Goshala
WELCOME TO
Sri Giridharis’ Goshala, ISKCON HBR, Bangalore
Don’t think that the calf or the cows in Vrndavana is less than Krsna. No. They’re as good as Krsna. Ananda-cinmaya-rasa-pratibhavitabhih
[Bs. 5.37]. (Srila Prabhupada, speaking in Vrndavana; September 10, 1976)
Sri Giridharis’ Goshala was establish in______. It is a home for ______ cows, bulls and calves. The cows are taken care of throughout their lives and provided sufficient space, ample grass, jaggery and other eatables that are to their liking. When approached by outsiders, they gently accept their offerings and affection, as they are accustomed to being taken care of with love and affection and are therefore very gentle. Taking care of the cows in this way is truly bliss giving and brings one good fortune.
Our Aim
· Our main aim is to please Lord Krsna and His representative Srila Prabhupada by giving all protection and love to the cows:
· To protect cows and bulls throughout their lives by providing shelter, food and other care.
· To educate society about the role of cows in society and the importance of cow protection.
· To engage people in service of the cows.
· To help people develop a relationship with the cows and become lifelong lovers of the cows and supporters of cow protection.
· To teach people a simple and more natural way of life.
WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL
Sri Giridharis’ Goshala was establish in______. It is a home for ______ cows, bulls and calves. Our main activity is cow protection and education about the importance of cow protection (Go-Raksha).
Lifelong Support
We provide lifelong support to cows and bulls, including shelter, medical care, food.
Gomata Products
We create high quality Ayurvedic items from cow products and herbs.
Bond with Cows
We invite everyone to come and connect with cows.
Education
We educate people about the importance of cow protection.
Natural Way of Life
In our goshala you can experience a more natural way of life and learn how to adopt it.
WHY COWS ARE IMPORTANT
Cow protection is essential for human society. Even Lord Krishna Himself says that cows are especially dear to Him, He is known as Gopal and Govinda and eternally grazes cow in Vrindavan. Srila Prabhupada also instructed us how important it is to protect the cows because cow is a mother and gives miracle food milk. Just by maintaining cows one can live a very natural and prosperous life.
Cow Protection
Srila Prabhupada writes: The human society should recognize the importance of the cow and the bull and thus give all protection to these important animals.
Protect Cows… Protect our Civilization
In Vedic tradition, cows are worshipped as mothers. According to scriptures, there are seven mothers: atma-mata (one’s own mother) guroh patni (the wife of one’s teacher) brahmani (the wife of a brahmana) raja-patnika (the wife of the king) dhenu (the cow) dhatri (the nurse) and prthvi (the Earth) are all considered mothers. Just as the child feeds on the breast milk of the mother, human society takes milk from the cow. The bull is also considered the father of human society because just as the father earns to feed the children the bull tills the ground to produce food grains. So, to kill cows means to end human civilization.
A civilized man is, therefore, expected to give all protection to the bulls and cows. But, today, people are becoming more and more uncivilized by neglecting such instructions and they are encouraging cow killing. In Rig Veda (9.46.4) it is said: gobhih prinita matsaram: one who is desirous of killing the cow is in the grossest ignorance. Instead of killing the cow and eating flesh, civilized men must subsist on various milk products and agricultural products.
Serving Mother Cow
Cow – The Worshipable Animal
In Vedic society, the economy was based on agriculture and cow protection. Sri Krishna mentions this in Bhagavad-gita: krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam (Bg 18.44) Five thousand years ago, when Krishna was personally present on this planet, there was enough milk, butter and curd. When there were festivals, the cowherd men would throw yogurt, milk, clarified butter and water upon the bodies of one another. Everyone had a sufficient stock of milk and other milk-products. Everyone had a sufficient stock of milk and other milk-products.
Sri Krishna is glorified as the protector of the cows and brahminical culture (go-brahmana-hitaya ca) The Brahma Samhita describes Lord Krishna to be tending the surabhi cows in His spiritual abode of Goloka Vrindavana, which is surrounded by millions of desire fulfilling trees. Brhat Parasara Samhita states: If a person feeds the cow with grass and water every day he will get the benefit of performing ashwamedha sacrifice. In Vedas it is mentioned that all the demigods reside in the body of the cow. So the Hindus worship the cow.
