DEIVATHIN KURAL # 57 (Vol # 7) Dated 27 Oct 2013

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 57 (Vol # 7) Dated 27 Oct 2013

(These e-mails are translations of talks given by PeriyavãL of Kanchi Kaamakoti Peetam, over a period of some 60 years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of the last century. These have been published by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each as Deivathin Kural. Today we are going ahead from the middle of page No 458 of Volume 7 of the Tamil original. The readers may note that herein ‘man/he’ includes ‘woman/she’ too mostly. These e-mails are all available at   http://Advaitham.blogspot.com updated continually)

Do Not Waste Milk in Coffee

60.           I have to tell you one more thing about the gains from the cow that we get.  The true value of that is about the various things that it gives which we use in divine worship, Vedic activities of Yagnyas and for our nourishment, such as the milk, curd and ghee.  But unluckily most of that milk is nowadays wasted in adding to coffee which is bad for our health.  The milk that is like the divine nectar is being spoiled in adding to the poisonous caffeine decoction which is harmful to our mind and body.  Like protecting the cow from being sent to the slaughter houses, we have to pay attention to self-protection of 'Ãtma RakshaNam ' – 'आत्म रक्षणं' also and get out of this bad habit of drinking coffee.       

61.          Instead of drinking coffee a number of times, a portion of that milk can be given to temples for Abhishekam of the deities or contributed for poor sick patients and or reach the stomachs of poor children.  Without ever knowing the taste of milk when there are lacks of poor children, having a cup of coffee many times a day is tantamount to a crime against the society.  Instead of coffee in the morning, it is better to drink 'mor kanji' – 'மோர் கஞ்சி'. It is said 'takram amrutam' – 'तक्रं अमृतं', in which 'takram' means butter-milk which is said to be as good as amrutam or nectar that gives immortality.  Since we can get three measures of butter-milk (aka 'மோர்') from one measure of milk/curd, it is more economical too.  Some people by nature cannot drink milk being allergic to 'lactose'.  For such people 'Go Mãtã' sanctions this butter-milk from the milk itself.  For people who are already obese or have such diseases that they are forbidden to consume fat, we can make use of curd from which butter has been churned out, which is also a type of butter-milk only, because it is really fat-free.

'Neideepam' – 'நெய்த்தீபம்'

62.          Since the number of Yagnyas being conducted has drastically come down, the chance of using cow's ghee for that has lessened.  But since Puja in houses, Matams and temples are still in vogue, we could take to lighting up more lamps, which use cow's ghee as the fuel in it.  We could ourselves make curds, churn and take out the butter, melt it, thus preparing clean and pure ghee which can be used at home for 'Neideepam' and also contribute the ghee for usage in Matams and temples.  As the ghee-lamps spread white light all around, they will also light up our inner beings and instil sanctity.  It is very good for such lamps to be lighted in the Sannidy of deities.  We must ensure that at least on Fridays the fuel used in temples are cow's ghee.  What 'Go Mãtã' provides us with all her kindness we must put to effective use.  Now what is happening is that on the one hand we are not making proper use of her services or misusing them while failing in our duties towards her!

63.          Instead of being ignoring and ill-treating each other, we should be mutually supportive of each other, as Bhagawan Sri Krishna said about how Devas and Human beings, (using the phrase ('parasparam bhavayanta:' – 'परस्परं भावयन्त:' Bhagawat Gita, Chapter 3, Sloka 11.), that they should be complimenting each other by words, deeds and kind.  At the time when the cow is yielding milk, the gains and nourishment that human beings get from the cow is much more than what we do in taking care of the cow, like what a child gets from the mother.  Later when the cow is not able to yield milk, like when our mother is too old, we should not be forgetful of what we owe her!  So, it is necessary that we establish many more such organizations which will take proper care of 'Go Shalas', for which people should subscribe in terms of money, effort and physical labour unflinchingly.  This idea of 'Go Rakshana' that is deeply soaked in our blood as an intrinsic Dharma should cause us to get involved actively in this task, exactly like the way a cow aspires and tries hard against all hindrances to run and feed its calf.

'பசு வதை தடைச் சட்டம்'

Enactment of Laws Banning Cow Slaughter

64.          In this Dharma of protecting the cows which is a joint responsibility of the government and the masses, whatever the people do voluntarily as a support, the main task before the government is to enact laws completely banning slaughtering of the cows.  For this also incessant and tireless promptings has to come from the people.  In addition, instead of completely relying on the preventive enactment of laws only, people of all castes and religion have to be motivated to ensure this by wide publicity, motivating even those with a difference of opinion to be converted and to accept this by an approach devoid of anger, full of peace, patience and love. 

