21 April 2021 | जैसा कि हमने पहले चर्चा की थी कि गायें दो बहुत महत्वपूर्ण चरित्र लक्षणों का प्रतिनिधित्व करती हैं, जिन्हें साधकों को भक्ति के मार्ग पर बढ़ने के लिए अपने व्यक्तिगत चरित्र से सीखना चाहिए और "सत्य के प्रति पूर्ण समर्पण" और "विनम्र" के रूप में आगे बढ़ना चाहिए। एक सच्चे दिल की सादगी ” | As we had discussed earlier the cows represent two very very important character traits that the Sadhakas must learn from and imbibe into our personal character in order to progress on the path of Bhakti namely “total surrender to and full dependance upon the Truth” and “humble simplicity of a sincere heart” |

As we had discussed earlier the cows represent two very very important character traits that the Sadhakas must learn from and imbibe into our personal character in order to progress on the path of Bhakti namely “total surrender to and full dependance upon the Truth” and “humble simplicity of a sincere heart”. Without these two characteristics, it is impossible to enter into the realm of Shri Krishna as He is the personification of Truth and no trace of untruth can subsist in His presence as no trace of darkness may subsist in the presence of the Sun. Shri Krishna has manifested this whole cow Lila so we may learn from these cows how to relate with Him; how to be in order to please Him. The cows show us the prerequisites of the Personification of Truth Shri Krishnas, in-order for us to enter His abode in eternal relationship with Him. Everyone has Their prerequisites and so does the Truth personified, Shri Krishna have His. Let’s dive deeper.

First let’s talk about the characteristic of the cow which represents “total surrender and dependance” upon its master. Very interestingly the cow was the first species to quickly have taken shelter of a higher power than itself, i.e. the human. If you observe in nature, the cows are the only domestic animal that don’t exist in the wild. (Please don’t call the blue cow a cow. It has nothing to do with a cow. It is actually an antelope. And neither is the bison a cow. It has more to do with a wildebeest)

You can find wild dogs, wild cats, wild buffalos, wild goats, wild pigs, wild horses, wild sheep, and even wild asses, but wild cows?? Have you ever heard of a wild cow?? No cuz they don’t exist. They never did. Cows were created by God to be with man from the beginning. They were made for the benefit of man thru her milk and milk products, medicine, earth rejuvenating and oxen labour. They were given to us as a vulnerable dependant, to help us in every manner. Krishna gave the cow to man as He has Himself accepted the cows. They were given to us to care for them, surely not to exploit them. The cows signify this very point of vulnerable-surrendered-dependance upon their master and subsequently either exploitation or execution of proper dutifull Dharmic relationship by the master. How we treat the cows or our dependants basically shows Shri Krishna how we treat the Truth. Are we exploiting them or are performing our proper Dharmic duty?? Therefore the cows also represent Dharma. So this is the first consideration.Now let’s talk about the second beautiful trait that the cows represent namely “simplicity of heart” or in other words “Sincerity”. Sincere means genuine in whatever one does. With Krishna there is no scope for cheating. The one thing Krishna can’t stand is duplicity in relation with Him. Duplicity is the oposite of simplicity. Krishnas cows are simple. They are not too smart with fancy arguments. They simply and sincerely follow orders and He loves them for that. In relationship with the supreme Truth there can be no lying. They are opposites like day and night. There can’t be both at the same time. You can maybe fool the whole world but you can’t fool Krishna. In the Bhagavad Gita He even says amongst cheaters I am the biggest Cheater.  

My Guruji Shri Shri Haridas Shastriji Maharaj many times used the word “Saralata” to describe the nature the cows. Saralata loosely translates as simplicity of heart, easy going, straightforwardness or humbly sincere. This is a trait that pleases Krishna more than all the knowledge of the Vedas and all the fancy wealth one can imagine. The Sarala person may be called naive, as they don’t think like cheaters do and often times may be cheated. But they never sway from the Truth no matter how tough the world treats them.

The cow doesn’t have any conflict with its being not too smart and just “a cattle”. It doesn’t have an issue eating humble grass and offering its milk to its master. It doesn’t compare its own hay with the fine delicacies it’s master enjoys. Even eating humble grass it still holds only love and satisfaction towards its master and by producing milk, it tries to please the master. Basically the cow has accepted that I am just a cow, and I am not too intelligent, or full of my own “new” ideas. But rather I am just a cow in my masters herd; for my masters pleasure. I ONLY listen to my masters directions. It has accepted it happily without any of those classic “but whys” and “why nots”. This ability to humbly take part in Krishnas herd or Sadhu Sanga is what this “simplicity of heart” signifies.

Krishna doesn’t interfere with arrogance, ego and other misconstrued delusions. He has His Maya that deals with that. What Krishna likes is simplicity of heart and the offerings of love. Although we have nothing to offer to the Source of all creation-God, yet He is eager for even water offered in love. A pure devotee may cobble up some dry bread and offer it  with all his heart and this becomes the most delicious auntrey for Krishna. A perfect example of this is the cow. It eats grass (probably the most abundant ingredient on planet earth and therefore totally ordinary) and gives life giving milk to its master. Milk being the very essence or purpose of the cows offering.

The Sadhaka must imbibe these crucial qualities of the cows by serving them regularly. These cows will then give us these qualities by which we will then become eligible to enter the abode of the Absolute Truth Personified known as Shri Krishna! And then God will tend to you as you lend your self to Him. And know for sure there is no one in the cosmos happier than a person who has surrendered to Shri Krishna. Just imagine when God Himself takes responsibility for your entertainment, what it must be like then?? This also shows that Krishna leads the path of seva to His devotees from the front. He is the leader of all sevaks as He is the king of the “cow” herders!