By The word “Gho” means cow in Sanskrit Language. Thus “Gho Pooja” means worship of the cow. According to Sanathana Dharma Gho Pooja is an important daily worship procedure. Spiritually the cow is so pure that millions and millions of deities take residence in and around the cow.
Worshiping Goddess Kamadhenu on Fridays then Goddess Lakshmi will bless you with Abundance. In India, cows have been treated as sacred and as personification of Goddess Kamadhenu. According to Sanathana Dharma Goddess Kamadhenu is a cosmos where all the Gods, Goddess, Devas including the Trinity (Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma along with their Consorts) reside. It is also stated that offering prayers to Goddess Kamadhenu is equivalent to worshipping our ancestors and hence it is considered to be auspicious to feed the cows. They are worshipped every day and has a very major significance in family rituals. The cow is called as Kamadhenu, the wish-fulfilling sacred cow. Puranas and SanathanaDharma say that Mother Kamadhenu (“Gho Matha”) emanated from the milky ocean while the Devas and Asuras were churning the ocean and she was taken into possession by Devas. As Kamadhenu fulfilled the wishes of all, the Devas flourished with her divine grace.
Once upon a time Kamadhenu left the Devas and reached the Ashram of Sage Vasishta. The Brahma Rishi started Kamadhenu Pooja (worshipping of the sacred cow). King Dileepa was blessed with a child with the divine grace of Kamadhenu and he performed Kamadhenu Pooja as per the instructions of the Brahma Rishi. It is said that Vasishtar was an inspiration for all to understand the importance of “Gho Pooja” and the benefits that could be accrued through this worship.According to Sanathana Dharma the performance of Gho pooja along with Lakshmi Homa is significantly important as many benefits are accrued through this ritual.
When Lord Krishna taught a lesson to Indra by lifting Govardhan, with embarrassment Indra asked for an apology and gifted a cow to please Krishna. There Indra named him as “Govinda”. Krishna also named “Gopal” because of his service to the cows. Krishna used to take the cows in the forests and would even milk cows while in Braj Bhumi. He treated cows with utmost care. When he would play flute cows would stop eating and start crying. When Krishna went to Mathura cows would not even eat, they were deeply saddened by Krishna’s absence. Krishna told his beloved cousin Uddhava that he can be worshiped by offering cow grass and other suitable grains. Worshiping cow equals to worshiping Krishna.
This tells us about how important it is for us to take care of an animal that even Krishna adored. A little scratch to cows also doesn’t please Krishna. One who is serious in his devotional life, one who wants Krishna and his love cannot ignore the importance of a cow.
Krishna is kind with those who save cows and protect them. He is delighted by any effort done to serve a cow and he never even forgets us if we benefit the cow. As an animal cow is very lovable, simple and gentle, what we can do to serve her is we can buy grain for her, feed her every time we get an opportunity and we can donate the cow to an institution where they are treated with utmost care.
Lets worship and server Gho Mata. When we service and be loving to Gho Mata.. we automatically become more dear to Krishna. Jai Gho Mata!! Jai Sri Krishna!!
