Man has relied on animals for various reasons like transportation, food and medicine. Among these are Ox, Cows, Dog, Goat to mention a few. Of these, Cow is one of the most common and useful animals domesticated by man. Cow has been a companion to man since thousands of years. Cows were raised, as dairy animals for milk and other dairy products, and as draft animals for pulling carts, and also as livestock for its meat. Other products that are derived from Cows include leather, dung for manure and even fuel. This article tries to highlight the benefits of Cows and their byproducts classifying  them in various categories.

Cow – The Spiritual Significance

In some countries, such as India and Nepal that are dominated by Hindus, Cows are treated to be sacred. In Indian mythology, Cows are treated as Goddess. Following are some of the points that describe why the Hindus provide a special place to the Cow in their day to day lives.

1. Our scriptures make a special mention of “Kamadenu” the Cow goddess which is treated as the holy mother who fulfills all our needs.
2. “Nandi”, also a cow is considered the vehicle of Lord Shiva. We can find statues of black cow (Nandi) having a special place of worship in every Shiva temple. Seeing the black cow along with Lord Shiva has astrological significance in Indian Astrology. It is said that we can overcome the bad effects of planets in our natal horoscope on regularly seeing Nandi and Lord Shiva in temples.
3. We find many cow worshipers decorating cows with anklets. It is a belief that when we see the ankles of the cow we protect ourselves from unforeseen deaths.
4. Circumambulating the cow is considered to be very sacred Hindu ritual. It is equivalent to visiting all of the holy places connected to Hinduism.
5. Just as the peepal tree and tulasi plant are known to circulate oxygen, similarly Hindu mythology believes that cow is the only animal which purifies the air. Most of theYagnas/Homas (Sacred Fire) conducted by Hindus prefer to pour Cow ghee into the sacred fire. The reason for this is that for every one spoon of pure ghee that is poured on burning cow dung (in homa), one-ton of pure air is produced in the air.  Therefore ghee made with cow milk is used in igniting sacrificial fires that are a regular ritual of the Hindus.
6. “Vastu” a parameter which determines the astrological significance of the placement of land or placement of internals of the house is considered very important for Hindus. Improper Vastu is considered to have ill effects on the people residing in that premises. It is a belief that where ever a Cow is tied in a given premises, that place would have all the Vastu related ill effects nullified.
7. The horns and back hump of the cow are like two powerful pyramids. We receive the strengths of the stars and sun through the medium of cow dung, milk, curd, ghee, etc. If there is any malefic effect of any planet, serving the cow with chapatti and jaggery calms down the malefic effect.
8. Lord Krishna one of the mythological Gods of the Hindus was a cowherd boy in his childhood days. Many of Lord Krishna’s pictures show him with the cows of Vrindavan where he grew up adding special significance to the Cow.

Cow – Agricultural Benefits

There are many agricultural benefits seen in cow’s byproducts:

1. Cow Dung: The cow dung helps produce the best quality grains, fruits, and vegetables when used as manure. Due to its anti-fungal effect, it helps as Plant growth stimulator and in bio-gas reactors as a growth substrate for methanogenic Bacteria.
2. Cow Urine used as Pesticide: Cow urine is a divine medicine and is a natural pesticide for crops.
3. Ghee from Cow’s milk as air purifier: As discussed earlier in this article, pure ghee made with cow milk poured on burning cow dung cakes, produces a smoke that subsides the effect of poisonous gases purifying the air.

Cow – Panchgavya (The Vital Products)

. Cows serve mankind with many of their by products. As per Hindu mythology there are mainly five products from Cow that are considered very sacred. This is termed as "Panchgavya Amrit" in Sanskrit, meaning the five nectar products. There following five "Panchgavyas" are well known in Hindu literature to cure major diseases.

1. Cow’s Milk: Drinking cow milk gives strength and increases the pure qualities in the human mind which tastes like nectar.
2. Cow’s Curd: Butter and buttermilk are the other products obtained form curd.
3. Cow’s Ghee: Ghee is also mixed in many of the ayurvedic medicines because of its medical values.
4. Cow’s Dung (post processing): One of the main treatment products used in Ayurvedam. It also comes in tablets or a cream mixed with other traditional medicinal herbs. The demand for this substance is currently outstripping supply due to its benefits.
5. Cow’s Urine (post processing): It is believed in Ayurvedam that cow’s urine, called as “Goumutram” can be used for ailments ranging from liver disease to obesity and even cancer. Cow’s urine contains copper, which is converted into gold inside the human body and serves to remove all toxicity in the body.

The rest of this article will focus on “Gomutram” which is widely used in Ayurvedic medication.

“Goumutram” – As Ayurvedic Medicine

Gou-mutra or cow's urine has been described as a substance with innumerable therapeutic values in Ayurveda. It is stated that goumutram can cure anything from skin diseases, kidney and liver ailments to obesity and heart ailments. “Cow urine” therapy is capable of curing several curable and allegedly incurable diseases and cow-based products have multi-purpose benefits. As discussed earlier, Cow’s urine, known as “Goumutram” is one of the Panchgavya or vital products obtained from the Cow. The use of goumutram has been known for a long time in India. There is mention of Goumutram as a medicine in Yajur Veda which is one of the four Vedas as per Hindu Mythology. Panchgavyas are used in devotional rituals for pooja and for medicinal purposes.

