Shrimadjagadguru Shankaracharya Sree Sree Raghaveshvarbharati Mahaswami
Shimoga: The Chief of the Shriramchandrapur hermitage, Shrimadjagadguru Shankaracharya Sree Sree Raghaveshvar-bharati Mahaswami was the one who conceptualised the idea of organising the ‘Vishva Go-Sammelan’ (Universal Congregation of cow protagonists) with the aim of making the world aware of the greatness of Mother Cow which began on 21st April 2007. The Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri. H.D. Kumarswami inaugurated the congregation. The Chief of the Aadichunchungiri hermitage Sree Balgangadharnath Swamiji and Sree Rangapriya Deshikendra Swamiji of the Ashtangyog Vidnyan Temple, Bangalore were two saints who graced this occasion with their valuable presence. The Karnataka Government is prepared to provide a new life to cows and to declare the Sree Ramchandrapur hermitage as a ‘tourist spot’. The Karnataka Chief Minister Shri. H.D. Kumarswami when addressing the gathering proclaimed that the government is willing to give full assistance to the cause of protection of cows.
The cow is as sacred as the 33 crore deities whose frequencies the Mother Cow is capable of attracting. All of us know how Govardhan Giridhar Lord Shrikrushna crushed the ego of Lord Indra by worshipping the cow. When speaking on the dais the Shrimadjagadguru Shankaracharya Sree Sree Raghaveshvarbharati Mahaswami proclaimed that weighing the cow on a balance as a ritual (tulabar) was equivalent to performing the same ritual for all deities and that the fruit of both actions was the same.
Further He said, “Today in India every minute 20 cows are being slaughtered, annually 2 Crore and 40 Lakh cows are butchered. That is why today we have only 33 species of cows existing on the earth, the rest have become extinct. This ‘Vishva Go-Sammelan’ will serve as a historical landmark in the transformation of this trend, towards protecting calves and enhancing their development.
This conference is expected to continue for a week till 29th April 2007 and approximately 1 Crore protectors of the cow are expected to attend it.
Important programmes at the congregation
The programmes scheduled to be conducted during the congregation are performing the ritual of Kamdhenu Mahayag (fire sacrifice), Kamdhenu sankirtan(singing the glory of the cow), Punyakoti tulabhar (ritual of weighing cows), Kamdhenu rathotsav (chariot procession of the cow), worship of Kamdhenu, Gopal Gaurav (felicitation of cowherds who excel in tending to their cows, by Swamiji), Gomahadan (offering of cows by Swamiji), Go mahima gaan (debate on the Mother Cow), Go-chikitsa (analysis of cows), Rushi-Raj-Samaj sabha (meeting of saints and holy men, politicians and citizens).In addition to this everyday there will be discourses and cultural programmes on various subjects to explain the greatness of the cow.
Active participation of the Sanatan Sanstha and the HJS
Both the Sanatan Sanstha and the HJS are actively participating in this congregation. To commemorate this event the Sanatan Sanstha has published a special issue on “Protection of the Cow” which is being distributed at the venue of the congregation. Besides the Sanatan Sanstha has also organised an exhibition of its holy texts on religion, Spirituality, the nation and Ayurveda. Another attraction here is the exhibition of photographs of brutal, inhuman attacks of terrorists on Hindus in Kashmir and Bangladesh organised by the HJS in collaboration with the FACT (Fighting against Continuing Terrorism) organisation and is the first of its kind in Karnataka.
Source: Daily Sanatan Prabhat
