India is a country located in the southern part of Asia, most of it is located on the Hindustan Peninsula. This state washes Indian Ocean, namely its Bay of Bengal and Arabian Bay.
Fauna of India
This country is home to many species of mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. Animal world India is very diverse. The most common fauna here are camels, monkeys, elephants, cows, and snakes.
Camel
These are the most common animals in India, they are mainly used for transporting goods, as well as for riding, in ancient times they even took part in battles.
There are two types of this animal - dromedary and bactrian, that is, one-humped and two-humped. Camels are herbivores. They are able to feed on those desert plants that are not eaten by any other animals. This, for example, An adult animal weighs about 500-800 kilograms, and it lives for 30-50 years. The camel body is very well adapted to survive in the desert. Thanks to the specific shape of red blood cells, a camel can drink an impressive amount of water at one time - 60-100 liters. Thus, the animal makes a supply of fluid, which can last for two weeks. When the camel for a long time does without water, its body gets it by burning fats, while the animal can lose most your weight. In India, the milk of this animal is often consumed. It has a number useful properties: it contains vitamins C and D, microelements (calcium, magnesium, iron and others). One more positive property of this product is that it contains very little casein, which makes milk difficult to digest.
Indian elephant
Elephants are also very common animals in India. In addition to the animal that lives in this state and bears the corresponding name, there is also another species of elephant - the African one. The Indian differs from it in that it has smaller ears and is smaller in size than the African. Another interesting thing is that both males and females have tusks, while in Indians only males have tusks. These animals are the largest land animals (they are surpassed in size only but they live in the ocean). Elephants are used as a means of transportation in the jungle. In India, these animals are very popular because of their docile nature. In addition, elephants often participate in religious celebrations.
Monkey
These are very common animals in India. Species such as macaques, langurs and others live here. Many even live in big cities.
King of Beasts - Indian Tiger
Now there are only 3,200 individuals of this species left on the territory of this state. Many of them live in mangrove forests. Previously, these animals often attacked people, so they were exterminated in large numbers, but hunting tigers is not easy.
What kind of snakes live in India?
The king cobra lives on the territory of this state. However, people very rarely suffer from its bites, since it lives far in the forests, hunting small animals there. Sand efa is also much more dangerous to humans. The first reaches 1.5-2 meters in length, has a rich yellow color and a dark pattern on the head, which is somewhat reminiscent of glasses, hence the name. The second belongs to the same family with vipers. Its length is small - about 70 centimeters. It's a snake Brown with a zigzag pattern on the sides.
Peacock
Many people associate these birds with Indian culture. They are often found not only in the mythology of a given country, but also in Persian and Islamic legends. Even in Christianity there is a mention of the peacock - it is a symbol of life. This bird is very common in Indian art - both in literature, music, and painting. Peacocks are very common in this state; they live almost everywhere.
What animals are considered sacred in India?
First of all, these are cows. Since ancient times, these are sacred animals of India. They were considered as such in Ancient Egypt. In the mythology of this country, there is a belief that after death you can get to heaven if you swim across the river while holding on to the tail of a cow. This is also due to the fact that the milk of this animal is very often consumed as food. Therefore, the cow is considered a symbol of life.
Another part of India is elephants. They are considered a symbol of wisdom, kindness and prudence, and are often depicted in homes and on temples. There are also sacred animals of India, which are representatives of certain gods. These are, for example, monkeys - they are considered the incarnation of the god Hanuman, an ally of Rama. In addition, rats are sacred animals in India. There is even a whole temple dedicated to them - thousands of these animals live there. There is a legend associated with them in India. According to her, Karni Mata was a Hindu saint, and when one of her children died, she began to pray to the god of death Yama to return her son to her, and he turned all her sons into rats. There is also a snake cult in India. According to ancient legends, these animals are the patrons of the waters of the valley. If we turn to mythology, we can find out that snakes are the sons of Kadru. In myths, these animals are described in human images, they are endowed with such traits as wisdom, beauty and strength. In addition, the peacock is also found in Indian mythology - Krishna’s headdress was decorated with its feathers. Temples dedicated to this god are painted with images of this bird.
