‘Don’t regard cow as mere eco-utility’

Metro India News | KANPUR 

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, head of the Jyotish Peeth of the Uttaramnaya tradition, addressed public gatherings in Kanpur as part of the ongoing 81-day “Gopratishtha (Religious Campaign for Cow Protection)” yatra, which began on May 3 and is scheduled to conclude on July 24, 2026. During the event, attendees collectively recited the Vedic mantra “Aham Hanam Vritram Gavishtau” and pledged their support for cow protection.

Addressing the gathering, the Shankaracharya questioned what he described as a contradiction between public sentiment and government policy regarding cows. He stated that during the course of the yatra, organizers had interacted with millions of people across more than 100 legislative assembly constituencies and asked whether they considered the cow to be a “mother” or merely an “animal.” According to him, no respondent had identified the cow solely as an animal, while government institutions continue to classify cows as livestock.

The religious leader emphasized that cows should not be regarded merely as sources of milk or economic utility but as sacred beings that provide blessings throughout their lives. He asserted that many aspects of Indian civilization and traditional livelihoods had historically been sustained through the contributions of cattle.

During the Kanpur event, social worker Manoj Kumar, who has been associated with the Hanuman Seva Sangathan for the past two years, will lead a campaign to collect voluntary contributions ranging from Rs 1 to Rs 500 from households across the constituency for the construction of a “Gaudham,” or cow shelter and care facility. The Gopratishtha Yatra, which commenced in Gorakhpur on May 3, 2026, is currently traveling through all 403 legislative assembly constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. 

Organizers stated that if no substantial action is taken by the government before the conclusion of the 81-day campaign, a large gathering is planned in Lucknow on July 24, 2026. At that event, they intend to announce the next phase of the movement, with organizers claiming participation by an “Akshauhini Sena” of 218,700 religious volunteers. The information was released by Sanjay Pandey, media coordinator for the Shankaracharya.