The Extraordinary Potential of Ghir Cows An Ayurvedic perspective on cow farming MILK IN INDIA, is not just a drink, it is an elixir. For almost every Indian — rich or poor — the idea of a daily glass of milk holds a potent and emotional charge. It speaks of parental devotion, well-being and health. This faith in the power of milk is well-grounded: it is the primary nutrient for the young and the old. Nearly 63 percent of animal protein in the Indian diet comes from dairy products. For vegetarians, there is simply no alternative. Cow’s milk is often the only source of animal protein that certain Hindus will eat and is processed into curd (yogurt), paneer (fresh cheese), butter, buttermilk, chai (milk tea), and ghee (clarified butter). Without the services and products that cattle provide, life would be more laborious for humans and arguably less delicious. The idea of the cow, of course, is also emotionally charged because of its mythical place in Hindu iconography, religion and culture: it is quite literally worshipped as goddess Kamdhenu: the cow of plenty. For centuries, India’s tribal people have lived, worked, and died along side their cattle. Cattle are revered for their gifts to humanity – labor, food, material goods, and medicine. Maybe more than any other culture in the world, Indians have found multiple uses for cattle and their products. The Ghir Breed is mostly used for its milk. A Ghir Cow fed with a particular type of food is known to produce milk with medicinal value and is particularly acclaimed for giving milk that contains conjugated lineolic acid, which has been proven to be an anti-cancer compound. According to Ayurveda, cow’s milk provides special and unique nutrition that cannot be derived from any other type of food. Milk, when digested properly, nourishes all the tissues, promotes balanced emotions and helps to balance all the Doshas (bodily energies). It is one of the most important foods to promote Ojas (strength & vitality). At Ayurveda Yoga Villa, our Ghir Cows are left to roam freely in the forest every morning where they find a wide variety of herbs and leaves and an abundance of natural seeds. They also receive coconut cakes, ground nut cakes, sesame seed cakes, wheat and maize, to name just a few of their delicious and nutritious treats… Once a year during monsoon season, our cows receive special Ayurvedic tonics and medicines to ensure vibrant health and well- being throughout the year and special devotional rituals (poojas) are performed for the cows 6 times per year.
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The Extraordinary Potential of Ghir Cows An Ayurvedic perspective on cow farming
MILK IN INDIA, is not just a drink, it is an elixir. For
almost every Indian — rich or poor — the idea of a daily
glass of milk holds a potent and emotional charge. It
speaks of parental devotion, well-being and health. This
faith in the power of milk is well-grounded: it is the
primary nutrient for the young and the old. Nearly 63
percent of animal protein in the Indian diet comes from
dairy products. For vegetarians, there is simply no
alternative. Cow’s milk is often the only source of animal
protein that certain Hindus will eat and is processed into
curd (yogurt), paneer (fresh cheese), butter, buttermilk,
chai (milk tea), and ghee (clarified butter). Without the
services and products that cattle provide, life would be
more laborious for humans and arguably less delicious.
The idea of the cow, of course, is also emotionally
charged because of its mythical place in Hindu
iconography, religion and culture: it is quite literally
worshipped as goddess Kamdhenu: the cow of plenty.
For centuries, India’s tribal people have lived, worked,
and died along side their cattle. Cattle are revered for
their gifts to humanity – labor, food, material goods, and
medicine. Maybe more than any other culture in the
world, Indians have found multiple uses for cattle and
their products.
The Ghir Breed is mostly used for its milk. A Ghir Cow
fed with a particular type of food is known to produce milk
with medicinal value and is particularly acclaimed for
giving milk that contains conjugated lineolic acid, which
has been proven to be an anti-cancer compound.
According to Ayurveda, cow’s milk provides special and
unique nutrition that cannot be derived from any other
type of food. Milk, when digested properly, nourishes all
the tissues, promotes balanced emotions and helps to
balance all the Doshas (bodily energies). It is one of the
most important foods to promote Ojas (strength &
vitality).
At Ayurveda Yoga Villa, our Ghir Cows are
left to roam freely in the forest every morning
where they find a wide variety of herbs and
leaves and an abundance of natural seeds.
They also receive coconut cakes, ground nut
cakes, sesame seed cakes, wheat and
maize, to name just a few of their delicious
and nutritious treats…
Once a year during monsoon season, our
cows receive special Ayurvedic tonics and
medicines to ensure vibrant health and well-
being throughout the year and special
devotional rituals (poojas) are performed for
the cows 6 times per year.
