भूयो-भूयो रयिमिदस्य वर्धयन्नभिन्ने खिल्ये निदधाति देवयुम ||
“The Lord protects and befriends the worshipper and makes gifts and does not take away what is one’s own; Increasing his wealth forever and ever more He puts the devout in an impregnable fortress.”
न ता नशन्ति न दभाति तस्करो नासामामित्रो वयथिरादधर्षति |
देवांश्च याभिर्यजते ददाति च जयोगित ताभिः सचते गोपतिः सह ||
“They are not lost, nor do robbers injure them, nor the unfriendly frighten, nor wish to assail them; The master of the cows lives together along with these and worships the divines and offers gifts.”
न ता अर्वा रेणुककाटो अश्नुते न संस्क्र्तत्रमुप यन्ति ता अभि |
उरुगायमभयं तस्य ता अनु गावो मर्तस्य विचरन्ति यज्वनः ||
“The charger, whirling up the dust, does not reach them, they never make their way to the slaughtering stool, The cows of the worshipping man roam about over the widespread pastures, free from all danger.”
गावो भगो गाव इन्द्रो मे अछान गावः सोमस्य परथमस्य भक्षः |
इमा या गावः स जनास इन्द्र इछामीद धर्दामनसा चिदिन्द्रम ||
“To me the Cows seem Bhaga, they seem Indra, they seem a portion of the first-poured Soma.These present Cows, they, O ye Indra. I long for Indra with my heart and spirit.”
यूयं गावो मेदयथा कर्शं चिदश्रीरं चित कर्णुथा सुप्रतीकम |
भद्रं गर्हं कर्णुथ भद्रवाचो बर्हद वो वय उच्यते सभासु ||
“Ye cows, you fatten the emaciated, and you make the unlovely look beautiful, make our house happy, you with pleasant lowing, your power is glorified in our assemblies.”
परजावतीः सूयवसं रिशन्तीः शुद्धा अपः सुप्रपाणेपिबन्तीः |
मा व सतेन ईशत माघशंसः परि वो हेती रुद्रस्य वर्ज्याः ||
“May you have many calves, graze on pastures and drink pure water at drinking places; May not the thief master you, nor the wicked, and may the darts of the fierce Lord leave you aside.”
उपेदमुपपर्चनमासु गोषूप पर्च्यताम |
उप रषभस्य रेतस्युपेन्द्र तव वीर्ये ||
“May there be a close mixing up, May Soma, the herbal juice, mix with cows’ milk and may this manly vigour be, O for your heroic might.”
As per Vedas, the four Purushārthas, namely, Dharma, Artha, Kāma, and Moksha can be acquired by serving the cow. While praising the cow, the principal Deities, namely, Bramha, Vishṇu and Shiva are appeased.
The ashram Gaushala houses a variety of indigenous cow and bull species which are native to the southern Indian region. The Devotees are welcome to spend time and do seva for them.
The milk is donated to the nearby village population. Devotees are welcome to contribute towards supporting the cost for their sustenance and care. Contributions for Gaupuja and Gaudanam are also accepted.