Fw: RSPCA gives cow to manor

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A Unholy Row Ends With the Birth of a Sacred Calf Monks and farmers celebrate arrival of cow destined for life at new HareKrishna eco-farm The birth of a calf on a farm near Watford would not normally cause

tears ofjoy among onlookers. But Gangotri, a female calf, might have been in danger ofdrowning in the celebratory deluge from farmers and monks when she was born onFriday after a two-hour labor. Gangotri is the calf born of a sacred cow given as an apology for an unholyrow. She takes her name from a 13-year-old Belgian blue-jersey cross given alethal injection by the RSPCA in December 2007 because it was judged cruel tokeep the animal alive. It had been injured during a vigorous mating sessionand had developed bedsores, but the monks insisted it was recovering. Thekilling triggered protests at the Bhaktivedanta Manor Krishna temple inHertfordshire and in the wider Hindu community. Reconciliation was only achieved last month when the RSPCA admitted it hadoffended religious sensibilities and gave a pregnant cow, named Aditi, to themonks at the temple by way of apology. The calf, say the

monks, will be a symbol of a new era of harmony between theRSPCA and Hindus across Britain. She may also be the most fortunate younganimal alive. Gangotri will live out the entire course of her natural life in New Gokul, a£2.5m farm currently being built on 80 acres of land around the temple, whichhas been visited by Russell Brand and was George Harrison's home before hedonated it to the Hare Krishna movement. When its luxurious timber barns arecompleted, it will be a working, vegetarian, ox-powered farm. No tractors willbe used, while all the cows will be milked by hand and allowed to live in acompletely natural, organic way. "We want to make a statement to the world that we love our cows and we'd likethis to become a beacon for cow protection," says Radha Mohan, a spokesman forthe temple. "We want people to come and learn why it's important to look aftercows. In the Hindu tradition, cows

symbolize mother earth. We believe there isa connection between man, the cow and the environment." © Guardian News & Media 2008Published: 2/22/2009 -----------------------To