Why Serve Cows in Magha Month?

Cow Service in Magha Month at a Glance

In winter, when the green grass in the open fields begins to dry, serving voiceless animals, especially native cows, is regarded in tradition as equal to serving the 33 koti devatas, the whole host of the gods. In Magha month there is a beautiful tradition of taking the first roti made at home every day, called Gograas, adding a little jaggery, sesame and turmeric and feeding it to a cow with one's own hands. In addition, going to a gaushala, a cow shelter, on Amavasya, Sankranti or Purnima and arranging fodder, jaggery and lukewarm drinking water for the cows is regarded as highly meritorious.

Element of Service	Details
Gograas	The first roti of every day set aside for the cow
What to Add to the Gograas	A little jaggery, sesame and a pinch of turmeric
Special Days	Amavasya, Sankranti, Purnima and Ekadashi
Gaushala Service	Fodder, jaggery, lukewarm water and protection from cold
Winter Care	Jute covers, dry bedding and lukewarm water
Related Planets	Jupiter and Venus
Expected Fruit	Merit, satisfaction of the ancestors, family happiness and planetary peace

The Basic Rules of Cow Service

• Always give cows fresh and clean food and never give stale or rotten food.
• Give jaggery and roti in limited amounts, as a cow's main diet is green and dry fodder.
• Do not give cows food in plastic bags and do not throw plastic in the open.
• Hitting, chasing or insulting a cow is regarded as prohibited.
• In the cold, help arrange lukewarm water and warm bedding for cows.

Why Is the Cow Called Mother?

In the Sanatana tradition, the cow is given the place of a mother. There are spiritual, social and economic reasons for this. In ancient India the cow was the basis of a family's prosperity. Her milk gave nourishment, her dung made the fields fertile and served as fuel and bullocks helped in farming. In this way the cow nourished the whole family, just as a mother does.

According to Puranic belief, Kamadhenu, the wish fulfilling cow, emerged from the churning of the ocean. The Puranas say that the 33 koti devatas dwell in the body of the cow. Here the word koti is understood to mean both crore and type or category. The idea is that serving the cow is like serving all the divine powers.

The Gopala and Govinda forms of Lord Shri Krishna are also linked with the cow. His childhood was spent among cows and he himself went out to graze them. So cow service is also regarded as service to Lord Krishna.

The Special Importance of Cow Service in Magha Month

The importance of cow service in Magha month grows for several reasons.

• The suffering of the cold: In the bitter cold, animals, especially abandoned cows, suffer greatly. Their care is most needed at this time.
• Shortage of green grass: In winter green fodder becomes scarce and animals suffer from a lack of nourishment.
• The month of charity: Magha is the month of charity and cow service is counted among the finest gifts.
• Satisfaction of the ancestors: Setting aside a share for the cow is a main part of the Panchabali in ancestral rites and Magha is the month of the ancestors.
• The month of sesame and jaggery: Sesame and jaggery have special importance in Magha and adding them to the Gograas is part of the tradition.

The Method and Rules of Gograas

Gograas means the cow's morsel, that is the first share of food for the cow. In tradition, the first roti made at home is set aside for the cow. This tradition is a symbol of gratitude, in which the mother who nourishes is fed before one eats.

Step	Method
The First Roti	Set aside the first roti made at home for the cow
Materials	Place a little jaggery, sesame and a pinch of turmeric on the roti
Time	In the morning or before the midday meal
Manner of Feeding	Feed it lovingly with your own hands
Prayer	Bow to the cow and pray for the happiness of the family
Cleanliness	Keep the place clean after feeding

What Should and Should Not Be Fed to a Cow?

Can Be Fed	Should Not Be Fed
Green fodder and dry straw	Stale, rotten or mouldy food
Roti in limited amounts	Very sweet, fried or spicy food
A little jaggery	Food kept in plastic bags
Gram, bran and oilcake	Too much roti or flour
Peels and leaves of seasonal vegetables	Rotten fruit and kitchen waste
Lukewarm and clean water	Ice cold water in winter

It is necessary to understand that a cow's main diet is fodder. Giving too much roti, flour or sweets can cause serious stomach problems for a cow. So Gograas is a symbol of devotion and helping arrange fodder for the cow's nourishment is true service.

Service at the Gaushala

In Magha month, going to a gaushala to serve on Amavasya, Sankranti or Purnima is regarded as especially meritorious.

• Arranging fodder: Donate for green fodder or straw at the gaushala.
• Jaggery and gram: Give jaggery and gram to the cows in limited amounts.
• Lukewarm water: Help arrange lukewarm drinking water for the cows in the cold.
• Protection from cold: Contribute to jute covers, dry bedding and arrangements to block the wind.
• Medical care: Help the gaushala treat sick cows.
• Volunteering: If possible, do cleaning and service work at the gaushala yourself.

Today, cows wandering abandoned on the roads fall ill from eating plastic and waste. Helping the gaushalas that care for such cows and not throwing plastic in the open yourself are also important forms of cow service.

The Spiritual and Astrological Results of Cow Service

In Vedic astrology the cow is linked with both Venus and Jupiter. Venus symbolises prosperity, comfort, splendour and Kamadhenu, while Jupiter symbolises dharma, purity and the grace of the guru. Tradition holds that cow service increases the results of both these benefic planets and brings a balance of happiness, prosperity and dharma into life.

Goal	Related Planet	Remedy through Cow Service
Happiness and prosperity at home	Venus	Jaggery and roti for a cow on Friday
The grace of the guru and fortune	Jupiter	Split chickpeas and jaggery for a cow on Thursday
Ancestral peace	Sun	Donating fodder at a gaushala on Amavasya
Fewer planetary obstacles	All planets	Daily Gograas
Peace of mind	Moon	Serving a cow and spending some time near her

Tradition says that the lineage of one who serves cows never falls into crisis. The deeper meaning is that a family which carries the values of compassion and service stays rich in virtue for generations to come.

What Should Be Done and Avoided in Cow Service?

Do	Do Not
Give Gograas lovingly every day	Do not hit or chase away a cow
Help arrange fodder and water at the gaushala	Do not give a cow food in plastic
Give limited and suitable food	Do not feed too much roti, flour or sweets
Arrange protection for cows in the cold	Do not give stale and rotten food
Help treat sick cows	Do not throw waste and plastic in the open

Compassion Reflected in the Eyes of the Cow

A wonderful compassion can be seen in the calm eyes of a cow. Without asking for anything, she nourishes human beings throughout her life. In the bitter cold of Magha month, when a person lovingly feeds her a roti, gives her lukewarm water or arranges to protect her from the cold, that person is not merely serving an animal but returning the compassion that the cow has given to humankind for centuries.

For the family that serves cows with faith and discernment in this month, the grace of both the gods and the ancestors remains in the home. And above all, that family keeps alive the value of compassion that lies at the root of every dharma.

FAQ

What is Gograas?
Gograas means the first share of food for the cow. In tradition, the first roti made at home is set aside for the cow.

What should be fed to a cow in Magha month?
In Magha it is traditional to place a little jaggery, sesame and a pinch of turmeric on the first roti and feed it to a cow. A cow's main diet is green and dry fodder.

What should not be fed to a cow?
Stale, rotten, very sweet, fried or spicy food and food in plastic should not be fed to a cow. Too much roti can also be harmful.

What are the astrological benefits of cow service?
Tradition regards cow service as increasing the auspicious results of Jupiter and Venus, which brings a balance of happiness, prosperity and dharma.

How can cows be served in the cold of Magha?
Help arrange fodder, lukewarm water, jute covers and dry bedding at a gaushala and help treat sick cows.