A 35-day journey called the ‘Gau Dhwaj Establishment Bharat Yatra’ reached Hyderabad on Wednesday. This journey is part of an initiative to declare the cow as the ‘Mother of the Nation’. It began in Ayodhya on September 22 and will continue until October 26, passing through all State capitals. The yatra is being led by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand.
Upon arriving in Hyderabad, Shankaracharya raised the cow flag, known as the ‘Gau Dhwaj’. Addressing the participants, he said his mission is to remove cow slaughter from Indian soil completely and to declare the cow as the national mother.
The yatra recently succeeded in getting support from the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde. He declared the indigenous (Rama) cow as the State mother and placed a copy of the Cabinet’s proposal at Shankaracharya’s feet as a mark of respect.
In his speech, Shankaracharya expressed that the movement, led by Gopalmani, is sacred. He highlighted that the campaign is aimed at strengthening the message of protecting cows and receiving divine blessings.
He also mentioned that people who only see cows for milk or meat do not understand their true value. He referred to the teachings of Lord Krishna from the Gita, where Krishna says he and yajna (sacrifice) were created together for each other, emphasizing the importance of cows in Indian rituals.
Shankaracharya explained that in India, feeding others is an act of worship. He added that cows play a crucial role in yajna, a sacred ritual, and that without cows, worship and rituals are incomplete. Serving cows, according to him, is equal to serving 33 crore deities. He mentioned that the first piece of bread in a meal is offered to the cow, symbolizing the deities.
He concluded by saying that if one wants to attain God, they should serve the cow. He quoted the Lord’s words, “Gavaam Madhye Vasaamyaham,” meaning “I always reside among cows.” He explained that cows are considered divine and are seen as wish-fulfilling beings in Sanatan Dharma.
The event in Hyderabad was organized by C.L. Rajam, chairman of the Intercontinental Group.