The cow in India is considered a sacred animal. This is an unspoken truth. This animal is equated there with the status of “Mother”, and it is sacred. That is, she is characterized by such maternal qualities as kindness, modesty, wisdom and calmness. In addition, she feeds people with her milk all her life. Therefore, God forbid someone in India yells at a cow, or, even worse, slaughters it and then eats it.
Traveling along the Indian road can be as exciting for everyone as visiting art monuments or grandiose temple complexes. It can inspire admiration, just like natural beauty or the skill of yogis in this “mystical” India. But it can also cause horror - a traveler on Indian roads can have his hair “stand on end” from all these various means of transportation. After all, at the same time, cars and buses, tractors and trucks, mopeds and motorcycles, rickshaws (a rickshaw is a light two-wheeled cart pulled by a person holding on to two shafts) and cyclists, carts pulled by animals, and just people are moving along the road...
Local traffic can be called “functional chaos”. If in our country people drive in the right lane, and in Japan - in the left lane, then in India they often drive in both. Straightaway. And in both directions! And woe to all pedestrians! Although they themselves, raised in the best local traditions, strive to make their contribution to this chaos. For example, pedestrians do not at all consider it necessary to cross the road only where there is a zebra crossing (if there is one at all). And if tourists and other visitors to India think that cars will slow down for a crossing where there is someone, they are sorely mistaken: in India, cars do not stop for anyone, anywhere. Even at the zebra crossing, there is a real “urban Indian jungle” here even without it...
So Golden Rule when crossing the road in India it’s “look left, look right, and then run as fast as you can before anyone hits you.” This is very similar to computer game, but that's not it a virtual reality, and the most real one!
However, right in the middle of this “madhouse”, there is a serene creature, not paying any attention to the bedlam reigning around. This is the Holy Indian Cow. What kind of creature is this, whose cult is so revered in India?
In India, all animals are sacred, but in the animal pantheon the Sacred Cow undeniably occupies the most important place. They call her “Gau Mata”, Mother Cow, considering her to be the personification of all that is best (among all living beings on the Planet!). That is why this peaceful ruminant animal has a special niche in Indian mythology and philosophy.
... Wealth in ancient Indian agrarian society was measured, as a rule, by the number of cattle owned by an individual or family. The cow was a means of payment - it was exchanged for goods and services, it was given as a dowry, it was reluctantly given as a tax. And “Gau-dan”, the gift of cows to Brahmins (priests and abbots of Hindu temples), was considered as the most pious and righteous ceremony.
Naturally, cows were used not only to satisfy the tax collector, decorate the daughter's dowry and pay the monthly bills. For a huge population such big country Like India, milk has always been one of the main sources of nutrition. Keeping in mind all its derivatives... And, for example, cow dung, as before, is still used as fuel: manure mixed with straw in the form of cakes is dried in the sun, and then they heat their homes with this fuel. Half rural population In India they light their stoves this way! In addition, manure mixed with clay is a real miracle material for construction and is used as plaster.
Finally, since Indians are largely vegetarian, the cow, given its sacred status, is rarely taken to slaughter. But there is also back side such a ritual relationship. As soon as the poor animal stops producing milk, its owner finds it quite politically correct to turn the cow out onto the street. According to legend, if a cow living in a house dies, then its owner must, willy-nilly, make a pilgrimage to all the holy cities of India in order to be cleansed of this sin. And upon his return he must feed all the Brahmins living in his village. Thus, letting a cow live outside is a more practical option for its owner.
However, one should not think that such stray ownerless cows are doomed to starvation. Whenever a meal is prepared in a Hindu home, the first roti(unleavened bread) goes to the cow. Noticing her on the street, the Indian calls her to his door and treats her with delicacies, which are offered to the Gods themselves on the altar. IN favorable days In the Hindu calendar, cows are also offered sweets and grass, which is considered a very pious act.
According to mythology, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu was Krishna, who grew up in a shepherd family. Krishna had the habit of pleasing the ears of the cows by playing the flute, which is why he is also called “Gopal” - “The Shepherd” or “one who takes care of the cows.” So the profession of a shepherd has a completely divine precedent and divine protection.
