Gopuja

19 Aug 2003

This blessed morning saw Amritapuri Ashram in a celebratory mood, for today was Sri Krishna Jayanthi! It was to be a full day of festivities, beginning with the Go Puja, or worshipping of the cows. Though now a sprawling ashram complex, almost like a small city, Amritapuri had about as humble a beginning as one could imagine – as a cowshed! The Kalari, the original ashram temple, was where Amma’s family used to house their cows, before Amma began to hold Devi and Krishna Bhava there.

Always a favourite among devotees, the Go Puja reminds us of the important role the cow, symbolic of the mother, plays in our lives. It’s an opportunity for us to show our appreciation and reverence for her. While possessing a beautiful spiritual symbolism and deep universal significance, cow worshipping might seem like a strange notion for those not raised in the Indian culture. But, as with most things spiritual, one must sincerely attempt to peel back the protective skin if one wants to get to the sweet fruit inside. Here is a creature that takes so little from nature – just some quiet grazing in the fields – and is abundantly generous in return. It is easy to conceive of worshipping the cow if one can first understand love. If love is there, we are naturally inspired to serve. This service itself is worship! As Amma has said, when we truly love, each action spontaneously becomes a worship.

This day, five of the Ashram’s cows, wearing garlands of yellow flowers, and with their bodies decorated with sacred ash and kumkum, were led out from their shed. Immediately, those around began to lovingly pet and caress them, speaking soft words of gratitude and offering various forms of praise, such as bowing their heads with folded hands and chanting scriptural verses. This is a moment to personally thank the cow for all that she selflessly gives us, honouring her as our mother.

The cows were led out of the Ashram’s front gate, accompanied by a procession singing Krishna bhajans, to the doorstep of Amma’s biological parents’ house. Sugunacchan and Damayantiamma each took joy in hand-feeding the cows, one by one, with a small bunch of plantains. It was very touching to see the sincerity in their reverence for the gentle creatures taking food from their hands. And the cows seemed to return the sentiment by sincerely revering the plantains!

For the final ceremony, the cows led the singing procession back to the steps of the main temple. There they were honoured once again by more bhajans, and showered with flower petals and holy water. Ashram pujaris waved incense and an arati lamp, and applied sandal paste and kum kum to their foreheads, accompanied by scriptural chants, Finally, the cows were each once again showered with flower petals, and fed more plantains.

Although brief and simple, it was a beautiful ceremony, reminding us that we derive all sustenance from our Mother, in whatever form She comes, whether as our birth mother, our cow-mother, or our Divine Mother.

For puja booking at Amritapuri - contact puja@amritapuri.org