The Importance of Cows in Sikhism

Can't believe no one started this thread or (if they did) I can't believe I didn't find it. Cows are so important in Sikhism, how could anyone miss it???
Well, let me show you.

Click on "view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok" to see line in context of the shabad.

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Page 133, Line 7
ਧੇਨੁ ਦੁਧੈ ਤੇ ਬਾਹਰੀ ਕਿਤੈ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਕਾਮ ॥
धेनु दुधै ते बाहरी कितै न आवै काम ॥
Ḏẖėn ḏuḏẖai ṯė bāhrī kiṯai na āvai kām.
Without milk, a cow serves no purpose.
Guru Arjan Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 141, Line 19
ਨਦੀਆ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਧੇਣਵਾ ਸੁੰਮ ਹੋਵਹਿ ਦੁਧੁ ਘੀਉ ॥
नदीआ होवहि धेणवा सुम होवहि दुधु घीउ ॥
Naḏī*ā hoveh ḏẖėṇvā summ hoveh ḏuḏẖ gẖī*o.
If the rivers became cows, giving milk, and the spring water became milk and ghee;
Guru Nanak Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 150, Line 5
ਵੁਠੈ ਘਾਹੁ ਚਰਹਿ ਨਿਤਿ ਸੁਰਹੀ ਸਾ ਧਨ ਦਹੀ ਵਿਲੋਵੈ ॥
वुठै घाहु चरहि निति सुरही सा धन दही विलोवै ॥
vuṯẖai gẖāhu cẖareh niṯ surhī sā ḏẖan ḏahī vilovai.
When it rains, the cows always have grass to graze upon, and housewives can churn the milk into butter.
Guru Nanak Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 265, Line 5
ਕਾਮਧੇਨ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਮ ॥
कामधेन हरि हरि गुण गाम ॥
Kāmḏẖėn har har guṇ gām.
The Khaamadhayn, the cow of miraculous powers, is the singing of the Glory of the Lord's Name, Har, Har.
Guru Arjan Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 354, Line 14
ਦੁਧ ਬਿਨੁ ਧੇਨੁ ਪੰਖ ਬਿਨੁ ਪੰਖੀ ਜਲ ਬਿਨੁ ਉਤਭੁਜ ਕਾਮਿ ਨਾਹੀ ॥
दुध बिनु धेनु पंख बिनु पंखी जल बिनु उतभुज कामि नाही ॥
Ḏuḏẖ bin ḏẖėn pankẖ bin pankẖī jal bin uṯ*bẖuj kām nāhī.
A cow without milk; a bird without wings; a garden without water - totally useless!
Guru Nanak Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 471, Line 15
ਗਊ ਬਿਰਾਹਮਣ ਕਉ ਕਰੁ ਲਾਵਹੁ ਗੋਬਰਿ ਤਰਣੁ ਨ ਜਾਈ ॥
गऊ बिराहमण कउ करु लावहु गोबरि तरणु न जाई ॥
Ga*ū birāhmaṇ ka*o kar lāvhu gobar ṯaraṇ na jā*ī.
They tax the cows and the Brahmins, but the cow-dung they apply to their kitchen will not save them.
Guru Nanak Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok



MY FAV!!!
Page 481, Line 12
ਦੇਖਤ ਸਿੰਘੁ ਚਰਾਵਤ ਗਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
देखत सिंघु चरावत गाई ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Ḏėkẖaṯ singẖ cẖarāvaṯ gā*ī. ||1|| rahā*o.
I saw the lion herding the cows. ||1||Pause||
Devotee Kabir - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Another fav!!
Page 482, Line 13
ਹਮ ਗੋਰੂ ਤੁਮ ਗੁਆਰ ਗੁਸਾਈ ਜਨਮ ਜਨਮ ਰਖਵਾਰੇ ॥
हम गोरू तुम गुआर गुसाई जनम जनम रखवारे ॥
Ham gorū ṯum gu*ār gusā*ī janam janam rakẖvārė.
I am a cow, and You are the herdsman, the Sustainer of the World. You are my Saving Grace, lifetime after lifetime.
Devotee Kabir - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 487, Line 18
ਰਵਿਦਾਸੁ ਢੁਵੰਤਾ ਢੋਰ ਨੀਤਿ ਤਿਨਿ ਤਿਆਗੀ ਮਾਇਆ ॥
रविदासु ढुवंता ढोर नीति तिनि तिआगी माइआ ॥
Raviḏās dẖuvanṯā dẖor nīṯ ṯin ṯi*āgī mā*i*ā.
Ravi Daas, who used to carry dead cows every day, renounced the world of Maya.
Guru Arjan Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 669, Line 19
ਇਛਾ ਪੂਰਕੁ ਸਰਬ ਸੁਖਦਾਤਾ ਹਰਿ ਜਾ ਕੈ ਵਸਿ ਹੈ ਕਾਮਧੇਨਾ ॥
इछा पूरकु सरब सुखदाता हरि जा कै वसि है कामधेना ॥
Icẖẖā pūrak sarab sukẖ*ḏāṯa har jā kai vas hai kāmḏẖėnā.
The Lord is the Fulfiller of desires, the Giver of total peace; the Kaamadhaynaa, the wish-fulfilling cow, is in His power.
Guru Ram Das - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok



