Bad tempered cow disrupts Hindu worship

You can tell which one above was the meanie

BRISBANE'S Hindu Society bought a Brahman heifer for worshippers to adorn with garlands for worship and prayer ceremonies at their Burbank temple. In return for their adoration and specially prepared vegetarian meals, the worshippers were chased, hit and kicked by the bovine, whose attitude was more mad cow than sacred cow.

Unlike Brahman cattle in India, which are very docile and perfectly suited for being around a temple, this particular Australian animal was very aggressive – so much so that a month of important ceremonies in September looked under threat.

That was when the Queensland Department of Primary Industries stepped in to solve this cow conundrum. "Unfortunately this particular Australian Brahman has a very difficult temperament and was almost unapproachable," Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin said. "She was tethered in an enclosure, and the congregation was not sure on how they were going to handle the animal."

To solve the problem, the DPI brokered a cow-swapping deal between the Hindu Society and Maleny High School on the Sunshine Coast.

Biosecurity Queensland district inspector Janet Hull became aware of the situation when she was contacted by saleyard staff. "Ms Hull consulted with Binendra Pratap, a DPI Veterinarian of Hindu faith, who knew exactly what the cow was for and understood the situation," Mr Mulherin said.

Dr Pratap said that as soon as he visited the temple it was immediately clear that the cow was unsuitable for Hindu ritual. "If the cow was injured, it would be an insult to the Hindu society, which had purchased this heifer for the community to worship," he said.

However, Ms Hull knew Maleny State High wanted to sell some of its Southern Devon heifers to purchase new stock for the students. "When I contacted the school and told them the problems the Hindu community was facing, they offered to swap one of their docile heifers for the Brahman heifer the Hindu temple had purchased," she said. "Let me tell you, the joy on the face of the Hindu priest and the other people at the temple was worth seeing when I told them."

Ms Hull said the Brahman was "settling in beautifully at the school" and enjoyed its new surroundings. It had shown a completely different temperament with the children.

The Hindu Society's Asha Tripathi, wife of priest RH Tripathi, said cows were sacred and were treated like the mother of the family. "The old one was very aggressive. . . but this (new) cow is very gentle, very nice, very calm and we can handle her easily," Mrs Tripathi said. "We cannot express our feelings of joy. We love this cow, we have called her Ganga. We will always worship our Ganga."

Mrs Tripathi said the first cow had cost the society $3000.

They had also bought two peacocks, which are also important to have around the Hindu temple, but there have been no reports of behavioural problems with the birds.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25833935-3102,00.html