In one of the most ancient sacred texts Hinduism – Puranas- it is said that, among other wonderful things and creatures, the Gods, churning the ocean, obtained from it the wish-fulfilling cow Kamdhenu. Hindus firmly believe that every cow is Kamdhena!
It is not surprising that in tales and legends there are many stories praising and extolling the cow. Here is one of them:
“In the ancient kingdom of Patliputra there lived a powerful king who had fame, wealth and wisdom. And only one thing was missing for the ruler to be completely happy - a son. When the king, losing patience, went to consult his Guru, he told him: “Once, leaving the temple, Your Majesty did not honor a cow standing nearby. If you want a son, then you must find a cow as white as milk and take care of her.” The king did just that: he found such a cow, fed and watered her, drove insects away from her, accompanied her to the pasture and even slept next to her in the barn. One day a tiger jumped out of the forest, but the king blocked her with himself, begging the tiger to spare the cow. The tiger objected that he, as the mount of the Goddess Durga, also needed a sacrifice. Then the king fell to his knees and invited the tiger to eat him instead of the cow.”
Do I need to tell the end of the story? You yourself already understood perfectly well that in the end the king finally got a son...
There is another reason for cow worship in India. According to Hindu mythology, a Hindu must cross a river to reach heaven after death. And this can only be done by holding onto a cow’s tail...
In India, many animals are revered: monkey, cobra, tiger, peacock and many others. However, the first place still belongs to the Sacred Cow. Currently, there are cow protection organizations, and one Indian political movement set as its goal to make the cow the national animal of India (and not the tiger, as written in the constitution).
... let us return to the beginning of the story.
Why do cows prefer not to walk on the outskirts of cities and towns, but mostly come across them on the roads, and choose a place in the middle? They gather under traffic lights looking as if they are helping police officers manage traffic flows. What do cows actually do on the streets of India? Why aren't they on the farms where they should be?
Of course, these cows do not suffer from mad cow disease; there is a reason for their behavior. As shown latest research, Indian cows prefer busy highways, since car exhaust fumes repel insects, and the cows themselves “get high” from toxic substances.
Vedas about milk and dairy products
Ancients scriptures In India, cow's milk was described as amrita, literally "the nectar of immortality." There are many mantras (prayers) in all four Vedas that describe the importance of the cow and cow's milk not only as a perfect food, but also as medicinal drink.Rig Veda states: "The milk of a cow is amrita... so protect the cows." Aryans (pious people), in their prayers for the freedom and prosperity of the people, also prayed for cows that provide a lot of milk for the country. It was said that if a person has food, then he is rich.
Cottage cheese dahi(made from cow's milk) and ghee(ghee dehydrated butter) is wealth. Therefore, in the Rig Veda and Atharva Veda there are prayers asking God to provide us with such an amount of ghee that there will always be an excess of this in our house nutritious product.
The Vedas describe ghee as the first and most important of all food products, as an essential component of sacrifices and other rituals, because thanks to them it rains and grain grows.
Atharva Veda emphasizes the importance and value of ghee, in other parts of the Vedas ghee is described as an impeccable product that increases strength and vitality. Ghee strengthens the body, is used in massages and helps increase life expectancy.
The Rig Veda says: "The milk was first 'cooked' or 'processed' in the udder of the cow and thereafter was cooked or processed in fire and therefore the dahi made from this milk is truly healthy, fresh and nutritious. The person who performs hard work, should eat dahi at noon when the sun is shining."
The Rig Veda says that the cow transfers medicinal and preventive effects into her milk. medicinal herbs, which she eats, so cow’s milk can be used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of diseases.
The Atharva Veda says that the cow, through milk, makes a weak and sick person energetic, provides vitality to those who do not have it, thus making the family prosperous and respected in a “civilized society.” This indicates that good health in the family was an indicator of prosperity and respect in Vedic society. Material wealth alone was not an indicator of respectability, as it is now. In other words, availability large quantity cow's milk in household was taken as an indicator of prosperity and social status.
