Why should't we eat cow meat?

Diet in Hinduism

If we observe the usual prescribed diet system of different people from different caste in India we can understand the how conscious our forefathers were in the case of well being. Let us first of all observe a Brahmin's diet. They usually it vegetarian food with ghee, butter, milk etc. In ancient times we see that Brahmin's are people who never had much hard field works or physically stressful jobs. The most physically shaking job they had was cleaning the vessels and other materials for pooja ( Worship) they sat inside temples, teaching, chanting mantras, writing etc, for such people meat eating will lead to early diseases and body malfunctions. Next taking about "Kshtriyas", Kings ( the ruling class), they are said to have fish and meat day before war. Early men tells that its to invoke the asura nature in them, see it in a more scientific manner we understand that its just to make them more strong and increase stamina during battles. 

As we go down, we have more physically active people, people who climb tress, make weapons, labours, who work in building sites etc. Proteins are like long strings of amino acids that are linked together and folded into complex shapes.There are about 9 amino acids that we can not produce and must get from the diet. In this regard, animal proteins are excellent… they contain all the amino acids that we need, while most plant proteins have a suboptimal amino acid profile.Not surprisingly, consumption of animal protein is associated with increased muscle mass and people who eat an omnivorous diet have more muscle than people eating a vegetarian diet.

From this we understand that some part of the society was made vegetarians and other non vegetarians according to the job they handle.

Baudhayana says (Baudhayana Dharmasutra), carnivorous animals, tamed birds, pigs, cocks should not be eaten. Five toed animals, animals with cloven hoofs, birds that feed scratching with their feet, etc. may be eaten. Apastamba (Apastamba Dharmasutra) gives another list of animals not to be eaten. He also mentioned that during Shraddha meat should be offered to the ancestors.
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COW, Our second Mother

"The fiend who smears himself with flesh of cattle, with flesh of horses and of human bodies,
Who steals the milch-cow's milk away, O Agni,—tear off the heads of such with fiery fury.

The cow gives milk each year, O Man-regarder let not the Yātudhāna ever taste it.
If one would glut him with the biesting, Agni, pierce with thy flame his vitals as he meets thee."

- RIG VEDA

A pamphlet protesting against the Muslim practice of beef-eating. The demon Kali Purusha, Satan (far right) attempts to slaughter the sacred cow, represented by "the mother of cows" Kamadhenu in whose body all deities are believed to reside. The colour version ran by the Ravi Varma Press (c. 1912).

Cows have been giving great importance in our tradition from the beginning itself. As we drink the milk of a cow after our mother's milk, 'She' is seen as our second mother. Cutting and eating our mother for a taste in the tongue cannot be accepted. To add to the sensitivity of the case, the connection of cows with Lord Krishna of Dwaraka makes cows among gods in Indian tradition.

The ancient Egyptians sacrificed animals but not the cow, because it was sacred to goddess Hathor, and due to the contemporary Greek myth of Io, who had the form of a cow.

 Milk is one of the best sources of calcium for the body. Milk is filled with Vitamin D that helps the body absorb calcium. Proper calcium intake contributes to strong and healthy bones. Drinking milk provides other benefits such as healthy teeth, rehydration and improves vitamin intake.

Cow urine : 

1. Cow urine has amazing germicidal power to kill varieties of germs. All germ generated diseases are thus destroyed.
2. According to Ayurveda the cause of all diseases is the imbalance in three faults (tri-dosas) i.e. mucous, bile and air. Cow urine balances the tri-dosas, thus diseases are cured.
3. Cow urine corrects functioning of liver. So, liver makes healthy pure blood. It gives disease resistance power to the body.
4. There are some micro nutrients in our body, which give life strength. These micro nutrients are flushed out through urine. Therefore gradually ageing steps in our body. Cow urine has all elements, which compensate for deficiency of nutrients in our body, which are required for healthy life. Thus Cow urine stops ageing process. So it is called an elixir and also life giving.
5. Cow urine contains many minerals especially Copper, gold salts, etc. It compensates for bodily mineral deficiency. Presence of gold salts protects body against diseases.
6. Mental tension hurts nervous system. Cow urine is called medhya and hradya, which means it, gives strength to brain and heart. Thus cow urine protects heart and brain from damages caused by mental tension and protects these organs from disorders and diseases.
7. Excessive use of any medicine leaves some residue in our body. This residue causes diseases. Cow urine destroys the poisonous effects of residues and makes body disease free.
8. Electric currents (rays) which are present in the environment keep our body healthy. These rays in form of extremely small currents enter our body through Copper in our body. We get Copper from cow urine. To attract these electric waves is quality of Copper. Thus we become healthy.
9. By acting against the voice of soul (immoral & sinful action), the heart and mind become narrow minded. Due to this the functioning of body is effected and causes diseases. Cow urine provides mode of goodness. Thus helps us to perform correct activities by mind. Thus protects from diseases.
10. In scriptures some diseases are said to be due to sinful actions performed in previous lives which we have to bear. Ganga resides in cow urine. Ganga is destroyer of sins, thus cow urine destroys such previous sins and so diseases are cured.
11. The diseases caused by entrance of negative energies in body are cured by intake of cow urine.
12. By regularly taking cow urine before sickness, we get so much immunity that any attack of diseases is repulsed.
13. Cow urine being miraculous poison destroyer, destroys the disease caused by poison (Toxin). Extremely dangerous chemicals are purified by cow urine. Cow urine provides immunity power by increasing resistance power against diseases in human body. It is anti toxin.
14. “Sarve rogaah hi mandagnau” All diseases begin with mandagni (Low fire i.e. digestive capacity). If fire is strong, diseases won’t occur. Cow urine keeps the fire strong.