The cow can be treated as a mobile medical dispensary. It is the treasure of medicines. Goumutram therapy is capable of curing many curable and incurable diseases. Many researches have been conducted over the past many years and conclusions have been reached that Goumutram is capable of curing diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, psoriasis, eczema, heart attack, blockage in arteries, fits, cancer, AIDS, piles, prostrate, arthritis, migraine, thyroid, ulcer, acidity, constipation, gynecological problems, ear and nose problems and several other diseases.

Goumutram – Chemical Composition

The following explains the chemical composition of Goumutram (distilled form)
1. Nitrogen (N2, NH2): Removes blood abnormalities and toxins, Natural stimulant of urinary track, activate kidneys and it is diuretic.
2. Sulphur (S): Supports motion in large intestines and purifies blood.
3. Ammonia (NH3): Stabilise blood formation, bile, mucous and air of body.
4. Copper (Cu): Controls built up of unwanted fats.
5. Iron (Fe): Maintains balance and helps in production of red blood cells & hemoglobin. It also stabilizes working power.
6. Urea CO(NH2)2: Affects urine formation and removal. It also works as germicidal.
7. Uric Acid (C5H4N4O3): Removes heart swelling or inflammation. It is diuretic therefore destroys toxins.
8. Phosphate (P): Helps in removing stones from urinary track.
9. Sodium (Na): Purifies blood and is an antacid.
10. Potassium (K): Cures hereditary rheumatism. It increases appetite, removes muscular weakness and laziness.
11. Manganese (Mn): Germicidal, stops growth of germs, protects against decay due to gangrene.
12. Carbolic acid (HCOOH): Germicidal, stops growth of germs and decay due to gangrene.
13. Calcium (Ca): Blood purifier, bone strengthener, germicidal.
14. Salt (NaCl): Decreases acidic contents of blood, germicidal.
15. Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E: Vitamin B is active ingredient for energetic life and saves from nervousness and thirst, strengthens bones and reproductive ingredient for energetic life and saves from nervousness and thirst, strengthens bones and reproductive power.
16. Other Minerals: Increase immunity.
17. Lactose (C6H12O6): It strengths heart and nervousness. This also removes thirst and gives satisfaction.
18. Enzymes: Make healthy digestive juices, increase immunity.
19. Water (H2O): It is a life giver. Maintains fluidity of blood, maintains body temperature.
20. Hipuric acid (CgNgNox): Removes toxins through urine.
21. Creatinin (C4HgN2O2): It is a Germicide.
22. Aurum Hydroxide (AuOH): It is germicidal and increases immunity power. AuOH is highly antibiotic and anti-toxic.

Properties of Goumutram:
Goumutram is bitter, salty, warm, light, Sweetish, earthy in flavour. It has laxative and scrapping properties. 

Therapeutic Uses of Goumutram
There are many uses of Goumutram and are widely used to cure many of the serious problems like:

1. Asthma, isnophilia, psoriasis, eczema, blood pressure, heart disease, prostrate, piles, etc., also have been cured with this treatment.
2. Problems like cough and phlegm would be reduced in no time.
3. It gives relief to cancer patients.
4. For heart patients, chest pain will be reduced and cholesterol levels would come back to normal.
5. Problems like varicose veins and dysmenorrheal would soon be reduced.
6. Problems like severe migraine and headache are also seen good results.
7. Can show good results for patients suffering from constipation.
8. In the same way AIDS patients also would see good result, enjoying a healthy life after taking cow urine therapy.
9. This therapy is also beneficial in the case of eczema, ringworm, itching and other skin problems.
10. The serious thyroid complaints can also be cured with this therapy.
11. This therapy can be taken by diabetes patient who was taking insulin and having high sugar levels.
12. With this, teenage children can be free from the pimples and acne.
13. Emerging data have reported that its anti-fungal effects.

This above list indicates that Goumutram can cure anything from skin diseases, kidney and liver ailments to obesity and heart ailments. It also comes in tablets or a cream mixed with other traditional medicinal herbs. Goumutram wins over various diseases by acting on varieties of germs, germicidal. It helps in balancing the tridosh. Tridosh is a ayurvedic word termed after Vaata, Pitta and Kapha. Goumutram helps in proper functioning of liver. It also helps in compensating the deficiency of various nutrients in our body and helps in regaining the health from diseased conditions. It is called as Brain & heart which means it, gives strength to brain and heart and prevents its damage caused due to mental tension and helps in protecting the organs from various disorders and diseases. Goumutram being miraculous poison destroyer destroys the disease caused by poison, by purifying the toxic chemicals via kidney. Hence cow urine helps in boosting immunity power by increasing the resistance power against diseases in human body.

On reading this article, one would have learnt a lot on the benefits that man gets from Cow and its byproducts. This article also has a special focus on Cow’s urine called Goumutram as a potential disease saver for all mankind. Would like to end with a Sanskrit prayer to the sacred Cow Kamadhenu

“Namo devyai Maha devyai, Surabyai cha namo nama.
Gavam Bheeja swaroopaya, Namasthe Jagad Ambike.”

Meaning in English:
“Salutations to the mother of the world, Who lives as a seed in all cows.
Salutations to that goddess, Who is a great goddess, And who is the wish yielding cow. “