Have you ever heard the expression “holy cow!”? Ever wondered where it came from, or why it’s used? Does it even have anything to do with yoga? It actually doesn’t, and it didn’t come from India. It’s an American expression that was popularized by baseball broadcasters, most notably Harry Caray. But, that doesn’t mean that cows aren’t holy or that each time I hear the expression “holy cow!” I don’t automatically think of the garland-laden cows of India. In fact, cows are especially holy in India where they hold a sacred place in Hindu religion. There are many reasons why cows are holy to Hindus. The main one is that since cows produce milk, and most of India is vegetarian, dairy products play an enormous role in Indian diet and culinary culture. Because of this, cows are symbolically viewed as givers of life, and as maternal figures. Cows are considered the embodiment of the Divine mother and Gopala, Krishna’s infant form.
If you want to know more, read the full article I wrote for Yogapedia.com in the link below. Yogapedia.com
Image of cow in Varanasi India by Kumarpandeysantosh
