KAMADHENU–THE DIVINE COW-Part2 Dear friends,
This posting is about the divine cow Kamadhenu and herchildren in detail. I have collected the information from Google search AI modeby interaction QA. Hope the reading will be interesting for most members of theGroups. This posting is least intended to allknowing members. Repeating information is removed without losing therhythm. This is 2nd part of the posting. Gopalakrishnan 05-02-2026 "Which/Whom were thedaughters and sons of Kamadhenu? How they were born? Kamadhenu (or Surabhi) is the progenitor of all bovinecreatures, and her offspring are prominent in various Vedic and Puraniclegends. The Daughters of Kamadhenu While she is the "Mother of all Cows," certaindaughters are specifically named in the scriptures: Nandini: Her most famous daughter, who livedwith Sage Vashishta. She inherited her mother’s wish-fulfilling powers andplayed a central role in the stories of King Dilipa and the curse of the VasusWisdom Library. Subhadra: Mentioned in some texts as a divinecow who provides for the gods. The Four DirectionalDaughters: In theRamayana, Surabhi is said to have four daughters who support the world in thefour cardinal directions: Vimala (East),Sunanda (South),Nanda (West),Sushila (North). The Sons of Kamadhenu Her sons are often associated with the powerful bulldeities: The Eleven Rudras: In a significant cosmologicalaccount from the Mahabharata, Kamadhenu (as Surabhi) is the mother of the Eleven Rudras,the fierce forms of Lord Shiva. The Bulls (Vrishabha): She is the mother of all bulls,including those used for agriculture and those sacred to the gods. Nandi (In someversions): WhileNandi is often described as the son of Sage Shilada, some Puranic regionalvariations link the lineage of the divine bull back to the offspring ofSurabhi. How were they born? The birth of her offspring is rarely described asbiological, but rather as emanation or divine decree: >From the Froth: One legend states that whenKamadhenu emerged from the Samudra >Manthan and began to breathe, the"froth" from her mouth fell to the earth and >transformed into variousspecies of cattle. Creation by Desire: In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, it is said that Lord Krishnasqueezed milk from Surabhi to drink. When some milk spilled on the ground, itturned into a lake of milk (Kshira-Sagara), and from the bubbles of that milk,thousands of cows and calves (her offspring) emerged instantly to populate theworld. Union with Sage Kashyapa: In some genealogical accounts of the Puranas, she is the consort of the SageKashyapa, through whom she birthed the diverse bovine population of the earth. Would you like to know thestory of why she was cursed by her own offspring, or more about how Nandinispecifically helped the Raghu dynasty? Both stories highlight that even thoughKamadhenu (and her daughter Nandini) were divine, they were subject to the lawsof Karma andthe intense emotions of the sages and gods. The Story of the Curse: Why Kamadhenu was Cursed There are two famous versions of how Kamadhenu (Surabhi)received a curse, involving both the gods and her own nature: The Lie to LordShiva: During acompetition between Brahma and Vishnu to find the end of Shiva’s infinitepillar of light (Jyotirlinga), Brahma lied, saying he found the top. He asked the Ketaki flower and Kamadhenu to bear false witness. The Curse: When Shiva revealed the lie, hecursed Kamadhenu, decreeing that while she would be worshipped as a whole, hermouth (which spoke the lie) would be considered impure, andonly her hindquarters would be used in certain purification rituals. The Curse from the Gods: In another version, when her "froth" or salivafell upon the Seven Sages during a ritual, they were offended. However, it isalso said that she oncewept seeing the suffering of bullocks tilling the earth. When Indraasked why she cried, her intense grief and the "heat" of herlamentation disturbed the heavens, leading to a complex relationship where shewas both revered and strictly regulated by divine law. How Nandini Saved theRaghu Dynasty This is one of the most beautiful stories in the Raghuvamsha(by the poet Kalidasa), focusing on King Dilipa, the ancestor of Lord Rama. The Childless King: King Dilipa and his queen Sudakshina wereheartbroken because they had no heir. They visited