"gavyam pavitram ca rasayanam ca pathyam ca hrdyam balam buddhi syata

aayuh pradam rakt vikar hari tridosh hridrog vishapaham syata"

Meaning: Cow urine panchgavya is great elixir, proper diet, pleasing to heart, giver of mental and physical strength, enhances longevity. It balances bile, mucous and airs. Remover of heart diseases and effect of poison.

Cow dung : From a pure utility perspective, cow dung is one of the best forms of natural fertilizer. Application of cow dung for soil enrichment is an age old agricultural practice which was lost post introduction of chemical fertilizers. With rising demand for chemical free food and growing acceptance of organic farming, cow dung forms a very important link in chemical free farming.

Another growing trend is the use of cow dung in producing biogas, a cheap alternative source of energy that can be used as a fuel for cooking or to even produce electricity. Researchers at Hewlett Packard Co.’s HP Labs have found ways to power their data servers using cow manure. So its not just milk and food, but cows can even help us power our laptops and ipods!

But how about putting some cow manure all over your house? Sounds yucky, well its not really so, cow dung plasters are commonly found in many Indian homes. Cow dung, also hailed for its anti-bacterial properties, is the best natural disinfectant. In any typical Indian village it not uncommon to find the entire floor of the house coated with some fresh cow dung paste. Cow dung mixed with lime is also used to coat the walls of cob houses. Recent research findings from independent groups in University of Bristol and Sage college in Troy, NY, show cow dung to be an excellent mood enhancing agent. Cow dung contains a bacteria Mycobacterium vaccae, which activates a group of neurons in the brain that produce serotonin – a neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well being and happiness. So the next time you’re feeling depressed try walking into a cow barn and get a lungful of the fresh fragrance of cow dung.

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In India, many rulers of the Mughal Empire had imposed a ban on the slaughter of cows because of the large Hindu and Jain populations of the country.

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 Cow was seen as magical creature, as descendants of  Kamadhenu. Let's discuss a story...

Kamadhenu

Kamadhenu is the caring and majestic mother of all cattle in the world. Once,on seeing how hard her children on earth were being made to work, she wept with sorrow.Indra, the king of devas saw her weeping and asked her what the matter was. She told him that her children were being beaten and overworked , which caused her great pain.

Touched by her sorrow, Indra commanded the heavens to open and the rain to fall. It poured for days and the water made it impossible for the fields to be ploughed. As a result, Kamadhenu's children got some much needed rest.

Kamadhenu is said to live in Goloka, a place above heaven, earth and the Patalok. This special abode was given by Lord Brahma, the creator. 

From the above story you may have understood the importance the Indian tradition gives to the sacred cows.  Cows Are Too Nice to Eat,Cows are gentle, social animals. Each cow has the ability to recognize more than 100 other cows, and they form close friendships with members of their herd. Researchers report that cows grieve when their friends or family members die.According to research, cows are generally very intelligent animals who can remember things for a long time. Animal behaviorists have found that cows interact in socially complex ways, developing friendships over time and sometimes holding grudges against other cows who treat them badly.

These gentle giants mourn the deaths of and even separation from those they love, even shedding tears over their loss. The mother-calf bond is particularly strong, and there are countless reports of mother cows who continue to frantically call and search for their babies after the calves have been taken away and sold to veal or beef farms.Researchers have found that not only can cows figure out problems, they also, like humans, enjoy the intellectual challenge and get excited when they find a solution.

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"Killing such an animal 

is brutality and cannibalism" 
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- Nalanda