The Cow

Kaliyuga

In Kaliyuga all is chaos and turbulence and according to Shiva Purana, cows, in particular, suffer a lot at human hands, and are left to rummage around for food not worthy of consumption by this noble animal. It is said that in politics only the wicked will succeed and misuse power. Cows born in Kaliyuga will come to grief. The intimacy and care showered upon them in earlier yugas will disappear.

Like the other ‘revered’ mother, the river, she will be stuffed with things that choke her to death. The river too is Kamadhenu, the holy cow pressed into the most unimaginable service in the human world.

According to Puranic literature, the cow of rta or order was standing on four legs in Satyuga namely sat, dhyana, dharma and aryaman. In the Treta the leg of sat is the first to go, then in Dvapar the leg of dhyana also disappears leaving only dharma and aryaman and, finally, in Kaliyuga even dharma leaves, leaving the cow on one leg.

Metaphorically speaking, the story of the cow can be linked with the evolution of mankind. In Satyuga, nature balances everything, a healthy body with good karma where the precepts of dharma are being followed so naturally, the human assumes dhyana avastha. The decline of values in yugas leads to an increase in karma kandas, leading to troubled times.

In Kaliyuga, there is even more pressing the need for the return of the other three legs to balance the cow. But there is also a chance to evolve in this age. Ancient sages believe that with only a little effort through dhyana avastha – sat and dhyana can be achieved.


But this is a path full of maya and obstacles as Kali, the presiding deity of this yuga, says, “Only if I let them think right, only if I let them reflect on the Supreme Being.”

Ms. Teji Grover