Gau Seva
He was thoroughly washed with cow urine and then smeared with the dust raised by the movements of the cows. Then different names of the Lord were applied with cow dung on twelve different parts of His body, beginning with the forehead, as done in applying tilak. In this way, the child was given protection. When the Lord grew up he started moving around house. He would not like to play with toys but He would go to the goshala (cow shed). He would go to area where the cows and calves were moving around. The Lord would be very happy to cover His body with go raja (dust from lotus feet of cows). Mother Yashoda would go to pick up the Lord in anxiety fearing that a cow or calf might step on small Krishna. Nanda Maharaj had special padmagandha cows. These cows would emit a wonderful lotus like fragrance. Even such fragrance would come from their milk, curd and butter milk. Even their dung and urine had a special fragrance like lotus. By the mixture of
Lord the calves would be joyful and start running around the place with full energy. The Lord would keep hanging on to the tails of the calves and also enjoy the pastime. Sri Bilva Mangal Thakur in his book Krishna Karnamrita says as follows – Oh Lord! You joyfully move around in mud of Vrindavan made up of cow urine, dung and dust from cows feet, but You feel hesitant to go to the yajna sthali of brahmanas. Hearing the mooing of the cows You answer them in the language of calves which You understand but when the great Brahma prays to You, Oh lord You keep quiet and stand without replying. But when calves make sound You quickly run towards them and embrace them. Oh! Lord I have understood that You don’t regard any other principle but only the love of cows. You are satisfied with only those who have love of cows in their heart.
Lord the calves would be joyful and start running around the place with full energy. The Lord would keep hanging on to the tails of the calves and also enjoy the pastime. Sri Bilva Mangal Thakur in his book Krishna Karnamrita says as follows – Oh Lord! You joyfully move around in mud of Vrindavan made up of cow urine, dung and dust from cows feet, but You feel hesitant to go to the yajna sthali of brahmanas. Hearing the mooing of the cows You answer them in the language of calves which You understand but when the great Brahma prays to You, Oh lord You keep quiet and stand without replying. But when calves make sound You quickly run towards them and embrace them. Oh! Lord I have understood that You don’t regard any other principle but only the love of cows. You are satisfied with only those who have love of cows in their heart.
