Radhanath Swami on Cow Protection

Krishna with cows

Nanda Maharaj, Yashoda mayi and all the Vrajavasis unanimously accepted Krishna’s advice. They prepared mountains and lakes of bhoga. As brahmanas were performing fire sacrifices, Nanda Maharaj and the other cowherd men were serving the cows and making them happy. They were feeding the cows the freshest grass and nicely decorating them with gold, silver and silks.

(HH Radhanath Maharaj narrates his experience) For many years I took care of cows. Sometimes they kick, but it is really purifying when they kick you. Ultimately cows just like to look nice, they just want to feel nice and they want to be loved and I brushed their faces, after I milked the cows and fed them. I would brush every hair on their body exactly in the direction it naturally went, with a special cow brush. And when the cows would come out of the Goshala, they would be dancing and

smiling because they would be looking so nice. And it’s not that they look nice, it’s the time, the attention and the affection that you give to make them look nice. That’s what they love!

Srila Prabhupada taught us that cow protection, in the spirit of Vrindavan, is not just about not killing them but about making them happy by giving them the feeling that they are loved and cared for. 

– Radhanath Swami

Krishna with cows

25 comments

  1. Srila Prabhupada taught us that cow protection, in the spirit of Vrindavan, is not just about not killing them but about making them happy by giving them the feeling that they are loved and cared for-amazing insight to cow protection.

  2. it’s the time, the attention and the affection that you give to make them look nice. That’s what they love!
    When will i have any contribution in this very dear seva?

  3. Shrila Prabhupad says, juts by having a cow and some land there will be no issue of economy and scarcity.

  4. Thanks for covering this important topic here. Today society has forgotten value of cows in how they can bring back the balance in human society. Thank you very much HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj for this article.

  5. Krishna loves mother cow very much. Cows are so dear to Him that everything in relation to Krishna begins with the word ‘Go’ (cow)
    His name- GOvind
    His abode- GOloka
    His associates- GOpas and GOpis
    His playground- GOvardhan

    Gomata ki Jay!!

  6. Radhanath Swami is talking about the essence of Vedic lifestyle. For fire sacrifice or deity installation the panca gravyam(Cow dung, Cow urine, ghee, milk, curd) is used. Which is basically comes from cow. Mother cow plays such an important part in vedic lifestyle.

  7. Cow protection is so much important for the Indian Economy….unfortunately as Indian we have failed to understand it.

  8. Thank you for sharing. Awareness about cow protection is very low and it is the duty of all of us to propagate this in the society to prevent cow slaughter.

  9. Cow protection, in the spirit of Vrindavan, is not just about not killing them but about making them happy by giving them the feeling that they are loved and cared for. Very inspiring lines to follow!

  10. Most vital aspect for the growth of todays society thank you for addressing such an important subject matter.

  11. Radhanath Swami’s pastimes in New Vrindavan are so nectarine and astonishing that one gets mesmerized and think – How is it possible? There was a bull who never obeyed any command. So, the devotees handed over his care to Radhanath Swami. Radhanath Swami befriended the bull and he obeyed him nicely.

  12. “Sometimes they kick, but it is really purifying when they kick you.” Amazing attitude to see the kicking as purification. But I know that he speaks out of his own realizations. A very inspiring post.

  13. There is so much discussion on Cow protection and how some states have banned cow killing, etc but very few people actually get down to do something about it. I know its difficult for all of us to spare time and look after them but can be done once in a while by visiting a goshala to spend time with them.

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