It is very important to know what is certain time, prescribed for the intake of milk for the purpose of treating diseases and normal functioning of the body. Ayurveda An ancient Indian treatise on the harmony of soul and body says that the time to take milk is dark time days and the milk taken must be hot or warm; good with spices to regulate doshas (kapha, vata and pita), with sugar or honey.
Chharak-shastra is one of ancient books in history medical science. Sage Chharak was an eminent Indian physician, and his book is followed to this day by those who practice Ayurveda. Chharak describes milk as follows: "Cow's milk is tasty, sweet, has wonderful aroma, dense, contains fat, but is light, easy to digest and does not spoil easily (it is difficult for them to get poisoned). It gives us peace and cheerfulness." The next verse of his book states that due to the above properties, cow's milk helps us maintain vitality (ojas).
Dhanvantari, another ancient Indian physician, stated that cow's milk is a suitable and preferable diet for any ailment, its constant consumption protects human body from diseases of vata, pita (Ayurvedic types of constitution) and heart diseases.
The first rays of the Sun illuminated these colorful cities. In a couple of hours the unbearable heat will begin. And in this everyday bustle, the main thing is not to hit a cow walking right along the roadway, and not to lose vigilance, because these hooligan monkeys have been looking for a victim for a long time. Because this is India.
India is one of the cradles of human civilizations. A country where divine splendor, luxurious palaces, expensive fabrics and gems coexist with deep poverty. Where is the development high technology And scientific discoveries nothing gets in the way manual labor and handicrafts. Almost all people in India are deeply religious. 80% of the population professes Hinduism. This belief in myths and legends, the worship of gods, of which there are several thousand, and this is a way of life in which the veneration of sacred animals occupies a special place. The first thing you can meet when you go outside is a cow. The greatest respect is shown to these animals everywhere. They are allowed to roam everywhere, even the most crowded streets of big cities. In many places in India, before breakfast it is considered auspicious to give something to the cow to eat. She can enter the temple, and none of the praying people would think of kicking her out. Because it's perceived as good sign. The ritual status of the cow is emphasized by a strict ban on eating beef. Few Hindus, excluding low castes, would agree to eat meat. If a man kills a cow, he will become an outcast in his village. The priests will not perform services in his house, the barbers will not shave him.
Forefather of Surabhi
Forefather of Surabhi
According to legend, the Mother of all cows, Surabhi, or the Cow of Desires, appeared at the dawn of the universe. It belonged to the sage Vasistha and was stolen from him. The kidnapper, who was once the powerful ruler of the Firmament, was cast down to Earth. And he was doomed to become a Man from God. The cow represents abundance, purity, holiness. And is considered as a benign animal. Just like Mother Earth, the cow is the principle of selfless sacrifice. It produces milk and other dairy products, which serve as the basis of a vegetarian diet.
Sacred cow in India
Pedestrians and motorists give way to these sacred animals without unnecessary words. And if, God forbid, you run over a cow, you can get a serious fine or even life imprisonment. Once on one of the busy roads there was a traffic jam for almost a day, because one such sacred animal decided to lie down, right in the middle of the street. And when a certain foreigner hit a cow while driving a car, his lawyers miraculously managed to prove that the owner of the cow was to blame for the accident. He created such unbearable living conditions for his horned one that she had no choice but to commit suicide. And the foreigner’s car was only a tool for settling scores with life. To avoid getting into such stories, it is better not to touch these animals.
But bulls are used as labor. They are reliable and faithful human helpers. They plow on them, ride on them and transport heavy loads on them too. All gods in Hinduism have riding animals - vahana, which are also revered by Hindus. Shiva rides on the sacred white bull Nandi, which means the giver of joy. It symbolizes controlled courage and devotion. He is also a symbol of true pure karma, the law that brings order to society and the universe.
Nandi
Nandi stands on four legs. Purity of body and mind, compassion, and exploration of truth. Images or statues of gods are also commonly found in Saivite temples. And people believe that if you whisper your wish into the ear of the sacred bull, he will definitely convey it to Shiva.
