Gopastami – Go pooja ಗೋಪಾಷ್ಠಮಿ

“ಗೋಪಾಷ್ಠಮಿ, ಗೋದಾನ, ಗೋಪ್ರದಕ್ಷಿಣಾ “

It is observed on Karthika Maasa Shukla Paksha Ashtami –

it is called as Gopastami.

On this day, Pooja of Cow with calf, to be done.

Shri Krishna was allowed to tend cows for the first time on this day by his father Nanda gopa. Till then Lord Krishna was only looking after the calves.

We have to do the  bath and clean the cows and the cowshed (Goshala). They are given special food and are worshipped on the day.

Gopashtami is a major event in Krishna temples and in places associated with Krishna like Vrindavan, Mathura , Udupi and Guruvayur

Milk, butter, curd, ghee are food. Urine (“ಗೋಮೂತ್ರ”) and cow dung(“ಸೆಗಣಿ”) are medicines in Ayurveda.  Dried cow dung is fuel.  Cow Dung is used for cleaning God’s room and all other religious places.  It is said that without Dung “ಸೆಗಣಿ” God’s room will not be pure.  Butter is used lavishly in Hindu rituals. The sacred white powder made from dung is applied on the forehead – the holy ash in Hinduism, symbol of God Shiva. Dried cow dung is also used in Hindu funerals in some parts of India.

While giving the daana, we have to bring cow with calf and do the avaahana of Gavantaryaami shri gopalakrishna.  Do the paada prakshalana of the cow, do haridra kumkuma pooja, give jaggery, poha, ghee, to the cow.  Do the pradakshina namaskara, and do the godaana to brahmana-suvasini followed by bhojana.

Godaana, gograasa, gopradakshina to be done.  If we do this all our abheesta will be fulfilled.