iscowp wrote:
----- Original Message -----
From: Kaushik, Abhilash-HPS
Abhilash.Kaushik@hpsglobal.com
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2000 5:35 AM
I don't know if you can help me or not. I just picked this address from a
web site of yours.
I have a question. I am a hindu and want to confirm if killing a cow is
illegal in India or not?
From:
Tarakadas@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2000 1:47 AM
Subject: Cow killing in India
Dear Prabhus:
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
CNN recently reported on cow killing in India. Read the article at this
URL:
http://www.cnn.com/ASIANOW/time/magazine/2000/0529/india.cows.html
Your servant,
Taraka dasa
From: Janesvara (das) HKS (Almvik - S)
Janesvara.HKS@pamho.net
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 8:34 PM
Subject: killing of cows
Hare Krishna, pamho. AGt Srila Prabhupada!
We have a problem with the commune/government in Sweden, they want to kill
two of our cows because they are suffering of old age. They refer to a law
that protect domestic animals from suffering.
One question which we actually don't know the answer to here in ALmvik is
whether it is not possible to "help" a cow to die at the fag end. Those
who are taking care of the cows say it's sometimes a very long and
obviously painful process before they die. In other words: is the
prohibition to kill a cow absolute, 100,00% applicable?
Someone has been in a similar situation and can give a good advice?
ys Janesvara das
From: ISCOWP (Balabhadra Dasa & Chaya Dasi - USA)
ISCOWP@pamho.net
Sent: 09 June 2000 21:06
To: Mukhya (dd) (Askerod - S); Cow (Protection and related issues)
Subject: Re: killing of cows
Hare Krishna, pamho. AGt Srila Prabhupada!
We have a problem with the commune/government in Sweden, they want to
kill two of our cows because they are suffering of old age. They refer
to a law that protect domestic animals from suffering.
One question which we actually don't know the answer to here in ALmvik
is whether it is not possible to "help" a cow to die at the fag end.
Those who are taking care of the cows say it's sometimes a very long and
obviously painful process before they die. In other words: is the
prohibition to kill a cow absolute, 100,00% applicable?
Someone has been in a similar situation and can give a good advice?
ys Janesvara das
Dear Janesvara Prabhu,
PAMHO. AGTSP.
Yes the prohibition to kill a cow is absolute, 100% applicable! As you
know according to scripture and Srila Prabhupada the cow is your mother
because she gives you milk and the bull is your father because he tills
the earth to give you grain. Would you kill your mother and father at
their fag end? If Srila Prabhupada were alive on the planet today and you
asked him if you could kill your old mother because you did not want to
see her suffer by dying a natural death, what do you think he would say?
This is not the Vedic understanding that you interfere with your mother or
father's destiny, their karmic rewards or punishments. Just as with humans
cows can die quietly and swiftly and they can die slowly and in pain. It
all depends on their Karma. Who are you to interfere? Are you God? The cow
is in the mode of goodness and if she dies naturally according to her
time, minimum, she will get a human birth in her next life, what to speak
of cows who are living with devotees and have been protected all their
lives. They are exalted souls. If we interfere with the laws of nature and
hinder them in their passage to their next birth, this is an offense on
our part.
In regards to your government having some policy that they must kill old
cows to prevent suffering; you must be exemplary in your Goshala. If you
keep everything very clean and nice clean bedding for these older cows and
they are very comfortable as much as possible, they will see that whatever
suffering is coming will be minimized and that these cows are loved. In
addition it would be prudent to keep such older cows in a more private
area where they can receive more personal care and are not in the
government's face. If you have been aware of their policy, you must begin
to set a policy yourselves as how to deal with it that is in compliance
with the scriptures and Srila Prabhupada's vision of cow protection.
We have discussed this in length in the cow conference and the Minimum Cow
Protection Standards (ISKCON Law 507) states the prohibition. You can ask
further questions as to how to deal with a dying cow to the cow
conference, cow@pamho.net . It is never
easy to take care of a soul that is leaving their dying body,whether it is
human or cow, but it is our responsibility to be their caregiver in a
Krsna conscious manner.
STANDARD I PROTECTION
Recommended:
6) Death
a) A dying cow should be kept as comfortable as possible and given as much
association and transcendental sound vibrations as possible. There should
be access to water and food.
Not Allowed
2) Death due to the following conditions:
a) Failure to provide adequate feed, shelter, safety measures and health
care.
b) Performing euthanasia
c) Placing a sick cow in a situation where he/she will be trampled, eaten,
frozen, etc. causing death.
3) Neglecting the cow while she dies. Not providing feed and water.
Bhagavad-gita
Bg 14.16
PURPORT:
Of all kinds of animal killing, the killing of cows is most vicious
because the cow gives us all kinds of pleasure by supplying milk. Cow
slaughter is an act of the grossest type of ignorance. In the Vedic
literature (Rg Veda 9.4.64) the words gobhih prinita-matsaram indicate
that one who, being fully satisfied by milk, is desirous of killing the
cow is in the grossest ignorance.
Your servant,
Balabhadra das
ISKCON Minister for Cow Protection and Agriculture
From: Vipramukhya Swami
Vipramukhya.Swami@pamho.net
Sent: 16 June 2000 16:20
To: Mukhya (dd) (Askerod - S)
Cc: Cow (Protection and related issues)
Subject: killing of cows
One question which we actually don't know the
answer to here in ALmvik is whether it is not possible to "help" a cow
to die at the fag end. Those who are taking care of the cows say it's
sometimes a very long and obviously painful process before they die. In
other words: is the prohibition to kill a cow absolute, 100,00%
applicable?
The cows should be allowed to die of natural causes.
You can try to make her as comfortable as possible, providing a blanket
and tape recorder to play Srila Prabhupada bhajans, etc. Death is always
difficult, but we try to help by making the best arrangement that is
possible under the circumstances.
Under no circumstances may a cow be killed.
Your servant,
Vipramukhya Swami