Another fav!!
Page 1021, Line 4
ਆਪੇ ਗਊ ਆਪੇ ਰਖਵਾਲਾ ॥
आपे गऊ आपे रखवाला ॥
Āpė ga*ū āpė rakẖvālā.
You Yourself are the cows, and You yourself are their keeper.
Guru Nanak Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


(talking about beginning of time)
Page 1036, Line 1
ਦੇਉ ਨ ਦੇਹੁਰਾ ਗਊ ਗਾਇਤ੍ਰੀ ॥
देउ न देहुरा गऊ गाइत्री ॥
Ḏė*o na ḏėhurā ga*ū gā*iṯarī.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sikh-youth/22775-the-importance-of-cows-in-sikhism.html
There were no demi-gods or temples, no cows or Gaayatri prayer.
Guru Nanak Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok



Page 1083, Line 4
ਆਪੇ ਗਊ ਚਰਾਵੈ ਬਾਨਾ ॥
आपे गऊ चरावै बाना ॥
Āpė ga*ū cẖarāvai bānā.
He Himself grazes the cows in the forest.
Guru Arjan Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok



Awwwww!!!
Page 1118, Line 9
ਜਿਉ ਬਛੁਰਾ ਦੇਖਿ ਗਊ ਸੁਖੁ ਮਾਨੈ ਤਿਉ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਰਿ ਗਲਿ ਲਾਵੀਐ ਰੇ ॥੪॥੧॥
जिउ बछुरा देखि गऊ सुखु मानै तिउ नानक हरि गलि लावीऐ रे ॥४॥१॥
Ji*o bacẖẖurā ḏėkẖ ga*ū sukẖ mānai ṯi*o Nānak har gal lāvī*ai rė. ||4||1||
Like the cow, which is happy upon seeing her calf, O Lord, please hug Nanak close in Your Embrace. ||4||1||
Guru Ram Das - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok



Page 1166, Line 6
ਨਾਮਾ ਪ੍ਰਣਵੈ ਸੇਲ ਮਸੇਲ ॥
नामा प्रणवै सेल मसेल ॥
Nāmā paraṇvai sėl masėl.
Naam Dayv prayed, and milked the cow.
Devotee Namdev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 1166, Line 8
ਬਖਸੀ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਮੈ ਤੇਰੀ ਗਾਇ ॥੨੨॥
बखसी हिंदू मै तेरी गाइ ॥२२॥
Bakẖsī hinḏū mai ṯėrī gā*ė. ||22||
Forgive me, please, O Hindu; I am just a cow before you.||22||
Devotee Namdev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 1190, Line 11
ਆਪੇ ਬਛਰੂ ਗਊ ਖੀਰੁ ॥
आपे बछरू गऊ खीरु ॥
Āpė bacẖẖrū ga*ū kẖīr.
He Himself is the calf, the cow and the milk.
Guru Nanak Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 1195, Line 9
ਗੋਬਰੁ ਜੂਠਾ ਚਉਕਾ ਜੂਠਾ ਜੂਠੀ ਦੀਨੀ ਕਾਰਾ ॥
गोबरु जूठा चउका जूठा जूठी दीनी कारा ॥
Gobar jūṯẖā cẖa*ukā jūṯẖā jūṯẖī ḏīnī kārā.
Impure is the cow dung, and impure is the kitchen square. Impure are the lines that mark it off.
Devotee Kabir - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok



hehe! No this is talking about being too busy in your pleasures to care about anything else.
Page 1196, Line 16
ਸੁਰਹ ਕੀ ਜੈਸੀ ਤੇਰੀ ਚਾਲ ॥
सुरह की जैसी तेरी चाल ॥
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22775
Surah kī jaisī ṯėrī cẖāl.
You walk like a cow.
Devotee Kabir - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