65.          It may please be noted that Muslim Emperors of India such as Akbar and Shajahan and the erstwhile King of Afghanistan Amir were fully convinced of this need for protecting the cows from slaughter and had enacted laws in their time.  So if we put it across rightfully and sensibly, I am sure and hopeful that all people will support this cause.  As the government also cannot be expected to enact laws against any one sect or creed, as long as all sorts come together on a common platform, I am sure there will be majority support for this noble task and the cows will get legal protection too.

66.          Government enacts laws to save a few entities from total annihilation and elimination from existence such as even very cruel predators in the forests.  The sandal wood tree for example has such a protection as known to all.  Let me tell you about one such tree not known to all.  That is the 'Iluppai Maram' – 'இலுப்பை மரம்' aka the Mahua Tree.  You are likely to wonder if that tree is all that valuable!  For the tribal people in the Santãl PargaNã areas between Bihar and Bengal, this Mahua tree is something like a life line.  There used to be an act that this Mahua tree is not to be felled at random.  So looking at it from the materialistic point of view or from religious aspect, there is much justice in protecting the Cow from inhuman treatment including its slaughter.  So, without any difference of any denomination, all citizens of the country should come together to support enactment of laws to protect the Cows and cause the Government to do so.

67.          From time immemorial since the Cow and related to it some very sacred ideas and principles have been the cause for some of the serious and very noble features of our culture, we have to ascribe a uniquely prominent place for the Cow in our national view and see to it that they are protected forever with care and nourishment.  'Go SamrakshaNam' is supreme Dharmam, PuNya and primordial duty of ours.  Cow's welfare will give well-being to the whole nation.  If we protect the Cow from cruelty, sins will be less and peace will flourish.  Opposite to this if we treat the Cow cruelly the whole world will suffer the ill-effects.  To ensure justice in the whole world it is necessary to protect the cows.  As per the words of the Sãstrãs, the Dharma Devata himself stands as a Bull on the four legs of Tapas (Virtue), Shoucham (Purity and cleanliness), Daya (Kindness) and Satyam (Truth).  With that Bull of Dharma the Cow (Go Mãtã) is also there.  She gives the very Dharmam as her milk as 'dharma dudha' – 'धर्म दुधा', as Mother Cow.  Bhagawatam says because the Kali Purusha dealt with this pair cruelly, this Kali Yuga is so full of a whole array of immorality.  So 'Go SamrakshaNam' is one of the imperatives of this Yuga, so as to ensure some semblance of order and morality.  Sri Krishna Swami as Gopala should bless us that we may be saved from the stigma of having failed to take proper care of the Cow!

68.          In the Maha Bhãratham as you may know, in the last chapter known as Anushãsanika Parvam, Bhishma lying in a bed of arrows gives Upadesa to Dharma Putra (and all assembled including the other four brothers of Pãndavãs mainly), on all Dharma and acceptably moral ways of governance.  Both Vishnu Sahasranãma and Siva Sahasranãma also occur in that chapter only.  In it Bhishma elaborates on the value of the cow by way of a story from the past.  In the story there is an occasion when King Nahusha is under compulsion to purchase a Maha Rishi by the name of Syavana.  The king was aware of the fact Sage Syavana was so supremely invaluable that even if his empire spread over three different Lokas, it would not be equal to that great Rishi!  So the King was in a quandary as to what to do. 

69.          At that juncture a Rishi born in the belly of a cow comes forward and advices the King that he should give a Cow as an equal to value of the Rishi.  The Syavana Rishi also whole heartedly accepts the deal and says – 'gobhistulyam dhanam kinchit' – 'गोभिस्तुल्यं न पश्यामि किन्चिदिहाच्युत', meaning, 'I do not see anything as valuable as a cow here, Oh King!'  Accordingly the King Nahusha purchases the Rishi by giving a Cow as the price and then lets him go free.  There is nothing greater than donating a cow and that is the best expiation of all sins of the past.  But we must ensure that the recipient of the donation is capable of looking after the cow.

70.          Syavana Rishi then says a few things praising the greatness of cows in general.  One of what he says is as under: -

निविष्टं गोकुलं यत्र श्वासं मुञ्चति निर्भयम् |

nivishtam gokulam yatra swãsam munchati nirbhayam |

विराजयति तं देशं पापं चास्यपकर्षति ||

virajayati tam desam paapam chãsyãpakarshati ||

That means, "Where the cows are happily breathing without fearing as to what peril awaits them, that nation or country will be bright and cheerful devoid of all sins".  Let our Bharath Desh be like that.  To make it happen in terms of intention and necessary action by us all, may Sri Krishna aka KaNNa who looked after the cows as dear to him as his eyes, bless us to be able to similarly take care of them!

(The Chapter on 'Go SamrakshaNam' is over.   Deivathin Kural will continue with the next chapter on 'Culture'.)

Sambhomahadeva