Shankaracharya calls for declaration of 'Gau' as 'Rashtra Mata'

• Hindus urged not to support parties or candidates that facilitate cow-slaughter

JAMMU: Jyotishpeethadhishwar Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati ‘1008’ ji, during his two day visit to Jammu district, led the installation of the Gau Dhwaj and presided over a Gau Mahasabha, as part of his ongoing ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’. Upon his arrival to the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, a traditional ‘Paduka Poojan’ ceremony was held. This was followed by a visit to the Bawe Wali Mata temple, where he paid obeisance to the revered deity of Jammu.

On Tuesday, Shankaracharya Ji inaugurated Ranbir Library at ancient Raghunath Temple, and performed the installation of the Gau Dhwaj at a Gaushala in Lower Gadigarh, Jammu, alongside Param GauBhakt Pujya Gopal Mani Ji, who spearheads the Gau Pratishtha Andolan, Nirmal Swaroopji Brahmachari and Devendra Pandey Ji, President, Hindu Mahasabha. The event saw the participation of hundreds of devotees, members of civil society, and local residents.

In his address at the Gau Mahasabha, Shankaracharya Ji elaborated on the significance of the Gau in Sanatan Dharma. He emphasized that the First Revolt of Indian Independence in 1857 was ignited by the issue of greased cartridges made from cow fat. Expressing concern over the rising incidents of cow slaughter in India, especially in recent years, causing the drastic decline in the population of sacred cows, he called upon the nation to remove the sin and shame of cow slaughter from Indian soil and to work toward declaring the Gau as Rashtra Mata (Mother of the Nation).

He remarked, “Those who view the cow merely as a source of milk or meat, fail to understand its divine significance. Serving cows is akin to attaining divine blessings, as the Lord Himself says, 'Gavām Madhye Vasaamyaham', meaning 'I always reside among cows.' The cow is integral to our rituals, and serving the cow is equivalent to serving our 33 crore deities. In fact, the first bread of every day is traditionally offered to the Gau, which embodies these divine entities. Without the Gau, all religious rituals and worship are incomplete and meaningless." 

Shankaracharya Ji also recounted the ancient tale of King Dilip, who, heartbroken due to his lack of heirs, followed the advice of Guru Vashistha and served a Gau for 40 days. As a result, he was blessed with a son, Aja, from whose lineage Bhagwan Ram, the epitome of dharma, was born. Bhagwan Ram is worshipped particularly at the famed Raghunath temples of Jammu. 

In his concluding remarks, Shankaracharya Ji praised the efforts of Gopalmani Ji for his unwavering dedication to the cause of cow protection. He urged the gathering to extend their support to the movement and further strengthen the campaign.

The Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra, which commenced on September 22, 2024, from Ayodhya Dham, aims to have the Gau officially declared as the Rashtra Mata. The journey began after a sacred circumambulation of Ramkot and has since traveled across various states and Union Territories, installing the Gau Dhwaj and raising awareness about cow protection.

A significant milestone in this movement was achieved when the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde, under the guidance of Shankaracharya Ji, declared the indigenous Rama cow as the Rajya Mata (Mother of the State). The cabinet resolution formalizing this declaration was ceremonially handed over to Shankaracharya Ji Maharaj. Following the event in Jammu, Shankaracharya Ji's Yatra will continue toward Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, as part of the next leg of this historic journey.