Cow Complex in Indian Socio-Cultural Contexts

This study aims at proper understanding of Indian society and culture in general through the analysis of cow complex from the religious-historical and anthropological point of views. Much emphases are laid on finding of the Indian cultural configuration on the base of cultural complex consisted of cultural traits such as milks, refined butter, curd, cow dung, cow urine, cow cult, a relation between cow and caste hierarchy, selling of milk products, and eating of cow meat etc. In relation to the idealogical aspects of cow complex, it is quite appropriate to say that cow cult has been derived from the complex blending of economic concerns and religious commitment. Doubtlessly, the so-called Indian great traditions like cow cult, vegetarianism, etc. have played crucial role of formulating of pan-Hindus" socio-religious and politico-economic way of life. For instances, most ritualistic contexts, may they be life-crisis rituals or calendarial rituals, have typical characteristics of the divine nature of cow complex. In the economic context, the development of milk business has been much responsible for the rapid improvement of economic situation among the middle stratum of caste hierarchy. With regard to the micro-political context, the killing of cattle has been led to the formation of group within a single caste and the processes of group dynamics, i.e. fission and fusion through shift in group membership. The findings of the present work have also been converged, though not totally, with Harris" position that there are positive-functional features of the Hindu cow complex as traction power and milk, dung, beef and hide production in relationship to the costs of ecologically viable alternatives. Given the energy situation of the poor in Indian rural areas, this study lays special emphasis on the development and promotion of energy system like bio-gas system based on the use of cow dung