Page 1295, Line 13
ਹਰਿ ਕੇ ਸੰਤ ਮਿਲੇ ਹਰਿ ਮਿਲਿਆ ਜੈਸੇ ਗਊ ਦੇਖਿ ਬਛਰਾਕ ॥੨॥
हरि के संत मिले हरि मिलिआ जैसे गऊ देखि बछराक ॥२॥
Har kė sanṯ milė har mili*ā jaisė ga*ū ḏėkẖ bacẖẖrāk. ||2||
Meeting with the Lord's Saints, I meet with the Lord, just as when the calf is seen - the cow is there as well. ||2||
Guru Ram Das - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok


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ਬ੍ਰਹਮਣ ਕੈਲੀ ਘਾਤੁ ਕੰਞਕਾ ਅਣਚਾਰੀ ਕਾ ਧਾਨੁ ॥
ब्रहमण कैली घातु कंञका अणचारी का धानु ॥
Barahmaṇ kailī gẖāṯ kañkā aṇcẖārī kā ḏẖān.
If a Brahmin kills a cow or a female infant, and accepts the offerings of an evil person,
ਫਿਟਕ ਫਿਟਕਾ ਕੋੜੁ ਬਦੀਆ ਸਦਾ ਸਦਾ ਅਭਿਮਾਨੁ ॥
फिटक फिटका कोड़ु बदीआ सदा सदा अभिमानु ॥
Fitak fitkā koṛ baḏī*ā saḏā saḏā abẖimān.
he is cursed with the leprosy of curses and criticism; he is forever and ever filled with egotistical pride.
ਪਾਹਿ ਏਤੇ ਜਾਹਿ ਵੀਸਰਿ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਇਕੁ ਨਾਮੁ ॥
पाहि एते जाहि वीसरि नानका इकु नामु ॥
Pāhi ėṯė jāhi vīsar nānkā ik nām.
One who forgets the Naam, O Nanak, is covered by countless sins.
ਸਭ ਬੁਧੀ ਜਾਲੀਅਹਿ ਇਕੁ ਰਹੈ ਤਤੁ ਗਿਆਨੁ ॥੪॥
सभ बुधी जालीअहि इकु रहै ततु गिआनु ॥४॥
Sabẖ buḏẖī jālī*ah ik rahai ṯaṯ gi*ān. ||4||
Let all wisdom be burnt away, except for the essence of spiritual wisdom. ||4||
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And that's how important cows are in Sikhism! Hope you all enjoyed.:p
If you still don't see how "imporant" they are, then you are a cow. :p Click here to see why.

Remember kids,
Page 141, Line 1
ਹਕੁ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਉਸੁ ਸੂਅਰ ਉਸੁ ਗਾਇ ॥
हकु पराइआ नानका उसु सूअर उसु गाइ ॥
Hak parā*i*ā nānkā us sū*ar us gā*ė.
: To take what rightfully belongs to another, is like a Muslim eating pork, or a Hindu eating beef.
Guru Nanak Dev - view Shabad/Paurhi/Salok

Forgot one last quote, .

Fateh!

 
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The intellect of the mind is like a drunken elephant. Whatever one utters is totally false, the most false of the false. - Guru Nanak, 351

Nice post Bhagat.

Antonia we should add that to our animals in gurbani thread. I notice many variations of the word used for cow amongst the shabads you quoted.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=22775

I did read a few early accounts of Europeans saying how Sikhs did not each beef but everything else but I think this was more majority influence on them than anything doctrinal.

True.
Ya, I figured out after I posted that my thread did not belong in this section.
Added one last quote right at the end.

So long as we consume milk derived products, cows would be our mothers. Haaaa

Why not cows and bees? Milk and honey. Once I get a normal Internet connection/situation restored I will do that.

I think the cow is as important as any other animal. I don't think it has any spiritual, sacredness, significance or sense of purity unlike Hinduism, in Sikhism.

That is demonstrated starkly, as you really don't see cows wandering willy nilly in roads etc in Punjab.

I think the Dam Dami Taksal does have some reverence for cows, because in their Rehat Maryada there is something about not hurting a black cow.