Govatsa Dwadashi- Festival for Cow

Govatsa Dwadashi:

Govatsa Dwadashi is the day to worship the cow along with her calf. This is called as Guru Dwadasi in Andhra.This Vratam is  associated with the cow. The festival is observed on dwadashi Krishna paksha of karthika Masam.

 Cultural Beliefs:

According to these scriptures there are many legends Utanpad, a King was the one who started this fast on earth. His wife observed this fast and was as a consequence was blessed with a son. Thus, the childless couples should definitely observe this fast to obtain the pleasure of a child. People should worship the goddess Cow with pure heart and faith to get fruitful results.

 Lord Krishna was fond of cows. It is believed that all the gods and goddesses reside a cow. The items/products made of milk such as cottage cheese; kheer, curd etc. are used in havana and puja. Mixtures of five milk products are used for purification before the puja. The person observing Govatsa dwadashi fast should adopt brahmachari and sleep on the floor. The devotee should worship Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva with a pure heart. The observer is blessed with all kind of worldly pleasures in life.

Interesting Facts:

Protection of environment from the instability generated during the period of Deepavali. During the period of Deepavali the flow of Shakti filled with energy is activated in the environment. As a result the Earth’s environment is harmed at a subtle level. This causes instability in the environment. In order to save from the consequent harm, before Deepavali, the vratham of Govatsa Dwadashi has been recommended. On the day of Govatsa Dwadashi through the manifest frequencies of Sri Vishnu the stability is maintained in the environment.

How to Perform Govatsa Dwadashi vratham?

The person who is observing the fast should wake up early in the morning and take bath in a river. They should wear clean clothes after bath and take the resolution for fast. The food is only eaten only once in the day time. The cow is given bath along with its calf and adorned with flowers and clothes. Apply sandalwood on the forehead. Worship the cow with incenses, flowers, water, rice, copper while chanting the below given chant.

Kakshiroarnasambhute Surasuranskriteya|

Sarvdemaya Matarghanadharya Namo Namah|

After performing this ritual, the observer should feed food items made with urad dal to the cow. Chant the following mantra while doing this ritual.

Surabhi Twam Jagnmartdevi Vishnupade Sthita |

Sarvamaya Grasam Maya Datmiman Gras |

Tat Sarmeya Devi Sarverladkrite |

Martarmabhilashit Safalam Kuru Nandini |

Listen to Govatsa story and fast for the whole day. Remember the god you believe in and perform aarti in the evening before eating the food. This vratham is done by consuming one meal. However, in the meal cow milk and the dishes made from it and fried foods should not be consumed.

Scientific Reasons:

In the morning or evening the frequencies of Sri Vishnu in manifest form are attracted in the cow in higher proportion. These frequencies accelerate the unmanifest frequencies of Sri Vishnu in 10 % more proportion. After the worship, the cow should again be paid obeisance with spiritual emotion. If for any reason the worship of cow with sixteen substances is not possible, we can worship with five substances also. The worship of cow teaches us to view Divine Principle in every animate and inanimate object. The person observing a vratham acquires all the pleasures of life.