Talk:Sacred cow

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[edit] Killing Cows Law

Um, the statement that killing cows in India is banned by law is, if anything, only partly true. The BJP tried to institute a no-slaughter law and were rebuffed the first time the BJP had power; they didn't try again. Muslims eat beef, and there are a LOT of Muslims in India. A2Kafir 03:10, 16 Oct 2004 (UTC)

It's also not the same for all species of Bos. Cow slaughter is banned in all Indian states except two. There are fewer restrictions on buffalo slaughter. India exports about 280.000 tons of buffalo meat every year... Prater 00:01, 11 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Does the "Recent Situation" section really belong on this page? Although the information is useful, the article is talking about the expression "sacred cow". The origin of the expression belongs here, but the current situation on slaughtering cattle in India seems to be a digression. Shanemcd 11:05, 16 Jul 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Use of Term in the West

I request from those with expertise and knowledge the following additions to this article:

- A brief tracking of the term "Sacred Cow" as an expression in the West. In my inexpert experience, it is used as a satiric description of anything that people are foolishly trying to preserve. (This implies a harsh judgment or ignorance of the related Hindu religious practices and beliefs.)

- The views of modern Hindus on this use of the term. (Does it cause offense, as I suspect it might?)

It may be a challenge, but I expect this content would be purely factual, with no judgments stated or implied.

Thanks, 199.233.178.253 19:10, 11 May 2006 (UTC)DK Johnson in Seattle, Washington, USA

[edit] Hello there...

Hello there. I have no academic expertise in this but I've studied Indian philosophy and visited S.Asia several times. I want to say clearly that the whole character of the article totally misses the point about these creatures; it's written from the frankly moronically discursive, explanatory perspective of Western Apollonian rationale. They are sacred not because Krishna was a cowherd or whatever simplistic notion but because of their inherent qualities, noted indeed also by the Egyptians and Mesopotamians. It's hard to convey this, you have instead to make your own observations, especially in the cows' setting in India: they're extraordinarily imperturbable, peaceful, sattvic, and the bulls fabulously virile, sexual and masculine. They embody the qualities of the divine as do no other creatures...—Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.93.21.130 (talk) 16:52, 30 September 2006

[edit] Sacred

The term 'sacred' is a christian word, so cows cant be sacred to dhramic religions like hinduism. should this be changed to other words?—Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.143.135.11 (talk) 00:34, 26 November 2006

[edit] Cows Sacred in Nepal

Cows are taken as sacred in Nepal. It is still taken as an illegal offense to kill cows and almost all of the Nepalese do not eat beef, even when they are abroad in foreign countries. Vedic religion or Hinduism has a deep root in Nepal in much ancient forms. A much greater studies can be conducted regarding the Hinduism practiced in Nepal, in addition to 'Kirat' presence in ancient times of Nepal. I believe Nepal has somewhat an 'aggressive' form of Hinduism.—Preceding unsigned comment added by JBBasnet (talk • contribs) 09:15, 8 December 2006

[edit] it's not sacred in balienese hinduism

that's what they said on the indonesia board.--D-Boy 03:09, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Kali the demon

No way can that demon in the pictures be Kali, for two reasons:

1. Kali is not a demon, but a violent, "dark" goddess associated with Shakti; so she would also hold the cow as sacred.
2. Kali is female, and as far as i can see, the demon looks male.

Could someone please check into this? --WoodElf 08:16, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

oops, its the demon Kali, not the goddess. My bad. --WoodElf 08:19, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cows Are Not Sacred

To quote QI - "There's no sacred cows in India. The term "sacred" is a Christian one; doesn't really apply to India. Even if it did, it wouldn't apply to cows. There are no cow deities, cow icons, cow statues, and no temples to cows. Cows are one of the few animals that are not the object of worship in India." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.142.42.229 (talk) 20:45, 29 September 2007 (UTC)