Elephants enjoy special attention and respect among Indians. According to Hindu traditions, any person who harms an elephant incurs a curse. After all, the Earth rests on four elephants. This animal is also the hero of many Hindu and Buddhist parables and legends. One of the most revered and widespread deities in Hinduism is the elephant-headed god Ganesh. It brings wealth and prosperity. Helps in business and removes obstacles. Ganesh is the son of the god Shiva and his wife Parvati. And no one can definitively answer the question of why he has the head of an elephant. There are many legends in India. According to one of them, Ganesh was a very capricious child. One day, with his crying, he did not let Shiva into his wife’s chambers for a long time. The father became seriously angry and, in a fit of anger, blew off his son’s head. To calm Parvati, Shiva had to revive Ganesh by taking the head of an elephant passing by.
Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh
During the times of the Maharajas, the elephant was a symbol of power and greatness, and played a decisive role in military battles. When Alexander the Great decided to go on a campaign against India, the strong elephant army of the Punjabi king Porus was waiting for him. Seeing these giants, the horses rushed desperately across the field. The elephants began to snatch the enemy riders from their saddles and smash them to the ground. Only thanks to the military cunning of the Macedonian did the Greeks manage to defeat the elephant army. King Porus' personal elephant saved his owner's life by using his trunk to pull arrows out of his chest. Poro had to give Alexander his true friend. The elephant was very homesick for its former owner. The emperor knew that the elephant liked rich and beautiful clothes, and ordered a luxurious blanket with gold threads to be made for his new favorite. And decorate the tusks with gold rings. The vain Ajax then faithfully served Alexander.
Guest article
In India, it is customary to treat all animals with special reverence, but it is the cow that evokes real reverence among Hindus. There are many legends and myths associated with this artiodactyl, most of which go back directly to the religion and history of the Indians.
Sacred cow in Hindu religion
For Hindus, the cow is the personification of selflessness, purity, holiness and kindness. Just like Mother Earth, a cow gives food (milk) to a person without demanding anything in return. Identification with the nurse-Earth in the Hindu religion equates the cow to shrines and elevates it to the rank of inviolable animals.
Also, for Hindus, a cow is a symbol of motherhood, self-sacrifice and care. Like a woman, she feeds her children with milk, selflessly cares for and protects them. For this reason, in India it is prohibited to harm this animal in any way - especially if it is a dairy cow. Killing such a cow is considered a terrible sin, and such an act is punished very severely among Hindus.
Sacred cow in Indian legends and myths
One of the old Indian legends says that after death, a Hindu needs to swim across a deep and wide river to get to heaven. He can cope with this task with the help of a cow, holding on to the tip of its tail. In this regard, Hindus are kind to cows during their lifetime and try to appease them, so that after their physical death the animals will help them get to the other world.
According to another legend, the gods who created the Earth one day took out the wonderful cow Surabhi from the ocean floor. This magical animal could fulfill any wishes of its owner. To this day, any cow in India is considered the daughter of Surabhi and, if treated with respect, can make any dream or request of a person come true.
Sacred cow in Indian history
According to some researchers, respectful and respectful attitude to cows in India has historical roots. Since time immemorial, the main activity of the Hindus was agriculture, and the main assistants of people were bulls and cows. Even-toed ungulates helped Indians plow the land and saved them from hunger during crop failures. An important component of the Indian diet, both then and now, was milk and dairy products, which made it possible to avoid hunger even in the most unfavorable years. Thus, the respectful attitude of Indians towards cows and bulls is also a kind of gratitude to the animals for the support provided in difficult times. Before today The problem of hunger in India is helped to be solved by artiodactyls, which peacefully coexist side by side with humans.
It should be noted that in Hinduism, curious properties are attributed to cow's milk. It is believed that it can awaken sattvic qualities in a person. Sattva, in turn, means purity, clarity, goodness. No less revered in the Hindu religion is ghee, which is used in organizing and conducting ancient religious rituals. Attributed magical properties even cow urine, which in India is used in various rituals and used in the treatment of diseases. Hindus still use cow dung for a variety of purposes. They fertilize farmland with it, repel insects with it, and even fumigate homes.
To offend a cow in India means to incur misfortune, which is why artiodactyls still roam freely through city streets to this day, surprising tourists. For murder sacred cow the state provides very severe punishment, so even travelers visiting India are instructed to treat this animal with respect.
