Gopesh
(Dandavats.com) – It is not just your temple’s responsibility.
By Sañjaya Gohil (Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK.)
“When Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa incarnated Himself at Vṛndāvana, He took pleasure in becoming a beloved son of such a vaiśya family. Nanda Mahārāja was a big protector of cows, and Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, as the most beloved son of Nanda Mahārāja, used to tend His father’s animals in the neighboring forest. By His personal example Lord Kṛṣṇa wanted to teach us the value of protecting cows.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda (Light of the Bhāgavata, Text 9)
Over the last few years, we have seen a huge increase in the awareness of food production, animal husbandry and its links to ecology and changes in our planetary climate. There has been an exponential rise in the veganism movement, and a greater spotlight has been placed on our ISKCON movement regarding cow protection.
Here at Bhaktivedanta Manor we understand there is a sense of urgency regarding this topic. It was Śrīla Prabhupāda’s great desire to show the world the meaning of cow protection through our movement and be a beacon of inspiration with regards to simple living and high thinking. With that in mind, Bhaktivedanta Manor is mobilizing. The temple is increasing its cow protection preaching efforts alongside planning for an increase in goshala herd size to meet its ahimsa dairy requirements. On top of that, there has been a clear shift towards education as Bhaktivedanta Manor will soon be formally teaching students about cow protection through a six-week introductory course.
The ultimate and ideal goal of cow protection preaching efforts must be to inspire people to take up the responsibility of caring for cows themselves. As the grips of Kaliyuga strengthen, there is an immediate need for devotees to take up this common Vaisnava duty. Perhaps now is time to turn our attention towards thinking practically about developing small cow sanctuary projects up and down the country, wherever you are. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s cow protection vision and the teachings of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam regarding Varṇāśrama is not something to just think of as a utopian but unrealistic way of life. We must see it as sublime and something to actively strive towards. We often keep cow figurines as altar paraphernalia and we heartwarmingly think of the Lord’s sweet pastimes in Vṛndāvana with His cows. This remembrance of Lord Kṛṣṇa is integral for our spiritual development and now is the time to transform this remembrance into action for the descendants of Surabhi.
