Since childhood we used to hear about how in India, cows are considered sacred. We heard that they are special animals. Even their stool is pure, their urine is medicine. Their association is purifying. We also learnt that God sometimes comes to this world in His own original divine form appearing as if a human being, amongst us, in order to perform His pastimes and help us remember Him. When He appears, He brings His own abode with Him, Sri Vrindavana dhama. Just as we enjoy keeping dogs and cats, He likes to keep animals, especially cows. In fact, His abode is named after His beloved cows: Goloka (the planet of the cows). He is a cowherd. How fascinating! God is a cowherd?! He spends all day every day in the forest roaming around with the cows in order to protect them and make sure that they get ample fresh green grass to eat.
Once fate brought us to India a few decades ago, we were absolutely captivated by how humans and animals were living together so naturally in mutual respect and understanding. Indians have so much respect for trees, mother earth, rivers, nature, their elders, God. We saw animals walking through the cities along the humans, sitting amongst the shopkeepers in the market place. We saw humans sharing their food with other needy people and animals. They so much liked to give! We also wanted to learn this, have such a consciousness of service, mutually support, caring and sharing whatever God gives.
One elder saintly lady advised us that whenever you have money and you buy anything for yourself, go and feed the cows as well. If you don’t have money, you can serve them by brushing and massaging them, and by giving them love. We started doing this. Whenever we met them, we would buy them grass and bananas or cook wheat daliya for them, brush them, and pay respect to them. In this way, they stole our hearts, more and more. They became our friends. They were so happy seeing us. They followed us home. They sat in front of the gate waiting for us to come out and feed and stroke them, until they became part of our family and we became part of theirs.
At one point, we ended up renting a piece of land for them to live on, and made them a shed so they wouldn’t need to sleep on the road and suffer in the cold in winter. With time, more and more homeless bulls and cows came. A wounded dog and a wounded goat came. A bird stayed for some time. They somehow find their way to us. Some are intentionally dropped off here by their owners who don’t want to take care of them anymore and some are brought by following other bulls here. Some are brought by ambulance by someone after being in an accident. We try our best to take care of all of them, but it is hard and there are many challenges. Life has become quite hard for them. We could use your help.
It is indeed a very rewarding task! Many of them were malnourished, sick, scared, traumatized – very afraid of humans, when they first came here. Many had been kicked out of their homes, when still babies. They suddenly found themselves alone on the streets amongst cars and with no food and no place to go. If they find food, like at a fruit stall, or a farmer’s field, they are mostly beaten away, often even hurt severely. Therefore, most of them, when they first come to us, are scared of humans. But after some time, we see them change. They blossom. They gain weight, strength and self-confidence. They make friends amongst the other animals and humans. It is the most beautiful thing to see them heal, to see them eat to their full satisfaction. To see them become free of fear.
Once they feel safe, and are not living in stress and anxiety anymore, they turn into extremely loving personalities. It is stunning how gentle and loving even huge grown up uncastrated bulls are! Many of our neighbours’ children have been coming by to play with the bulls, to hug, feed and spend time with them. Some of them used to come here a few hours daily when their parents were at work. Since they weren’t going to school and also had become somehow part of our family, we started a little home schooling program for them to teach them basic knowledge, reading, writing, Hindi, English, maths, some arts, music, etc. We also sometimes take them for outings, have dramas, celebrate birthdays, and other festivals. Over time some more children from the nearby village also came, so there are always some students here to learn. This too is very rewarding and needed.
We want to thank all of you for reading this, for your well wishes, and for your support.
Our prayers are there with you, may God always bless and protect you.
Vrajasevika dasi