The Sacred Cow, Sage Jabali, and the Cosmic Bond
- Shashi
- Sep 6, 2025
- 3 min read
India is blessed with a unique lineage of cows. Their milk, curd, ghee, dung, and urine together form the Panchagavya , a divine combination that serves as the foundation of yagna rituals and the timeless science of Ayurveda, which holds remedies for ailments of both humans and animals.
The Story of Sage Jabali and Nandini
The ancient tale of Maharishi Jabali beautifully illustrates the sanctity and importance of cows.
Sage Jabali once descended to the earthly plane and was enchanted by the beauty of Mangalapuram of yore (present-day Mangalore).
Drawn to its charm, he chose a serene cave amidst thick forests of neeli (gooseberry/ amla) trees for his penance. This sacred site came to be known as Nellitheertha. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellitheertha_Cave_Temple?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
After years of deep meditation, Jabali emerged from his cave only to find devastation. The once lush land had withered into barren wastelands, rivers had dried up, trees were reduced to stumps, animals had perished, and human habitation had disappeared.
Through his yogic vision, he realized that an asura (demon) named Arunasura had vandalized the land.
To restore life and abundance, Sage Jabali understood that he needed the grace of the divine elements : Indra, Varuna, Surya, and others. The only way was through a sacred yagna. But a cow was essential for it.
He journeyed to the celestial realms to seek help. The divine cow Kamadhenu, serving in Lord Indra’s abode, sent her daughter Nandini to earth.
With the arrival of Nandini, the celestial cow, Sage Jabali was able to perform the sacred yagna. Using her Panchagavya : milk, curd, ghee, dung, and urine, he invoked the deities of water, wind, and sun. The fire blazed high, offerings were poured, and soon the parched land began to stir again. Clouds gathered, rivers awoke, and the barren earth regained her fertility.
Nandini’s presence at the yagna was not just symbolic; it was the very channel through which the land was healed.
But the story of Nandini does not end there. Just as her mother Kamadhenu could manifest abundance in many forms, Nandini too chose to bless the earth beyond the ritual fire.
Taking on another sacred form, she descended as a river, carrying her divine essence into the physical landscape.
Emerging gently from the Kanakagiri hills, she became known as the River Nandini, a living reminder of the same compassion that once flowed beside the sage.
Her waters journey down through valleys and forests, pausing to embrace the shrine of Kateel Durgaparameshwari temple before merging into the Arabian Sea. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kateel?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Where the cow had nourished with Panchagavya, the river now nourishes with her waters. Where she once restored the land through ritual, she continues her service eternally by sustaining fields, villages, and devotees.
Thus, Nandini the cow and Nandini the river are not two separate tales but two expressions of the same divine mother, one who stood at the altar of fire and one who flows ceaselessly to the ocean, blessing all who cross her path.
A Personal journey with my own cow, Laxmi
Inspired by this timeless story, I welcomed into my life a Malnad breed calf.
Within a month, the energy of my entire home transformed.
I named her Laxmi, and she became my constant companion, just a hand’s reach from my study window and resting space.
The days I spend with her are filled with quiet reflection: she ruminates her cud while I ruminate on memories. At night, she keeps me company with her soft grunts, and the swish of her tail.
As a devotee of Swami Nityananda of Vajreshwari, I had often read stories of him performing penance amidst cows in their shed. I used to wonder how that was possible.
Now, living with Laxmi, I understand - the peace and sanctity she radiates is profound.
On 25th August, Laxmi blessed me with a calf, whom I named Kalyani. This felt like a token of divine recognition, a cosmic love flowing between us.
Truly, cows are celestial beings who come to earth to nourish mankind.
Together, they sustain rituals, heal the body, and restore the earth. Just as Sage Jabali revived the land with Nandini, so too can we reconnect with the sacredness of cows in our daily lives.
✨ In honoring the cow, we honor life itself.
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