COWS have been a valuable part of human civilization since their domestication more than 10,000 years ago. From producing milk that nourishes our bodies to providing rich fertilizer that grows our crops, cows have sustained human life and human activities across multiple eras of human existence. But once humans deem cows no longer useful, these cows are mercilessly thrown out of their homes onto the streets where they face starvation, abuse, accidents and live miserable lives. But organizations such as Shree Krishnayan Desi Gauraksha Avam Golokdham Sewa Samiti, also called Krishnayan Gaushala, rescue abandoned cows from the streets and bring them into their safe and spacious cow shelter where the cows have a home, nutritious food, medical care and the affection of all the people in Krishnayan Gaushala.
Krishnayan Gaushala was founded by Swami Ishwar Das in Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand in 2010. He started his cow shelter or gaushala with just eleven cows and since that time, the organization has nurtured and cared for more than 21,000 cows and bulls. From Haridwar, Krishnayan Gaushala expanded to other locations in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Jharkhand. Swami Ishwar Das shares that when the cows suffered on the harsh streets, he felt their pain and that is the reason he started Krishnayan Gaushala. On a recent visit to the organization, we spoke to Swami Ishwar Das. Listen to his passionate words and get a glimpse of the organization’s shelter in this short video:
How abandoned cows suffer on the streets
When cows become too old and are considered to be “of no further value” to their owners, they are abandoned and left to fend for themselves. These cows are suddenly pushed out onto the streets and have no food to eat so they begin to eat garbage, scraps of paper and other material found on the streets but this causes infections, serious illnesses and even death. Lacking food and water is hard enough for animals who have been cared for all their lives, but the animals also have to contend with the dangerous streets where accidents and collisions are common. Having been hit by vehicles or even abused by people who have no concern for these nurturing animals, the cows suffer from painful maggot-infested wounds and broken bones and sadly meet a sorrowful end, alone and afraid.
Krishnayan Gaushala’s 15-acre shelter for cows
The NGO founded by Swami Ishwar Das has rescued and nurtured abandoned cows for fourteen years. For these cows, Krishnayan Gaushala has a 15-acre space where the cows are fed a nutritious mix of grains, jaggery, edible oil, rock salt, green and dry fodder to restore their health and strength. The NGO also provides medical treatment for cows who are injured and need lifelong medical care and the Krishnayan Gaushala team provides both urgent aid and long-term support. In this particular cow shelter, the NGO supports 3,500 cows who are in need of the organization’s care. Krishnayan Gaushala also cares about the lives of these animals and believes it is important to return the nurturing care that cows have given to people all their lives. Led by this belief, Krishnayan Gaushala is more than a shelter – it is a home.
Swami Ishwar Das’s heart for mistreated cows
Krishnayan Gaushala’s founder Swami Ishwar Das shares an incident that he witnessed in 2010. “I saw abandoned cows from the streets of Uttarakhand being transported in a truck. The cows were administered anesthesia and stacked one above the other like lifeless goods. When I and a few others managed to take the cows off the truck, two of the cows died right before my eyes and that shook me to the core. It was then that I started Krishnayan Gaushala with 11 abandoned cows in a small parcel of donated land.” Since that time, the organization has earned the appreciation of people from across India, a land where cows are cherished, have spiritual significance and are regarded with fondness and affection. But the abandonment still occurs and for them, Swami Ishwar Das offers solace.
How cows live at Krishnayan Gaushala
In the Krishnayan Gaushala cow shelter, the cows that are taken in include old, injured, infirm and diseased cows who have been abandoned in an unceremonious manner after having supplied milk for their entire adult lives. The cows have a large space to graze at the shelter and have round-the-clock care from the organization’s team of doctors and caregivers. Krishnayan Gaushala also has an animal hospital, cowsheds and husk stores where fresh and nutritious fodder is prepared for the cows to keep them in good health. But above all, the good treatment that the cows receive is in stark contrast to the harsh and cruel treatment on the streets or when being transported. This love and affection shines through each day at the cow shelter which cares for and protects indigenous Indian cows.
How your donation will help Swami Ishwar Das
When you support Krishnayan Gaushala on Give.do, you help the organization maintain its cow shelter, prepare fresh and nutritious food, provide medical treatment and continue to care for these precious cows for the rest of their lives. The cost of food and medicines for the shelter’s cows has tripled and Swami Ishwar Das is asking generous donors to extend their help so that Krishnayan Gaushala can continue to offer care and support to abandoned cows. To support Shree Krishnayan Desi Gauraksha Avam Golokdham Sewa Samiti:
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Shirley has been in the development sector for over 10 years and is passionate about making a change in the world around her, including adopting dogs and writing to make a difference.
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