It seems to me that the whole world knows that for Hindus the cow is a sacred animal. Hindus revere the cow as a mother...They treat this (delicious) animal as a deity, honor and protect it, it is believed that the cow is kind, fertile, calm and a completely peace-loving creature.
It is believed that a cow selflessly provides a sea of products - milk, and as you know, many food products can be prepared from milk, especially for vegetarians, most Indians are vegetarians and dairy products are the main product for them after vegetables.
Cows here are not abused or chased...they feel like they are the masters of the roads. If you wanted to lie down and rest on the road - please! They know that everyone will go around them and no one will chase them. Only if the whole herd starts a picnic on the highway and there is no way to go around them, then they will be driven aside with gentle pats on the sides.
There are many cows on the street mainly in the north of India and especially in the capital, Delhi. The cows are not as well-fed as our village cows, it may sound funny and stupid, but our cows are cute... they cannot be compared with the Indian ones, whose ribs stick out and the color is not attractive.
It is customary that people in India do not eat beef. They are mistaken! Are eating! Usually Christians and Muslims, beef can be purchased freely in stores. In Delhi, the Nizamuddin district, in Mumbai - Christian areas, like Bandra, and in other areas, beef is also freely sold in shops run by Christians. Beef in India is very cheap; when I first arrived in India, a kilo of veal (more expensive than beef) cost only 70 cents, now it’s one and a half dollars, which is also not expensive.
Despite the fact that the cow is under state protection.
In a chain of American restaurants like in Delhi, Rubby Tuesday, Thanks God its Friday, Chilli, Pop Tates, there is always beef on the menu, but they call beef meat from bull, usually tough and with a specific smell. They are probably afraid to admit that they cook beef freely... that’s why they got out of the situation with bull meat, but in Mumbai they cook beef, especially at Pop Tats, they have very tasty chops.
The bull is also a sacred animal, according to legend it was vehicle for God Shiva, but the bull is not as much deified as the cow.
Somehow ten years ago, my fellow Tashkent residents (all men), who were engaged in the business of fresh flowers while in India for a long time, missed beef and did not know that this meat could be freely purchased in the Nizamuddin region. They drank vodka for courage and decided to go and kill the cow, since they can be found at every turn on the streets of Delhi. No sooner said than done! At night they caught a young cow, took it to a secluded place and, after praying, killed it. The meat was cut up, and the skin, head and limbs were buried, but not deep.
We went to our hotel on the roof, which had a local kitchen, put the spoils in the refrigerator and went to bed, anticipating how during the day they would fry kebabs and make pilaf. We called in advance all our fellow countrymen who were in Delhi at that time (me too) and invited them to dinner. But they were woken up by the police without getting enough sleep! Someone saw the blood in the morning, followed the trail, dug up and discovered the remains of the Mother God COW! Immediately, a law-abiding citizen called the police, all traces led to a nearby hotel, and evidence was found in the refrigerator there.
They were all arrested, they wrote in the newspapers about this savage attitude of foreigners towards God, although they were not given a prison term; after being fined, they were deported back to Tashkent. The hotel administrator told me all this when I arrived for dinner to taste the beef... Two hotel employees were given a day off for health reasons; after learning that Mother Cow was slaughtered by the guests, they were gutted.
My husband does not eat beef, he says that he has nothing against this meat, but in his subconscious something does not allow him to step over himself and taste beef. But it doesn’t prohibit my son and me, so we have beef in our diet.
Photo from internet.
Reviews
Louise, good afternoon! I don’t know if it’s true or not, but in connection with cows I remembered a story I heard as a child. A Russian woman went to India and decided to marry an Indian there. By faith, he professed Hinduism (I don’t know if there is such a religion). And according to their laws, a woman could marry him only after eating a cow dung :)) this is probably a fiction :))))
Good afternoon, Tatyana! This is fiction, there is no such thing!!! :)))))
They drink cows' urine, and one supposedly holy cow whose urine (sorry!) had healing urine was lined up with containers to collect the healing liquid!!! It happened in Calcutta around three years back.
With a smile, Louise.