The Ghir Breed
More than just dairy cows…
Ghir Cows are a variety of wild cows originating in Gujurat.
One of the more uncommon characteristics of this breed is
the very prominent hump on their backs which absorbs and
stocks solar energy. Their bodies are of moderate shape
and size and are said to be a reflection of divine energy.
The milking of these cows is usually done in the early
mornings when Mother Nature’s divine energy is abundantly
available. This, and the calm and peaceful demeanor of
Ghir Cows makes their milk remarkably effective in treating
a large variety of ailments.
At Ayurveda Yoga Villa, the milk obtained from our cows is
used for medicinal preparation, for rejuvenating the body
and revitalizing pranic energy and for Pooja purposes. The
buttermilk obtained after removing its fat is used to treat
various abdominal diseases and for treating intestinal
tumors. Regular intake of buttermilk obtained from Ghir
cattle is a preventative measure against various abdominal
diseases. The buttermilk can also be utilized in treating
various skin diseases and as a mixing agent for the
preparation of herbal pastes used for external application.
Ghee
The milk of cows and especially the Ghir breed, is
considered to possess the essence of all plants and ghee is
the essence of milk... In India, ghee has been so highly
regarded for so many things, for so long, that composing a
comprehensive list of its abundant uses and benefits is
almost an impossible task!
The ingestion of ghee is like offering the finest of fuels into
the fire of digestion – Agni. In accord with this, ghee builds
the aura, makes all the organs soft, builds up the internal
juices of the body and increase the most refined element of
digestion – Ojas, the underlying basis of all immunity and
the “essence of all bodily tissues”.
The ghee obtained using the milk of Ayurveda Yoga Villa’s
Ghir cows is used for Pooja and Yajna (vedic rituals) and for
5 caregivers ensure the well-being of Ayurveda Yoga Villa’s cows around the clock, from milking & grazing in
the early mornings to bathing, brushing, feeding and various other treats in the afternoons and evenings…
Introducing Rajan, one of 3 bulls on the Ayurveda Yoga Villa farm and by far the most impressive! He
is the pride and joy of his owner Ajith…
the preparation of medicinal ghee which are of
hundreds of varieties and used in all sorts of treatments
in our centers.
Panchakarma is the traditional Ayurvedic method of
detoxifying, purifying and rejuvenating the body by
ridding it of accumulated toxins. Ghee is an important
ingredient of Panchakarma therapy. It is used in the
preparatory step- purvakarma, where a small amount of
ghee is given first thing in the morning to the patient to
oleate the internal organs and “dissolve” the toxic
wastes accumulated in the tissues, allowing them to be
carried to the digestive tract for elimination. Ghee has
ultimate penetrating qualities and is used as a “carrier”
in Ayurveda. It helps to carry the herbs deep into the
tissues where they are needed. Thus it enhances the
utility of the herbs and medicines administered to the
patient.
Panchagavya
Panchagavya is derived from a Sanskrit word and
means the blending of 5 products obtained from cows.
These 5 products are individually called “gavya” and
collectively termed as “panchagavya”. It contains ghee,
milk, curd, cow dung and cow urine. It is considered as
a gift from the heavens for the absolute well-being and
good health of human beings. The ancient scriptures
speak very highly of the divinity and significance of
panchagavya in human life. It is believed that
consumption of panchagavya results in the removal of
physical as well as mental disorders and is an
enhancer of life force energy, physical strength and life
span.
Organic farms also benefit greatly from a cow derived
product called Dasagavya. Dasagavya is an organic
fertilizer and pesticide made from ten ingredients in the
form of Panchagavya, mixed with five plant extracts
which have miraculous effects on plant growth.
Ayurveda Yoga Villa’s organic vegetable garden
receives this blessed mixture on a regular basis, thus
guaranteeing the fertility of the land and the purity of its
harvests.
Cows are divine animals that are dearly loved by Indians hence,
they are regarded as our Mother. Kamdhenu Mata is the Cow
Goddess in which 330 million Gods are united.
The Ghir Cow Breed is very social and the cattle spend lots of time licking, touching and
cuddling with each other.
As cows are considered an integral part of the family in India, it is not uncommon to see them
entering homes looking for a little TLC…
www.ayurvedayogavilla.com
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