Skip to content Gosamrakshana: Protecting and Preserving Cows
Gosamrakshana’, or the preservation of cows, has always been a significant activity for the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
It has been an ancient practice for the Hindus to donate cows to temples to facilitate ‘Go Puja’ and also to meet the temple’s requirements. Devotees visiting Sri Venkateswara temple also followed the practice since time immemorial as a form of fulfilment of vow.
‘Sri Venkateswara Gosamrakshanasala’, the livestock-related arm of the TTD functioned from various premises during varying periods, viz., near Govindaraja Swamy temple, DPW Stores at Alipiri, and Mahati Auditorium in Tirupati, before moving over to the present location on Thummalagunta Road near Tirupati, A.P.
Go Puja Before Pilgrimage
Branches have been established at Palamaner and Bhakarapet to take up localised activities, while a ‘Gajasala’ is functioning at Tiruchanur to serve the needs of Sri Padmavati Ammavari temple. The Tirumala Goshala has also been strengthened and additional animals deployed over time. Recently, Sri Venkateswara ‘Saptha Gopradakshinasala’ was opened at Alipiri to facilitate the devotees to perform ‘Go Puja’ before embarking on their holy pilgrimage to Tirumala.
Two Activities Related to Cow
The TTD is committed to its avowed policy of encouraging native cow breeds and reviving the traditional varieties, some of which are on the verge of extinction. There are two activities related to the cow. On one hand, the TTD accepts cows as donations from the devotees and on the other, cows are also distributed free of cost to farmers and temples on request.
Donation of Cows
There is a stipulated process for accepting cows as donations. Donors or cattle-rearers willing to donate their cows to the TTD will have to visit their local veterinarian, get a brucellosis test conducted on the animal to certify its health condition.
Upon getting a negative result, the devotee will have to take a prior appointment with the dairy farm by contacting the TTD’s call centre at 0877–2277777 and then physically bring the animal to the dairy farm compound. Donations of hybrid, HF and jersey animals are not accepted.
For Cow-based Agriculture
The other stream of cow-based activity is distribution to the needy, which has gained prominence in the recent past. For promoting cow-based agriculture, the TTD has made a tripartite agreement with AP MARKFED and Rythu Sadhikarika Samstha (RSS) to encourage farmers to grow crops naturally, i.e., by using cow dung and cow urine as manure.
Farmers interested in procuring cows or bulls from the TTD will have to apply to the RSS, which will send its representatives to consult the farmers, identify their needs and select the beneficiaries as per the eligibility criteria.
SRI VENKATESWARA SAPTHA GO PRADAKSHINA MANDIRAM
Alipiri, the foot of Tirumala hills, has a new landmark for cow worship, which is called ‘Sri Venkateswara Saptha Go Pradakshina Mandiram’. The idea behind the TTD coming up with the concept is to let the pilgrims do ‘Pradakshana’ to cows and calves. The complex also has a temple with the deity of Sri Venugopala Swamy, where Puja will be offered every day.
Another major attraction here is a ‘Go Thulabaram’, which is similar to the one used by pilgrims to weigh products against their weight, to be donated as part of the fulfilment of their vow. The difference in this case is that the products donated to the temple are weighed against the weight of a cow.
Gudiko Gomatha
Under the flagship scheme ‘Gudiko Gomatha’, the TTD donates a cow and a calf to a local temple that has the basic infrastructure and funds for maintenance. After the officials visit the temples and inspect the facility, the cow and the calf are safely transported in the TTD’s truck to the temple.
Nitya Go Puja in all TTD Temples
The idea behind distributing cows and calves to rural temples is to promote the culture of ‘Go Puja’ among the public. As in the past, the villagers can once again make it a habit to pray to the cow before leaving for work. Similarly, the milk and curd generated can be used as ‘Naivedyam’ at the temple.
The TTD has already placed a cow and calf to perform ‘Nitya Go Puja’ at its Tirumala temple, Tiruchanur temple, Sri Govindaraja Swamy temple, Kapila Theertham temple, Sri Kodandarama Swamy temple and Sri Kalyana Venkateswara temple at Srinivasa Mangapuram.
The interesting point is that the TTD distributes non-milch cattle to the farmers, i.e., the cows that have stopped yielding milk. This is done to send the message to society that a cow, even if it loses its milk-yielding capacity, is still useful for its dung and urine to preserve soil fertility.
People who view the cow only as a source of revenue through milk will have to understand that it can serve the farmer, his family, the soil and the entire environment till its last breath. Similarly, native bulls are given to farmers for traditionally ploughing the soil.
Products with Natural Farming in Tirumala Temple Kitchen
There is an inherent advantage in using native cow or bull in agriculture. To encourage ‘Go Adharitha Vyavasayam’, the TTD offers top priority to procuring such naturally-grown products from such certified farmers. Products such as rice, sugar, jaggery, turmeric, dal etc., grown under natural farming methods, are procured by the TTD at a premium rate compared to the market price of products grown in normal methods with chemical fertilisers.
These products are used in temple kitchens to be offered to Lord Venkateswara as ‘Prasadam’ made of pristine and unadulterated food grains. The ultimate goal is to reintroduce the natural farming method to the farmers and make the world free from chemical residue.
The TTD donates all forms of healthy cows to farmers and provides shelter to the aged, infirm and injured cows. It not only offers the cows in its dairy farm as donation to the deserving farmers, but also those housed in other financially stressed Goshalas. In a way, the TTD has volunteered to augment the supply of cattle from fellow Goshalas to meet the rising demand from the enthusiastic farmers.
Wherever the native cow, a symbol of prosperity, is worshipped and cared for, it is considered paradise on earth. The endeavour of the TTD is to convert every village into a paradise by distributing the cows to the farmers.
