About Gotirth

Indegenious cows and their Importance in our life & Organic Farming

Importance of Indigenous cows in our life & Organic Farming

With the advent of aggressive liberalization in the 90s, one of the major sectors to face its worst nightmares was Agriculture. Due to cut-throat competitive market forces, a farmer in India has been relentlessly facing transformations as far as farming practices are concerned. His conventional approach of conserving and utilizing the livestock effectively is also being challenged. Dairy farming has always been one of the profit-making allied activities and all the farmers spread across the country are engaged in trying to make most of it. Undoubtedly, today India is the world's top dairy producer but for retaining the position, India risks losing the native cattle breeds.

With changed cow-rearing preferences, a number of farmers are adapting to the cross-breeding practices. Such crossbreeding programs, which often involve foreign breeds, are being carried out widely with the target of producing milk at a higher rate.

Many a times, rearing of foreign breeds incur higher cost of maintenance and due to this, a number of small scale farmers are losing out on their affordable indigenous breeds of cows. Not just cross-breeding but export of the native breeds to the international beef market and low quality fodder have played a crucial role in exacerbating the situation. India's wealth of genetic diversity of domesticated animals which are well-adapted to adverse climatic conditions and diseases, today are on the verge of extinction for sure.

With an intention of conserving the native breeds of Indian cows, Swamiji decided to establish a Gaushala in 2005. Manifold breeds were brought in at one place from across the nation. Several farmers were persuaded not to sell their ageing or injured cows and all of them were treated at Gau Shala. Neighboring villages too were urged not to send their cows to slaughterhouses. Many a times, Swamiji himself stopped number of trucks carrying cows to beef market and brought them at Gau Shala.

Today, the Gaushala at Siddhagiri Math houses over 1000 cows of different indigenous breeds such as Sahiwal from Gujrat, Amritmahal from Rajasthan, Tharparkar from Andhra Pradesh and Khillari from Maharashtra. India used to have over 100 genetic varieties but over the period of time the number was reduced to just 35. At Siddhagiri Gau Shala, over 25 breeds are taken care of under one roof. At Gau Shala, one can find the breeds such as Amrut Mahal, Sahiwal, Geer, Devni, and Gidda which were on the verge of extinction.

The Gaushala has proved beneficial in more ways than one. Due to Gaushala, now, the Math has a sustainable energy source in the form of biogas. Through biogas production from cow manure, everyday XX of electricity is generated. The Math also conducts seminars for farmers and individuals and guides them regarding how to install and run the biogas plant and avail the benefits of this renewable energy source.

Awareness Programs - Initiated by Siddhagiri Matham

1

Gau Bank

The Math houses India's first of its kind initiative called Gau Bank. At this bank, farmers can donate their ageing or ailing cows. Gau Shala treats all such cows and restores their health to normalcy. On the other hand farmers can also take home cows from Gau Shala for rearing and if that cow begets a calf, the farmer has to return the calf to Gau Shala in the form of an interest. This bank has certainly proved beneficial in curbing the practice of sending these cows to butchers.

2

Go-Parikrama

प्रदक्षिणेन चैकेन श्रद्धायुक्तेन तत्-क्षणात् |
देशजन्मकृतं पापं तस्य नश्यत्यसंशयम् ||

Meaning of Hymn: If we do namaste with full devotion and diligence to Gau (Cow) and all the Devatas (Demigods) present in Gau (Cow), the sin of the ten births is obliterated by doing that one Pradakshina (Circumambulation) and namaste (salutation). Gau Parikrama (circumambulation of the cow) and Go Mata Puja (worship of the cow) helps in overcoming all forms of problems in life as per Vishnudharmottara Purana. Evil actions and activities of enemies can be stopped by Go Parikrama. Swamiji certainly intends to instil a sense of pride among the farmers for owning Indian cows. For the purpose, a procession called, 'Gau Parikrama' and a congregation termed, ' Gau Kumbh Mela' are organised annually. During these events, best of Indian breeds are exhibited and celebrated. For this, a special cowshed was also prepared in the Kaneri Math temple of the city. Where a large number of folks fed the cow and worshiped after doing circumambulation. In particular, there is a duties to worship a cow with a calf. Cow worship and aarti are performed with incense-lamp, akshat, fodder, jaggery, clothes, water, etc.There is a special increase in the happiness and prosperity of the family

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3

Gau Kumbh Mela

The festival of a Go Kumbh Mela was celebrated with great pomp in the Kolhapur district. On this occasion, the devotees worshiped the mother cow and prayed for the happiness and prosperity of their families. Explaining the importance of Go Kumbh mela, Swamiji said, the importance of native cow is very important and after mother only cow's milk can save man. Today many people are suffering from such diseases like Cancer, Sugar, B.P. & blindness. Due to chemical farming, along with farming, mental health is also deteriorating. Organic farming and indigenous cow is the only solution & Desi cow has many benefits.Gau Kumbh Mela is organized at Siddhagiri Math to know about the rich Indian cow breed. Go Kumbh Mela is organized every year at the Siddhgiri Kaneri Math of Kolhapur. It also organizes caste-wise indigenous cow competition and exhibition, guidance, organic farming product display and sale program. In this exhibition, indigenous Khillar cow giving twelve liters of milk, Khillar bull worth fifteen lakhs, Gir Cha Nandi weighing two and a half ton, Suvarna Kapila a rare breed of indigenous cow breed, 22 breeds of indigenous cow breed in India, obedient cows and obedient bulls will be seen. 100 types of Panchgavya products will be exhibited and sold at the venue. Also, in this fair, expert lectures will be given in two sessions on the subject of organic farming based on indigenous cows. This Kumbh Mela is going to be very useful for the farmers to get to know about the Indian cattle breed in order to promote the mentality that we must have at least one indigenous cow. In the grand exhibition of native cows, the cow-keeper is also rewarded with the best prize for the first bull and cow in all groups.