भारतीय-गो-वैभवम्: Bharatiya Go-Vaibhavam a Comprehensive Account of the Various Facets of Indian Cows

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India enthusiasts are going through interesting times, given the global resurgence of interest in Indian heritage and indic culture. Never before have Indians celebrated their deep symbiotic and cultural relationship with cows without Facing derogatory epithets. It's disheartening to recall the demeaning attitudes of Some pseudo-secular towards India, as exemplified by the rank hypocrisy of Dravidian politicians, one of whom described the culture-loving North Indian states as "Go-mutra states in the hallowed halls of the Indian Parliament. Never before had Indians put much effort inti understanding what such behaviour was all about and why we needed to know more.

Our relationship with our Cows goes back deep into the Vedic or Pre-Vedic times, more than 9000 years ago. The priceless archaeological artefacts of the Sindhu-Saraswati civilisation, sometimes called the erstwhile 'Indus Valley civilisation, showcase how and why the Cows became part of our civilisational heritage, not just culturally but spiritually and philosophically as well. The recent excavations of some of these precious artefacts at Rakhigarhi-part of the Ghaggar-Hakra river basin in the Hissar district of Haryana-yet again prove the maturity of the Sindhu Saraswati civilisation as captured n these Harappan excavation sites. They show how these gentle animals were given a place of pride in our cultural landscape However, how many of us recall having read about it, let alone study all of this in our schools and within our educational setups? All this was deliberately erased from public memory due to the pursuit of a grandiose, disingenuous and patently foolish hack called 'secular education for a Modern India, that has resulted in most Indians getting to be insidiously trained to hate their Indicness and their heritage, even after sixty plus years past Independence. Yes, it was the continuation of the colonial mindset of self-loathing one's immensely profound cultural roots that the new "Brown Sahib rulers sought to achieve after taking over from their British masters post 1947.

All of the above would have been so obvious if we had conducted a survey or a test of the young high-school graduates in any urban habitations across India over the past ten or twenty years. Such informal studies would reveal their atrocious and superficial views of our core cultural and spiritual heritage. More so about the holistic and symbiotic relationship between humankind and a specific category of gentle, all-giving 'Bos Indicus, traditionally treated by us with due respect as a family

member. If we ask today's generation about Kamadhenu, Surabhi, Nandini, or Prshni, the mother of Maruts, or about the story of Punyakoti, invariably, we may get an apathetic shrug as though these were some alien names, irrelevant and not worth knowing. Otherwise, sometimes such information parades as being part of the Indian knowledge system, with confusing and contradictory variants that are concerning.

However, things are changing for good since the past decade. Young India is rising. Asking all the tough questions as to why we should continue to be culturally colonised in our minds with trash dumped by western-Indologists, and others who are unaware of the Indic resurgence. Young India is seeking answers that will help them in the journey to rediscover their roots and be proud of their culture and traditions, rather than feeling inferior or apologetic about it. This necessitates deep reading and understanding on three fronts: (a) Reading and understanding Indic authors like Sri Sita Ram Goel, Sri Ram Swarup, Sri Rajiv Malhotra, Sri Bala Gangadhara, or Sri S.L. Bhyrappa and other such eminent scholars, (b) Understanding what the young contemporary Indic scholars like Sri J Sai Deepak, Sri Vikram Sampath, Sri Anand Ranganathan and others have to say, and (c) Contemplating and interpreting stories and translations of ancient Indic wisdom by authors like Sri Bibek Debroy, Sri Amish Tripathy, Sri Ami Ganatra, and others. This journey of rediscovery for the Indic youth is best served with authentic information appropriately packed and presented in a contemporary way, and efforts like the 'Go-Vaibhavam' come in handy in such contexts. And why only for the youth? This journey of rediscovery is for all of us - including those who were victims of a period of history that reveals brazen prejudice against anything Indic.

I hope many such efforts blossom and truly serve their purpose to enlighten us Indians and Indic lovers so that we can be more authentic in relating to it and leveraging our cultural heritage, for all the truly universal causes

In the pursuit of preserving and honouring the rich heritage of Bharatiya Cow breeds, we proudly present 'Bharatiya Go-Vaibhavam'. This esteemed work, meticulously crafted by the scholars of the Samskriti Foundation, stands as a testament to our reverence for these sacred beings.

Central to this endeavour is the profound wisdom of Prof. M.A. Lakshmithathacharya, whose expertise in traditional Indian cow breeds has laid the foundation for this noble project. His vision and dedication have inspired us to explore deep into the essence of our Bharatiya cows and celebrate their significance in our culture. Beyond mere knowledge. Prof. M.A. Lakshmithathacharya immersed himself in the world of cows, spending countless hours understanding and preserving their heritage. His commitment went beyond academic study, as he lived and breathed the ethos of cow preservation, embodying the spirit of reverence and care that defines our relationship with these sacred animals.

We express our deepest gratitude to the Foundation for Indian Civilisation Studies, under the esteemed leadership of Sri Mohandas Pai and his wife Smt. Kusum Pai. Their solid support and sponsorship have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition, exemplifying a shared commitment to preserving our cultural heritage. Additionally, the invaluable contributions of Dr. T.S. Mohan, as the Managing Trustee of the Foundation for Indian Civilisation Studies, have been instrumental in shaping this project. His tireless efforts and steadfast dedication have ensured that the essence of our cultural heritage is preserved and celebrated in this comprehensive endeavour.

Sri L.K. Acharya, our talented Art Director, has brought the artwork in this book on cattle to life with his creative vision. We extend our heartfelt thanks for infusing the pages with vibrant depictions of our cultural heritage.

Dr. Amulya Bharadwaj, Research Associate at the Samskriti Foundation, has played a vital role in crafting this work, enriching the narrative and making it easily understandable t to all Sri R. Venkatesh, our Project Administrator and Sri S. Karthikeyan, Project Coordinator, at Samskriti Foundation have tirelessly worked to shape this endeavour into a masterpiece of love and compassion. Their dedication to excellence and attention to detail have ensured that each page of this work reflects the reverence with which it was created.

Additionally, we extend our gratitude to Guptha Printers, Mysuru, for their meticulous craftsmanship in bringing our ideas to life with their careful attention to detail.

It is through these collective efforts that 'Bharatiya Go-Vaibhavam' now stands as a beacon of cultural pride and reverence. As you read through this book, we hope that you feel our love and respect for the rich culture and heritage of Bharat. Let's keep honouring and cherishing the special connection between people and Indian Cattle, inspiring future generations with Go-Vaibhavam.

Bharatiya Go-Vaibhavam,' presented by the Samskriti Foundation is a sincere and scholarly attempt to comprehensively document the various facets of the greatness and piety of the Indian Cows. Much of the information available in this regard has been presented in an encapsulated form with extensive infographics to enable the readers to quickly grasp the essence of the subject matter. However, it is not an overstatement to say that, we have only touched the surface of the profound significance of the Indian cows in our culture. The knowledge within these pages serves as a mere introduction to the vast reservoir of wisdom found in our scriptures.

We encourage our readers to view this book as the starting point of a journey-an invitation to explore further the sacred connection between the Indian cows and our culture. By doing so, you not only deepen your understanding but also contribute to the preservation and promotion of this invaluable aspect of our heritage. Together, let us continue to uncover the layers of Bhāratīya Go-Vaibhavam, enriching our knowledge and ensuring that this cultural legacy remains a source of pride for generations to come....