Our mission is Cow Protection.

Krishi Go Raksha

LAUNCH GOFUNDCOWS

TRIBUTE TO BHAKTI CARU SWAMI

Our mission is Cow Protection.

Krishi Go Raksha

Welcome to ISKCON GBC Ministry of Cow Protection & Agriculture

Established in 1998, the Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture has been inspiring, educating and advising ISKCON cow protection centers and farms on developing sustainable projects based on caring for cows and the proper utilization of land.
Today, ISKCON operates with over 100 farms and goshalas around the globe, with innumerable affiliate projects. It is our hope and ultimate faith that the connection with Mother Earth and Mother Cow will become a visible and divine reality for the spiritual upliftment of humanity.

“If human society wants to be exalted, the leaders of society must follow the instructions of Bhagavad-gītā and give protection to the cows, the brāhmaṇas and brahminical culture.”

–Srimad Bhagavatam 8.24.5 Purport

History

ISKCON

Cow Protection

Purpose

Growth

“Krishna said at that time that the cows are worshiped even by the demigods, and He practically demonstrated how to protect the cows. At least people who are in Krishna consciousness should follow in His footsteps and give all protection to the cows. Cows are worshiped not only by the demigods. Kṛṣṇa Himself worshiped the cows on several occasions, especially on the days of Gopāṣṭamī and Govardhana-pūjā.”

–Nectar of Devotion

WHY COW PROTECTION

Sacred

Goshalas

Like a Mother

Caring Benefits

“The proprietor of all land, the maintainer of all land, to give pleasure to the people of all land, is Govinda, Kṛṣṇa. And He is the protector, and pleasing to the cows. You have seen many pictures of Kṛṣṇa, He is a loving cow. Why not another animal? Why particularly cow? Because cow protection is the most important business of human society.”

–December 4th 1968 Lecture

WHAT WE DO

The ISKCON Ministry of Cow Protection is dedicated to spreading not only awareness of cow protection as much as possible, but also to providing assistance and opportunities to both existing and up-and-coming cow protection communities. The ministry is currently aiming to:

Training Programs

Conferences & Seminars

Funding

Publications

“Therefore this cow protection and expansion of brahminical culture is essential throughout the whole world. But we should not think that brahminical culture is only limited within India. No. What is created by Kṛṣṇa, or God, that is not for a particular country or particular nation. It is meant for everyone.”

–Initiation Lecture March 17th, 1972

VOLUNTEER

The ISKCON Ministry of Cow Protection is dedicated to spreading not only awareness of cow protection as much as possible, but also to providing assistance and opportunities to both existing and up-and-coming cow protection communities. The ministry is currently aiming to:

Communicate With Us

Visit A Goshala

Spread the Word

Stay Connected

“This Krishna consciousness movement is for the protection of brahminical culture and cows. Then automatically, the peace of the world will come, if these two things are done.”

— December 4th 1968 Lecture

GALLERY

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“This Krishna consciousness movement is for the protection of brahminical culture and cows. Then automatically, the peace of the world will come, if these two things are done.”

— December 4th 1968 Lecture

CONTACT US

If you have any queries or would like to get involved, please contact us by filling the form below.

ISKCON

With over 650 major centers, temples and rural communities worldwide, nearly one hundred affiliated restaurants, thousands of local meeting groups in homes, community projects and beyond, and millions of congregational members, the International Society for Krishna Conscious (ISKCON), otherwise known as the Hare Krishna Movement, has boomed since its founding just over fifty years ago by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Cow Protection

According to Srila Prabhupada, that unity and peace could not be gained without establishing the pillar of cow protection. “Without milk,” he often declared, “you cannot develop the finer tissues of your brain. And without developing the finer tissues of the brain it is impossible to understand what is God, what we are, and what is our relationship with Him.” Even more clearly he emphatically states, “But especially, we request cow protection because it is ordered by Lord Krishna. Go- raksya: ‘protect the cows’ that is our duty.”

Srila Prabhupada was firm in his stance that the way to bring civilization back towards the path of godliness and behavior that would soothe the mind and body, and enrich the soul, was to introduce cow protection as widely as possible. He would often say that any civilization that lacked cow protection could not be called human civilization at all.

Purpose

In 1966 when ISKCON was incorporated, Srila Prabhupada established seven prime purposes of the movement, the first of which is to educate as many people as possible in the techniques of spiritual life in order to check the current imbalance of values often seen in the lives, minds, and hearts of those struggling through modern, material life. This for him and many of the Gaudiya Vaishnava saints that he took inspiration from was the key to attaining real unity and peace in the world. The ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture furthers bases its activities around the seventh purpose of ISKCON which is to bring the members closer together for the purpose of teaching a simpler and more natural way of life.

