What's Not to Love: Part 2

 First of all I offer my unlimited obeisances to the lotus feet of my Guru Maharaja. With his blessings I hope to post something of value.

Yesterday I wrote about how in general people here are very trusting, simple, and generous to other people. Today a couple scenes inspired me to mention how residents of Vrindavan extend that ideal to the animal species as well. As I started morning parikrama, I snapped a shot of someone feeding the monkeys, which is a common sight in Vraja Mandala. It is called monkey seva (service). See the monkey in the foreground walking away with bread in his mouth? Two monkeys are on their hind legs with arms extended to receive their alms.

Monkey seva

     Also, cows wander the streets here. Like this cow (see pic below), many cows stand at the doors to temples, private residences or shops waiting to receive prasadam. Giving to the cows is called go-seva, (cow service).

Cow standing outside residence waiting to receive alms

     These are just a few displays of of how Vrajavasis realize that all living beings are important; inside every heart of every living being is the eternal soul, the jivatma, part and parcel of Sri Krishna (Bhagavad-gita 15.7).
     Cow is especially honored in India because she is considered one of our seven mothers; she is providing milk to us. The other six mothers are (1) our biological mother, (2) nurse, who helps raise us, (3) Mother Earth, (4) the wife of the king, (5) the wife of our teacher or guru and (6) the wife of a brahmana (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.11.28).
     The animals here are very lucky because they are getting the chance to eat prasadam (food offered to the deities) and constantly hear the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra; it is sung in temples, in homes, and often a parade of devotees walk the streets singing it. But the animals cannot chant the mantra, so they are not as fortunate as those of us in the human form of life who have the opportunity to chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, which is the method for making spiritual advancement in this day in age (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.76).