Benefits of Cow Protection
There are so many facilities afforded by cow protection, but people have forgotten these arts. The importance of protecting cows is therefore stressed by Krishna in Bhagavad-gita (krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhavajam [Bg. 18.44]). Even now in the Indian villages surrounding Vrndavana, the villagers live happily simply by giving protection to the cow. They keep cow dung very carefully and dry it to use as fuel. They keep a sufficient stock of grains, and because of giving protection to the cows, they have sufficient milk and milk products to solve all economic problems. Simply by giving protection to the cow, the villagers live so peacefully.
In our humble attempts in this direction we are having a nice goshala in the temple premises, where cows and bulls live happily and peacefully
KRISHNA LOVES COWS
namo brahmanya-devaya go-brahmana-hitaya ca jagad-dhitaya krsnaya govindaya namo namah
The Supreme Lord Sri Krishna is worshipped thus: "My Lord, You are the well-wisher of the Cows and the brahmanas, and You are the well-wisher of the entire human society and world." (Visnu Purana 1.19.65)
“Krsna, Govinda, You are so fond of Your surabhi cows, surabhi, that You are always engaged in taking them to the forest and enjoy with Your cowherd boys. Bs 5.29
SRILA PRABHUPADA'S INSTRUCTION
According to Vedic civilization, everyone has the responsibility for taking care of brahmanas, old men, women, children and cows. SB 6.2.28 purport
NATURAL WAY OF LIFE
One need only work to produce grains and take care of the cows. In this way the economic problem of humanity can be solved. SB 4.30.44 purport
COW IS A MOTHER
The cow is the mother, for she supplies milk to human society. SB 3.5.7 purport
MIRACLE FOOD
There is a miracle in milk, for it contains all the necessary vitamins to sustain human physiological conditions for higher achievements. ŚB 1.16.4 purport
COW PROTECTION - OUR ETERNAL DHARMA
Human civilization means to advance the cause of brahminical culture, and to maintain it, cow protection is essential. There is a miracle in milk, for it contains all the necessary vitamins to sustain human physiological conditions for higher achievements. Brahminical culture can advance only when man is educated to develop the quality of goodness, and for this there is a prime necessity of food prepared with milk, fruits and grains.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam – 1.16.4 purport
HOW CAN I SERVE?
According to Vedic civilization, cow protection is a very important duty of the human society. Everyone of us can contribute to it in whatever way is possible for us. It is wonderful if you can visit the Goshala and serve the cows directly or donate for their maintenance but you can also serve the cows simply by following the news of the Goshala, learning more about the cows and sharing that knowledge with others.
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How much pious credit we get by visiting holy places, offering food for brahmanas, fasting, chanting of mantras by doing many yajnas that much pious credit we can get simply by offering a blade of grass to a cow. – Mahabharata
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The bull helps in the agricultural process of producing grain, etc., and thus in one sense the bull is the father of humankind, whereas the cow is the mother, for she supplies milk to human society. A civilized man is therefore expected to give all protection to the bulls and cows. SB 3.5.7, Purport
Types of Desi Cows at Sri Giridharis’ Goshala
1. Gir
This breed is otherwise called as Bhadawari, Desan, Gujarati, Kathiawari, Sorthi, and Surati.
Originated in Gir forests of South Kathiawar in Gujarat also found in Maharashtra and adjacent Rajasthan.
Basic colours of skin are white with dark red or chocolate-brown patches or sometimes black or purely red.
Horns are peculiarly curved, giving a ‘half moon’ appearance.
2. Red Sindhi
This breed is otherwise called as Red Karachi and Sindhi and Mahi.
Originated in Karachi and Hyderabad (Pakistan) regions of undivided India and also reared in certain organized farms in our country.
Colour is red with shades varying from dark red to light, strips of white.
3. Sahiwal
Originated in Montgomery region of undivided India.
This breed otherwise known as Lola (loose skin), Lambi Bar, Montgomery, Multani, Teli.
Best indigenous dairy breed.
Reddish dun or pale red in colour, sometimes flashed with white patches.
Heavy breed with symmetrical body having loose skin.
4. Hallikar
Originated from the former princely state of Vijayanagarm, presently part of Karnataka.
The colour is grey or dark grey.
Compact, muscular and medium size animal with prominent forehead, long horns and strong legs.
5. Amritmahal
Originated in Hassan, Chikmagalur and Chitradurga district of Karnataka.
Amiritmahals are grey cattle but their shade varies from almost white to near black.
The muzzle, feat and tail are usually black.
Horns are long and end in sharp black points
6. Khillari
Originated from Sholapur and Sitapur districts of Maharashtra.
Closely resembles Hallikar breed.
Grey-white in colour.
Long horns turn forwards in a peculiar fashion. The horns are generally black, sometimes pinkish.
