Holy Cow?
The media (and educational material used in schools) is quick to note that Hindus consider cows as sacred. They fail to note that it doesn’t stop there. Hinduism is rich in symbolism, and many things are considered sacred, ranging from all living things, to rivers, hills, space, time, language, mathematics, music, etc. It is the fault of the Western culture (a reflection of their level of maturity when it comes to spirituality?) that they chose to focus only on the cow. The cow (being a relatively docile animal) is symbolic of abundance and non-violence – not too different from the way the American bald eagle is to the USA symbolic of commitment to freedom and strength.
While the cow, like many things in Hinduism, is considered sacred, it is inaccurate to say Hindus are cow worshippers. There are not many temples where the cow is the temple deity. In fact any cow idols are fixed outside the garbha graha (the center where the temple’s main deity is housed), and looking in the direction of the deity. For example, the Nandi (cow/bull) looking in the direction of Shiva, or the peacock looking in the direction of Murugan, or the bird/kite Guradu looking in the direction of Vishnu, or that Meenakshi is always shown with parrot, or the crow that accompanies Shani. Hindu culture believes that god reveals Him/Her/Itself to different people in different ways, by different names and forms (including formless), such as Shiva, Vishnu, Durga, Meenakshi, Murugan, Kali, etc. (i.e. not just Christ or Allah, but allowing for many more expressions of faith).
Temples do maintain cows in their temple grounds, as also elephants, peacocks, and parrots to name a few other popular animals; not to mention plants like the neem tree, basil, turmeric, sandalwood (other cultures/faiths such as Christians also have the practice of keeping what they considered as sacred or auspicious plants in the vicinity of their monasteries).
But why is it that the cow of all animals gained popularity – as opposed to say a goat or a sheep? How the cow attained special status maybe traced to its its utility in the past (and even today): milk, ghee, yogurt, cowdung (dried cowdung rich is widely used in place of wood burning fuel, producing a blue gas flame, and is widely used as organic fertilizer), for plowing and for transport (of material and people) as bullock carts, hardworking, loyal, and even domesticated. If one were to consider the dog as man’s best friend, the cow was much more than that in India, as it was also a priceless asset to a family or to the village – even more so in a time period a few thousand years ago when the population of India was no more than a few million. Also, the cow, at that time in India, was the most visible symbol of compassion in the animal kingdom – the nurturing mother (it’s hard to not take notice of how a cow so carefully tenders its calf; and of how the calf stays within close vicinity of its mother).