Three-day religious rituals at Pejawar mutt goshala

Udupi, March 2: Govardanagiri Trust promoted by Pejawar Mutt pontiff is organizing Homa, Yaga and other religious rituals at the goshala premises on the auspicious Panchagraha Yoga days of Mar 2, 3 and 4.

This is being done to make it convenient for the donors and other interested parties to visit the goshala run by the trust in Neelavara near Brahmavar and have a look at the cattle there.

Speaking to press persons Pejawar Mutt junior pontiff Sri Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji who is the head of Govardhana Giri Trust, sought generous support from the public and also from the government for the Goshala run by the trust.

Sri Vishwaparasanna Theertha Swamiji said that Trust has been running two goshalas one each at Kodavoor and Neelavara near Brahmavara, with generaous contributions from the philanthropists. At present both the goshalas together house over 1,000 cattle, over 85 per cent of which are handed over to them by the police after seizing them on the way to slaughter houses.

The Neelavara Goshala has been developed in over 27 acres of land, with seven sheds. The land has been utilized without disturbing a small natural pond and a coconut garden.

As many as 30 employees had been posted at the goshalas to look after the cattle. The recurring expenses of maintaining the goshalas amount to Rs 5.5 lakhs per month.

As the bullocks and aged cows outnumber the milking cows in the goshala they get only 25 liters of milk a day. The major portion of the cow dung would be sold and a small portion was used for developing manure using wormy compost. A small portion of 'gomuthra' was used for medicinal purposes too. By selling milk, cow dung, compost etc the Trust earns only Rs 30,000 per month, against the expenditure of Rs 5.5 lakhs.

Swamiji urged the general public, social organizations and youth clubs to contribute to the goshala. “You can send us the surplus grass or hey. You can even call us to collect the same. Likewise, you can also send us the vegetable wastes during ceremonies and surplus vegetarian preparations too, to be fed to cattle,'', Swamiji said.

“Many people use cows for milk and once they get old send them to slaughterhouses. Instead we shall be thankful to them and treat them as we shall treat our aged parents,” Swamiji added.