The thought of Krishna always comes with the cows.
Two of the top verses of Divya Prabhandam on
Sharanagathi (Surrender to God) and Moksha portray him with cows. One is Andal’s Thiruppavai where she asks Him to accept her
surrender and another is her father Periyaazwar’s
final verse where he addresses him as an Ayan (Yadava) by praising whom one
attains Moksha.
Andal’s reference has an implicit meaning on why
Krishna was born in Yadava kulam.
She says, “PeRRam mEytthuNNum kulaththil piRanthu
nee,
kuRREval engaLaik koLLaamal pOgAdhu”.
பெற்றம்
மேய்த்துண்ணும் குலத்தில் பிறந்து நீ
குற்றேவல்
எங்களைக் கொள்ளாமல் போகாது
This means “as one born
in a kulam where you eat after making sure that the cows are fed well, you cannot
afford to reject our appeal to serve you”
Why Andal makes this reference to the cows being fed
before taking one’s own meal?
The cows are in lower rung than humans. But the
Yadava man would make sure that the cows eat first and then only he would fill
his own stomach. Krishna was born such a Kulam in a kind of symbolism for his
role via-a-via his devotees. He would not and cannot
rest until he has overseen that his devotees’ requirements are met. The
cows and we people are on the same boat by this comparison and which is also
true.
Our food does not come to us as a charity from Sonia
but because of the grace of God by whom our karmic obstacles are removed and we
get our food. It is because of this reason the kitchen is known as “Thiru maa-p-
padi (திருமாப்படி) in Vaishnavite’s homes. It
is He who decides how much we get to eat – He is the Padi – aLappavan (படி அளப்பவன்) – a term we come across in temple inscriptions
and Bhakthi literature. One can refer to Thiruvaluvar
too on “Marunthu” chapter where he says food is the medicine and because mistakes
in food gives rise to diseases, giving / donating food is considered as a
medicine which offers a release from bad Karma (bad karma gives rise to
diseases).
The
basic and first food is milk and the cow that gives that milk is mother of all
people. Krishna was born in a Kulam that took up the responsibility of giving
food to the cows themselves. That symbolism is reflected in Periyazwar’s last
10 pasurams starting with “Senni Ongu” where he calls the Almighty who offers
Moksha as “Ayar ERu” (ஆயரேறு).
He
is the one who protects the giver of food to all humans. The saddest fact of today is
that giver has been made into a food in our country where killing a cow is equated
to killing one’s own mother and father. Most inscriptions on donations
found in our country make a declaration that those who obstruct or appropriate
the donation would incur the sin that one gets for killing a cow or killing one’s
mother and father.
In
such land of ours, cows are being killed for food. Many articles have been
posted in this blog in the past condemning this dastardly act, but today I am
bringing to the notice of readers a noble soul who is engaged in saving the
cows that are taken to slaughter houses and providing them shelter and medical
treatment.
Yesterday’s
Kumudam Jothidam carried a lead article on his service which the writer
Sri AMR had written after visiting the Goshaala
maintained by him. It was a moving article in which Sri AMR had a raised a
pertinent question on cow traffickers. Didn’t these people have any other
business than this trafficking?
Publishing
here some of pics of the cows and buffaloes that had been rescued from those
murderers.
This
cow was actually given free under Jayalalithaa’s scheme of free cows to develop
individual’s and rural economy. The mark within the circle shows that this cow
was given under that scheme.
This
buffalo was beaten at the back very badly while transiting it to the slaughter
house in Kerala. This was rescued and given treatment, but the damage to the
back is beyond redemption.
Sri
AMR with a rescued calf.
A pregnant
cow, rescued and under treatment.
A
rescued cattle yet to recover.
These
cattle are being taken care of by one Mr Iyappan in Tirupur of Tamilnadu.
He
had personally stopped 2 lorries carrying the cattle and rescued the animals.
In one of the attempts, he was attacked with a sickle and has since recovered.
Donating
a cow or feeding a cow is one of the foremost pariharas (propitiations) told in
astrology when Sun or moon or Jupiter are afflicted in one’s horoscope. This
parihara is also told for Preta shpa, Sarpa dosha and curse of women and
brothers. I used to tell people in such circumstances to donate a cow to a Veda
Patashala or feed any cow that they see in their surroundings with banana or
spinach. Now I think I can ask them to contribute their mite towards the medical expenses and upkeep of the
cattle that have been rescued from slaughter houses.
One
of the issues raised by the police in rescuing the cattle is where to house
them or what to do with them after the rescue. It is here that people like Mr
Iyappan must be supported by all of us. By helping persons like him in the
treatment and upkeep of these cattle, we would be doing our part in some small way.
I would say that even those who are looking for suitable recipients for
donation as an astrological remedy, can help these cattle that need attention.
From
AMR’s article, I am furnishing the address of Mr Iyappan who is doing this noble
service through a Trust called “Gangothri Seva Samithi”
He
can be contacted at the following address.
Mr C.K. Iyyappan,
A.T.colony
back side,
Guruvayurappan
Nagar,
Poyampalayam
(East),
Abhirami
Theatre Road,
Tirupur
district,
Tamilnadu.
Ph:
9488384568 and 9940891967.
On this day of Krishna Jayanthi, let
us make a vow that we protect the cows from slaughter. Service to the cows means service to Krishna.
Related articles:-
On
sacredness of cow and against animal slaughter
(by Subramanian Swamy)
http://bharatabharati.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/cattle-rustling-in-new-delhi-gardiner-harris/ (From Bharatabharati)
