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Cow-protection and cow-worship

   
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 Given below is an English translation of Savarkar’s assorted views on cow-protection
and cow-worship.
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Gratitude to the cow is consistent with the Hindu trait of compassion towards all living
beings
…That we should look upon that extremely useful animal (cow) with the same affection as for a
family member is no doubt in keeping with humanism. To protect and sustain the cow is our
personal and familial duty. At least in the case of Hindusthan, it is also our national duty.
…To have a feeling of gratitude towards an animal that is so useful to us is particularly consistent
with the Hindu trait of compassion towards all living beings. (1936,  vidnyannishtha nibandha or
pro-science essays, Samagra Savarkar vangmaya, Vol. 3, p.340)
Cow is worthy of protection so long as this serves humanitarian and national interests
Animals such as the cow and buffalo and trees such as banyan and peepal are useful to man, hence
we are fond of them; to that extent we might even consider them worthy of worship; their
protection, sustenance and well-being is our duty, in that sense alone it is also our  dharma! Does it
not follow then that when under certain circumstances, that animal or tree becomes a source of
trouble to mankind, it ceases to be worthy of sustenance or protection and as such its destruction is
in humanitarian or national interests and becomes a human or national dharma? (Samaj Chitre or
portraits of society, Samagra Savarkar vangmaya, Vol. 2, p.678)
…When humanitarian interests are not served and in fact harmed by the cow and when
humanism is shamed, self-defeating extreme cow protection should be rejected…(Samagra
Savarkar vangmaya, Vol. 3, p.341)
…A substance is edible to the extent that it is beneficial to man. Attributing religious qualities to it
gives it a godly status. Such a superstitious mindset destroys the nation’s intellect.
(1935, Savarkaranchya goshti or tales of Savarkar, Samagra Savarkar vangmaya, Vol. 2, p.559)
Protect the cow, do not merely worship it
I criticized the false notions involved in cow worship with the aim of removing the chaff and
preserving the essence so that cow protection may be better achieved. A worshipful attitude is
necessary for protection. But it is improper to forget the duty of cow protection and indulging only
in worship. The word ‘only’ used here is important. First protect the cow and then worship it if you
so desire. (1938,  Swatantryaveer Savarkar: Hindu Mahasabha parva or the phase of the Hindu
Mahasabha, p. 173)
Do genuine cow protection
…Without spreading religious superstition, let the movement for cow protection be based and
popularized on clear-cut and experimental economic and scientific principles. Then alone shall we
achieve genuine cow protection like the Americans. (1934,  Samagra Savarkar vangmaya,  Vol. 3,
p.171)
The cow should not be the emblem of the Hindu nation
The cow is but a milch symbol of the Hindu nation. By no means should it be considered its
emblem (*Savarkar’s exact words are: gaay hi hindurashtraachaa ek dugdhabindu! Maanbindu
navhech navhe!). The object of worship should be greater than its worshipper. Likewise, a national
emblem should evoke the nation’s exemplary valour, brilliance, aspirations and make its people
superhumans! The cow exploited and eaten at will, is an appropriate symbol of our present-day
weakness. But at least the Hindu nation of tomorrow should not have such a pitiable symbol.
(1936, Ksha kirane or X rays, Samagra Savarkar vangmaya, Vol. 3, p.237)
The symbol of Hindutva is not the cow but the man-lion (*Nrsinha or Narsimha is considered the
fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was half-man, half-lion).
The qualities of god permeate into his worshipper. Whilst considering the cow to be divine and
worshipping her, the entire Hindu nation became docile like the cow. It started eating grass. If we
are to now found our nation on the basis of an animal, let that animal be the lion. Using its sharp
claws in one leap, the lion fatally knocks and wounds the heads of wild mammoths. We need to
worship such a Nrsinha. That and not the cow’s hooves, is the mark of Hindutva. (1935, Ksha
kirane or X rays, Samagra Savarkar vangmaya, Vol. 3, p.167)
The non-Hindus should discard their hatred for the cow and do genuine cow protection
…The religious character that Hindus have given to cow protection howsoever naïve is not
symptomatic of cruelty. This is because protecting animals such as cows and buffaloes that are
extremely useful to man have an objective of safeguarding human interests. But the religious
fanaticism of those non-Hindus whose religion itself is based on hatred for the cow is not only
naïve but also cruel. They have no right whatsoever to mock at the Hindus.
There is an overdose of gratitude, compassion, notion of all living beings being one in the cow
worship of Hindus. But the cow slaughter indulged in by non-Hindus has an excess of cruelty,
ungratefulness and demonic  (asuric)  taking of life. It is not religious madness but irreligious
wickedness. For this reason, these non-Hindus should discard their ‘religious’ cow hatred and
consider cow protection done for economic reasons to be their duty. (1935,  Ksha kirane or X rays,
Samagra Savarkar vangmaya, Vol. 3, p.171-172)