SpiritualThe expression go-mata, “mother cow,” has been used for centuries to express the special place this animal holds in Vedic culture. The cow not only nourishes with her milk but also embodies qualities of selfless giving and compassion that recall the unconditional love of a mother. When she lives in an environment of respect, free from violence and fed naturally, her milk is considered a pure and beneficial food—capable of strengthening both the physical body and the finer tissues of the brain—very different from the industrial milk of today. For this reason, the sages of antiquity recognized the cow as one of the seven mothers of humanity: the biological mother, the nurse, the wife of the spiritual master, the wife of the king, the wife of a brahmana, the Earth, and the cow, and they took her as a foundation of their ascetic life. Sundari and her son Jagannatha
Those who have lived with cows know that they are much more than milk producers: they have character, memory, emotions, and, above all, a remarkable capacity to form bonds with people. Sometimes they show gentleness, other times firmness, but they always awaken a response in those who relate to them sincerely. In this sense, the cow is not only a symbol of dharma but also a silent teacher who imparts lessons of patience, tenderness, and reciprocity.
In Rupa Goshala, this vision comes to life every day. Because the cows are treated with dignity and gratitude, regardless of whether they give milk or not, some have shown astonishing generosity, producing milk even without ever having had calves. Others have moved their caretakers with gestures of affection, intelligence, or unexpected protection. Such experiences show that the bond between humans and cows goes beyond utility: it is a spiritual and emotional connection that transforms whoever experiences it.
For this reason, speaking of go-mata is not merely to quote scriptures or repeat a philosophical understanding; it is also to listen to and appreciate the experiences of those who have lived with them. The stories that follow capture tender and revealing moments in which the cows of Rupa Goshala have leŌ an indelible mark on the hearts of both residents and visitors. *** Vraja-lila Devi Dasi has lived in New Vrajamandala for many years. At one point, she and her husband decided to bring a baby into this world. At that time there were no children on the farm, except for one girl who was already nearing adolescence. The atmosphere of mothers and children that she would have liked simply did not exist. She felt lonely, as she also missed her own mother. She was about to become a mother herself, yet there was no other mother to accompany her in those special moments that only another mother can truly understand. They had decided to raise their baby—who would latter be Gayatri, a beautiful girl—in an environment where she
Go-mata — Mother Cow
could develop her Krishna consciousness in a natural way. For that reason, they chose to live in New Vrajamandala. Even so, she still felt that absence and those feelings of loneliness.
“For me it was incredible, even if what I’m going to say sounds a bit mystical. I experienced it as something very real, very vivid. Krishna mothered me at that moment; He gave me what I needed through the cows. I felt loneliness, an emptiness, but when I went down to the goshala every day with my baby, that vacuum was filled with the love of the cows. Then I went back home completely nourished, completely at peace. I felt so comfortable, so accompanied, just by being there with mother cow every aŌernoon.” —Vraja-lila
Every aŌernoon, at four-thirty, Alberto the cowherd would call the cows in a loud voice: “Bolo, bolo, bolo!” Vraja-lila would hear that call, prompting her to get her baby ready and go down with her. On the way, they gathered flowers to offer to Krishna and to the cows—an experience that fulfilled her in every way.
“I remember that when I had that emotional need, I also drank the cows’ milk. It had a very positive effect on me, a sense of fullness and satisfaction that truly surprised me. It surprised me because it was something mystical. In that moment I was able to experience that we do not really appreciate or understand the mysticism of the mother cow, how she is truly a mother in every sense. She is not only a mother because she gives us milk. Mother cow is a mother who goes much further: she can sustain us emotionally like a mother, meet our needs like a mother... These cows are very special. It was a very beautiful experience, one I will never forget.” —Vraja-lila
Cows have the unique ability to offer comfort, love, and companionship in moments of need. Vraja-lila, like many others, is convinced that this experience was due to the fact that Krishna’s cows are special and allow us to live transcendental experiences. They are constantly hearing the holy name of the Lord, living among the devotees, receiving prasadam, and being deeply loved by their cowherds and by all the other devotees.
Another story I would like to share is that of Sundari and Dina Sharana. Sundari is a fierce cow with a difficult temperament; at first sight, she seems unfriendly. She commands respect and instills a certain fear. Seeing her expression, one might think she is always in a bad mood. She does not like visitors or human affection—or at least that is how it seems...
One day, Dina Sharana was tired and sad, almost on the verge of tears. He sat on a bench outside in the field. So absorbed was he in his emotions that he did not notice Sundari approaching. Suddenly, Sundari stood right in front of him. They were face to face. Dina Sharana had nowhere to go and no way to escape; he was cornered by her. Nor could he look away, for she was staring at him intently, as if she could see inside him. She looked at him as if to say, “What is wrong? Why are you so worried?”
Then Sundari came even closer. Sundari Rasa
“I was very afraid of being gored, but she licked my face, and I felt that I had nothing to worry about, that everything was going to be all right. Then I understood that the cow is pure love, that the cow is our mother and we are her children. It was something that touched my heart deeply and moved me greatly.” —Dina Sharana
An encounter of this kind is hardly seen in ordinary dairies devoted to livestock exploitation. In today’s society, the mistreatment and exploitation of cows represent a disconnection from these fundamental values. Srila Prabhupada warned that this materialistic and cruel aƫtude toward cows has consequences both on the spiritual and material levels:
One of the symptoms of the Age of Kali is the distressed condition of the cow. Milking the cow means drawing the principles of religion in a liquid form. The great ṛṣis and munis would live only on milk. The cow’s milk is also required for the sacrificial fire, and by performing sacrifices the householder can be happy. The cow’s calf not only is beautiful to look at, but also gives satisfaction to the cow, and so she delivers as much milk as possible. But in the Kali-yuga, the calves are separated from the cows as early as possible for purposes which may not be mentioned in these pages of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The cow stands with tears in her eyes, the śūdra milkman draws milk from the cow artificially, and when there is no milk the cow is sent to be slaughtered. These greatly sinful acts are responsible for all the troubles in present society. People do not know what they are doing in the name of economic development. The influence of Kali will keep them in the darkness of ignorance. Despite all endeavors for peace and prosperity, they must try to see the cows and the bulls happy in all respects. Foolish people do not know how one earns happiness by making the cows and bulls happy, but it is a fact by the law of nature. Let us take it from the authority of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and adopt the principles for the total happiness of humanity. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.17.3)
Parvati with her daughter Yamuna-mayi