Growth

From humble beginnings in rural New Vrindaban– one of ISKCON’s first agricultural and cow protection communities in the west, established in 1968 under the direct guidance of Srila Prabhupada and his disciples– the mission of cow protection has spread to over 100 goshalas, farms and communities both large and small throughout the world.

These centers were just the beginning of the overall vision which Srila Prabhupada had in regards to caring for cows. He envisioned self- sustainable communities which were able to support not only themselves but other metropolitan Hare Krishna centers, and the world at large, so that everyone throughout the world would benefit from the unique blessings and good fortune that arise when the relationship between civilization, the cows, and the earth is given the utmost honor and respect.

Sacred Animal

Protecting cows as sacred animals is common knowledge within India where Srila Prabhupada spent the majority of his life until, at the age of seventy, he made a month long trek by cargo ship to America to spread the knowledge and culture that could save the entire world, Krishna culture.

Gaushala

It is for this reason that goshalas, or protective shelters for cows exist in many places in India, and now, thanks to the vision of Srila Prabhupada and the governing managerial heads of ISKCON, throughout the whole world. The establishment and upkeep of these goshalas and farming communities form the core function upon which the ministry of cow protection operates.

Like a Mother

Within the Vedic tradition from which the Hare Krishna movement derives its belief system and structure, the cow is considered to be like a mother for all humanity. Because cows supply so many of the vital necessities of human civilization in the form of products for sustenance, cow dung which is often used as fuel, and manual labor used by farmers to help plow fields and transport crops, cows and bulls are regarded within vedic society with the same respect and care that parents are afforded. Just as one wouldn’t harm or kill their parents, those who consider themselves to be godly people following the vedic paradigm seek not only to do no harm to these innocent animals, but to give them as much protection as possible.

Caring Benefits

The many benefits of caring for cows and spending time with them have been recorded from vedic times all the way to the present.

Milk products are used not only for consumption, but within worship as well. Both cow dung and urine are scientifically noted to contain antiseptic qualities, making for powerful tinctures with untold medicinal properties.
*And spending time with cows has now been linked with stress relief and serves as a powerful means of combating anxiety.

TAll of these benefits combine to show just why cow protection has always been viewed as one of the most integral parts of civilization.

Establish Training Programs

Establish training programs and set protocols for goshalas which can help others imbibe the history and unique values of cow protection as stated in our vedic scriptures and by Srila Prabhupada himself. The ministry hopes to present such important information in a way that works synergistically and in cooperation with modern research and teaching institutes with knowledge of agriculture and farming. The hope is to produce, dedicated teams of highly qualified individuals who can create, maintain and even expand such projects.

Conferences & Seminars

Organize conferences and seminars so that individuals have places to gather and learn first hand the systems, wonders and benefits of cow protection. After these seminars conclude, those who have attended would be able to take the information that they gathered back to their respective areas and begin their own groups. With the “each-one-teach-one” model the message of cow protection can spread quickly and effectively.

Funding

Raise funds. This is the chance for everyone, even those who may not be able to personally care for cows, to get involved in Srila Prabhupada’s vision for humanity at large By joining hands and contributing whatever funds possible, whether large or small, we can not only keep the current cow protection projects thriving, but we can grow the mission of cow protection to grand new heights.

Publications

Publish resource material and eventually establish libraries and resource centers in order to spread to all corners of the world the benefits of cow protection and the motto of “simple living, high thinking” which was often suggested by Srila Prabhupada as the model on which the whole world would be able to create the most harmonious civilization.

Communicate With Us

Contact us and let us know the ways in which you would be able to get involved with the ministry. Whether you have knowledge of agriculture, cow protection, or even contact with others who do, every little bit counts. Let us know if you have an area, yoga studio, school, or group who would be interested in learning more about cow protection and what the ministry and goshalas do and how they operate. Your time is a valuable donation that we hold very dear.

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Visit A Goshala

We can put you in contact with the goshala nearest you and you can contact them to find out if they have open house dates, times when you might be able to visit the cows and serve them in person. A sure way to bring cow protection into your heart is to step into the place where these beautiful living entities reside and sit with them for a while. The cows enjoy the interactions, we can learn immense amounts about how to care for them, and they’ve proven to be some of the best listeners on the planet! A little cow-therapy might change your whole day!

Spread the Word

Tell your friends, tell your family, tell anyone you know about the amazing projects which have been established in order to further this bold, life saving mission of cow protection. Even telling just one person can make a difference. One of the best ways to show gratitude for the things we consider important is to tell someone else. That word of mouth is the foundation for a revolution.

Stay Connected

Join our mailing list and our social media pages to stay up to date on all of the latest news, projects, seminars, and festivals organized by the ministry of cow protection and all of the different goshalas. Not only will you have a chance to hear from us, but we will get a chance to hear from you. Please feel free to write to us and let us know how our Gomata has made a difference in your life or your community.

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