Bullocks are fast and powerful.
7. Kangayam
Also known as kongu and konganad.
Originated in Kangayam, Dharapuram, Perundurai, Erode, Bhavani and part of Gobichettipalayam taluk of Erode and Coimbatore district.
Bulls are grey with dark colour in hump, fore and hind quarters.
The horns are spread apart, nearly straight with a slight curve backwards.
Cows are grey or white.
The eyes are dark and prominent with black rings around them.
8. Bargur
Found around Bargur hills in Bhavani taluk of Erode district in Tamilnadu.
Developed for work in uneven hilly terrains.
Generally brown colour with white markings.
Animals are well built, compact and medium in size.
Known for their speed and endurance in trotting.
Cautious in behaviour and tends to remain away from strangers.
9. Umblachery
It is otherwise called as Jathi madu, Mottai madu, Molai madu, Therkathi madu.
Originated inThanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagappattinam districts of Tamil Nadu.
Suitable for wet ploughing and known for their strength and sturdiness.
Umblachery calves are generally red or brown at birth with all the characteristic white marking on the face, on limbs and tail.
The legs have white markings below the hocks like socks.
The practice of dehorning of bullocks is peculiar in Umblachery cattle.
10. Pulikulam
This breed is commonly seen in cumbum valley of Madurai district in Tamil Nadu.
Also known as Jallikattu madu, kidai madu, sentharai.
Small in size, usually grey or dark grey in colour.
Well- developed hump.
Mainly used for penning in the field.
Useful for ploughing.
Presence of reddish or brownish spots in muzzle, eyes, switch and back is the characteristic feature of this breed.
Typical backward curving horns of likeMysore type cattle.
11. Alambadi
Originated from Alambadi of Dharmapuri district in Tamilnadu.
Grey or dark grey in colour.
White markings will be seen in forehead, limb and tail.
Horns are backward curving like Mysore cattle.
Resembles Hallikar and also known as Betas.
It is useful in ploughing
12. Tharparkar
Originated in Tharparkar district (Pakistan) of undivided India and also found in Rajasthan.
Otherwise known as White Sindhi, Gray Sindhi and Thari.
They are medium sized, compact and have lyre-shaped horn.
Body colour is white or light grey.
13. Hariana
It was originated from Rohtak, Hisar, Jind and Gurgaon districts of Haryana and also popular in Punjab, UP and parts of MP.
Horns are small.
The bullocks are powerful work animals.
14. Kankrej
It is otherwise called as Wadad or Waged, Wadhiar.
Originated from Southeast Rann of Kutch of Gujarat and adjoining Rajasthan (Barmer and Jodhpur district).
The horns are lyre-shaped.
Colour of the animal varies from silver-grey to iron-grey or steel black.
The gait of Kankrej is peculiar called as 1 ¼ paces (sawai chal).
Kankrej is valued for fast, powerful, draught cattle.
15. Ongole
Otherwise known as Nellore.
Home tract is Ongole taluk in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
Large muscular breed with a well developed hump.
Suitable for heavy draught work.
White or light grey in colour.
16. Krishna Valley
Originated from black cotton soil of the water shed of the river Krishna in Karnataka and also found in border districts of Maharastra.
Animals are large, having a massive frame with deep, loosely built short body.
Tail almost reaches the ground.
Generally grey white in colour with a darker shade on fore quarters and hind quarters in male. Adults females are more whitish in appearance.
The bullocks are powerful animals useful for slow ploughing, and valued for their good working qualities.
17. Deoni
This breed otherwise known as Dongerpati, Dongari, Wannera, Waghyd, Balankya, Shevera.
Originated in Western Andra Pradesh and also found in Marathwada region of Maharashtra state and adjoining part of Karnataka.
Body colour is usually spotted black and white.
18. Jersey
Originated from Jersey Island, U.K.
Smallest of the dairy types of cattle.
In India this breed has accliamatized well and is widely used in cross breeding with indigenous cows.
The typical colour of Jersey cattle is reddish fawn.
Dished forehead; compact and angular body.
Activities in the Goshala –
· Get to know more about the cows on Goshala tour
· Spend time with the cows: brush them, feed them laddus.
Schedule
4:30 AM - Feeding of the cows and calves.
5:00 AM - Milking of the cows.
6:00 AM - Cows and bulls going out.
8:00 AM - Feeding of the cows.
11:00 AM - Cows and bulls going out.
4:30 PM - Feeding of the cows and calves.
5:00 PM - Milking of the cows.
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Cows and bulls going out.
