Gopashtami is an important festival of Sanatan culture, celebrated especially on Kartika Shukla Ashtami in honour of cows and cowherds. Hinduism gives cows the status of mother and considers them extremely sacred. This festival is a day to show respect and express gratitude to cows by worshipping them with respect. It inspires us to protect and rear cows.
According to the Narada Purana , people observe Gopashtami Vrata, on the eighth day of the bright lunar fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in the month of Kartika. On this auspicious day, worshipping cows, offering gograsa (cooked food), circumambulating them, walking a few steps with them when they set out to graze, and performing godana (giving the gift of cows) is considered a divine duty. One who desires all forms of prosperity must observe these acts of reverence and devotion towards cows.
On Gopashtami, after having a bath in the morning, one should bathe the cow and her calf, apply a tilak on their foreheads, and worship them with flowers, etc., adorn them with clothes and ornaments. Also, apply tilaks on the foreheads of cowherds. After feeding the cows with cooked food circumambulate them, and walk a few steps with them with reverence. This ensures fulfilment of all the desires of the devotee.
It has been stated in the Varaha Purana, “The glory of cows is immense. The cow is sacred, auspicious, and fit to be worshipped even by gods. He who tends cows with devotion, gets absolved of all sins. He who drinks Panchagavya – a mixture of cow milk, curd, ghee, dung, and urine – at an auspicious time, immediately gets absolved of all sins acquired from birth.
He who receives on his head the water scattered by the cow by its tail, feels blessed. Even he, who bows to them, acquires the merit of bathing in all tirthas and gets freed from all sins. Therefore, everyone must worship the cow.” Pujya Asharam Bapuji mentions in his ambrosial words of satsang, “By receiving the benefit of cows, our body and mind remain healthy. You should get the benefits of the cow dung, urine*, milk, and ghee*. Begin rearing native Indian cows. No animal’s excreta is considered sacred, except that of the cow. That is why places of worship are plastered with cow dung.
When you feed something to a cow, with your hand, and caress her back with your hand, she feels good. Her body hairs are thrilled, and she emits the waves of Gaukirana that are received by your hands, which cures many ailments. It cures not only ordinary diseases, but also incurable diseases. Only native Indian cows give this benefit, not foreign cows such as Holstein or Jersey. Give up cow products obtained from foreign cows.”
