Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand expresses concern over decline in cow population

Metro India News | FEROZABAD

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati of Jyotirmath on Monday expressed serious concern over the sharp decline in India’s cow population and urged immediate steps for cow protection (Gau Raksha). Addressing several public meetings in Agra and Firozabad districts, the Shankaracharya stated that at the time of Independence, India had 80–90 crore cows. Today, the number of pure indigenous breed cows has come down to just 2 crore, out of which around 80,000 are slaughtered daily.

He said this is the last opportunity to save the cow, warning that if immediate action is not taken, they may soon be seen only in history like dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. The Shankaracharya administered a pledge to all present to contribute their best efforts for cow protection. He also appointed Pandit Sachin Chaturvedi as his representative for the Agra region. Shankaracharya Maharaj emphasized the central place of the cow in Hindu tradition. 

He explained that ghee is needed to light lamps, panchamrit for abhishek, cow dung to purify the worship place, and milk for aarti. The Shankaracharya strongly criticized the policy of providing free electricity to slaughterhouses while temples have to pay electricity bills even for a single bulb. He urged people to identify leaders who misuse their votes and blacklist them.