If today the cow is revered as a sacred animal on the Indian subcontinent, then in ancient times, not only in India, but also in many other countries, the cow was respected and honored as a cult animal. Where did this love and respect for the cow come from?
In ancient Egypt, the image of a cow personified the idea of vital warmth. The goddess of heaven, joy and love, Hathor was depicted as a cow or a woman with cow horns. According to ancient Scandinavian myths, the magic cow Audumla fed the giant Ymir. And from his body the whole world was subsequently created. Among the ancient Slavs, the cow was the personification of the goddess of the sky, the breadwinner of the earth, who feeds the fields with her milk. In India today, the cow is revered and compared with the gods. It is believed that in every cow there is a particle of divine matter, therefore it must be respected and protected. The Vedic Indian texts say that the cow is the universal mother. Taking good care of the cow, feeding and caring for her can increase the chances of a better life in her next life. Why is a cow so respected and honored? This has its own common sense. A cow feeds a person with the most useful products from the first years of his life. Hindus, who very rarely eat meat, it is from dairy products that they obtain the proteins and useful minerals necessary for the body. Cheese, cottage cheese, fermented milk drinks are useful at any age, give the body energy and strength. It is not for nothing that in Russia the cow was respectfully and affectionately called “mother-nurse.” But mankind uses cows not only as milk producers. Until now, for many nationalities, manure plays an important role in the way of life. Dried cow cakes are used as fuel. Manure is used to cover the roofs of huts or is used as a building material for the construction of adobe houses when the manure is mixed with clay. But not only backward countries, stuck in a primitive communal system, use manure. In modern farms, it is the best fertilizer, not only cheap and effective, but environmentally friendly. Cattle leather is still used in industry, although mankind is constantly inventing new and high-quality artificial materials. In ancient times, leather goods were not a tribute to fashion, but a vital necessity. Shoes, belts, clothes and furniture, and other necessary household items were made of leather. Cows are very peaceful, calm and kind animals. They are surrounded by an aura of peace, tranquility and mental well-being. These large and docile animals have accompanied mankind for many centuries, helped him survive in harsh conditions, provided food and warmed him. It is not surprising that in many cultures the cow was revered as a sacred animal, and among some peoples the cult of this animal has been preserved to this day.
