Goshala
Gaushalas or Goshalas (
Description
Goshala, a Sanskrit word ("Go" means cow and "Shala" means a shelter place: Go + Shala = shelter for cows), means the abode or sanctuary for cows, calves and oxen.[2]
History
The first Gaurakshini sabha (cow protection society) was established in Punjab in 1882.[3] The movement spread rapidly all over North India and to Bengal, Bombay, Madras presidencies and other central provinces. The organization rescued wandering cows and reclaimed them to groom them in places called gaushalas. Charitable networks developed all through North India to collect rice from individuals, pool the contributions, and re-sell them to fund the gaushalas. Signatures, up to 350,000 in some places, were collected to demand a ban on cow sacrifice.[4] Between 1880 and 1893, hundreds of gaushalas were opened.[5] Pathmeda godham is the largest Gaushala in India with over 85000 cows being sheltered in the small town of Pathmeda in southern Rajasthan.[6]
Government grants
Since the BJP government came into power in India in 2014, India has spent ₹5.8 billion (US$73 million) on cow shelters in between the years 2014 and 2016.[1]
To prevent unproductive cows being sent to the
Other sources of income
Donations are the only source of income for the Goshala. Some goshalas offer
See also
- Cow protection movement, India
- Cattle slaughter in India
- Cattle in religion
- Hinduism
- Cow house
References
- ^ a b "Cow urine can sell for more than milk in India". Bloomberg.com. 2016-07-18. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
- ^ "300 cattle head for goshala everyday". The Times of India. 2011-08-17. Archived from the original on 2013-11-10. Retrieved 2013-02-06.
- ISBN 978-0-7546-5612-8.
- ISBN 978-0-300-13721-7.
- ^ "Report of the National Commission on Cattle - Chapter I (10. Beginning of mass protests against cow-killings)". Dahd.nic.in. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Gupta, Abhinav (2016-04-13). "Shri Pathmeda Godham Mahatirth: World's largest cowshed". www.indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
- ^ Sharma, Yogima Seth. "Niti Aayog working on road map to develop Gaushala economy". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
- ^ "Shri Shaktidarshan Yogashram". Retrieved 2021-03-01.
External links
- Media related to Goshalas at Wikimedia Commons