Sustainable Cow Protection

Suvarna Manjari dasi - 11.11 2016

Suvarna Manjari dasi: This is the response to a question that was asked to Kurma Rupa Prabhu about the sustainablity of Cow Protection. This was published in the May Care for Cows newsletter

By Kurma Rupa Das


In an agrarian setting cows actually give more than they take.








Creation and employment of such devices indicates malignant narcissism.



References to cow protection abound in Vedic literatures like Mahabharata, Ramayana, Srimad Bhagavatam and other Puranas which describe an agrarian social structure and lifestyle focused on attaining spiritual rather than material goals. Frankly, I think you will be hard-pressed to find much published research today condoning cow protection since it does not serve the purpose of urbanization which is to make the citizens dependent on exploitative and manipulative oligarchs.

Modern man has lost his roots. Cow protection hasn’t lost importance but because urban man has become so successfully indoctrinated and acclimated to artificial living and consumerism he no longer understands or values the fruits of it.

The real purpose of cow protection is to please the Supreme Lord Krishna. Milk, dung, urine, ghee, yoghurt and draught are the natural by-products and are considered most essential for religious rituals and producing the necessities for a wholesome life. In the Vedic agrarian model milk is not considered the goal of cow protection and a bull calf is celebrated more than a female calf as once trained, he is productive for more years than the dairy cows.

Go-raksha (cow protection) is done properly if one takes it as a religious duty rather than a career opportunity. In the former mindset one attempts to serve cows rather than be served by them; one aspires for spritual gain rather than material gain. This is what makes it work.
One famous verse explains, “One should follow the cows, feed them sufficiently, and circumambulate them. If the cows are happy then Lord Gopala is understood to be satisfied.” (Hari Bhakti Vilas 17.244)

When the Supreme Lord is satisfied with one, He carrys what one has and provides what one lacks. Thus, cow protection, if done properly is completely sustainable from the spiritual viewpoint.


Dear Lovers of Govinda

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Guru and Gauranga.

After reading the article from Care for cows, by Kurma Rupa Prabhu, Sustainable cow protection, my plea to all devotees is to protect a cow or two.

If you live in a rural area, there is no harm to purchase one or 2 cows and keep them. My husband and I own 2 cows that have not had calves, nor do we milk them, but they are 2 cows that won’t end up being slaughtered.

If every follower of Krsna or even every animal lover owned one or two cows, people will notice and see practical cow protection in action.

More importantly, as devotees of Krsna we actually have to start LIKING cows…and I don’t mean just the random “Jai Gomata!”…We actually have to care about Gomata. Care abouth the fact that most countries are just horrible concentration camps for our Mothers. Either they are cramped up in horrible so called “farming” conditions or they live “peacefully” in lush padocks surrounded by electric fencing! Only to eventually end up being tortured when taken to slaughter.

Prabhupada has stated in His books that without cow protection, human civilization is doomed.

It’s not at all difficult to maintain a cow. If you live in the city, please try to donate a cow to someone or support those who are protecting cows.

All glories to our sacred Mother Cow.

All glories to Guru and Gauranga.

your servant
Suvarna Manjari dasi