Sage Vasishta, who revealedthat Dilipa had once unintentionally insulted Kamadhenu bypassing her by without offering respects. The Penance: To atone, Vasishta told them toserve Kamadhenu’s daughter, Nandini. For 21 days, the King followed Nandinilike a shadow—eating only after she ate, resting only after she slept, andprotecting her from flies and wild animals. The Test: On the 22nd day, a lion attackedNandini. Dilipa, a mighty warrior, tried to draw his sword but found his armparalyzed by the lion’s magic. The lion (who was actually a servant of Shiva indisguise) demanded the cow as food. The Ultimate Sacrifice: Dilipa offered his own body to thelion to save Nandini. Heargued that his physical body was temporary, but his duty to protect the sacredcow was eternal. The Reward: As Dilipa bowed his head to be eaten, thelion vanished. Nandinispoke in a divine voice, revealing it was a test of his character. She granted him a boon, and soonafter, the Queen gave birth to Raghu, the great king after whom the Raghu Vansh(and eventually Lord Rama) is named. Why these matters for yourPooja Room These stories are the reason why the Cow and Calf statue isso powerful. It isn't justa decoration; it represents: Dharma: Putting others before yourself(like King Dilipa). Atonement: Clearing past mistakes or"Doshas" in the family lineage. Parental Blessing: Attracting the energy required togrow a family (Santan Bhagya). I have heard Patti isanother daughter of cow Yes, you areabsolutely right. Pattiis indeed recognized as one of the divine daughters of Kamadhenu, specificallyin South Indian traditions. The Story of Patti Patti is famously associated with the temple town ofPatteeswaram (near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu). Worship of Shiva: Legend has it that Patti performedintense penance and worshipped Lord Shiva at this location. The Temple Name: The town and the DhenupureeswararTemple are named after her—"Patti" + "Eswaram" (Lord ofPatti). Divine Sisters: In this regional tradition, Kamadhenu is often said to have fourdaughters who worshipped Shiva at different locations: Patti, Vimali, Sabali,and Nandini. The Four"Directional" Daughters In the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata, Kamadhenu (Surabhi)is said to have four daughters known as the Dikpalis (guardians of thedirections): Saurabhi: Guarding the East. Harshika: Guarding the South. Subhadra:Guarding the West. Dhenu: Guarding the North. How were they born? Like their mother, their births are considered divine and non-biological. Creation by Will: Some texts suggest they werecreated by Lord Brahma's decree to assist the sages and protect the fourcorners of the universe. >From Surabhi'sPresence: Otherversions state they emerged from Surabhi herself >to fulfil her role as the"Mother of all Cows" and to ensure that divine milk >was available forrituals across the earth. Interestingly, while Nandini is the most famous in NorthIndian epics, Patti holds a special place of honor in the Tamil Saiva tradition Whether the childrento kamadhenu were born biologically? In the realm of Hindu mythology, the birth ofKamadhenu’s children is not biological in the human sense. Instead, they aredescribed through divine manifestation and metaphysical creation. Here is how her offspring, including Patti, Nandini, andothers, came into existence according to the Puranas: 1. Manifestation fromDivine Energy Most scriptures describe Kamadhenu's children as emergingdirectly from her divine aura or through the will of the gods. For example, inthe Devi Bhagavata Purana, when Lord Krishna desired milk, he created Kamadhenu(Surabhi) and her calf Manoratha simultaneously from the left side of his body.They were born "full-grown" and divine, rather than through abiological gestation period. 2. The "Froth"of Creation A famous account in the Mahabharata explains that asKamadhenu was created during the Samudra Manthan, the "froth" or thespiritual essence that escaped her mouth fell upon the earth. This frothinstantly transformed into the different species of cows and bulls, includingher primary daughters like Patti and Nandini. 3. Emergence for SacredPurpose In the case of Patti and her sisters (Vimali, Sabali, andNandini), they are often described as having "appeared" on earthspecifically to perform penance (Tapas) or to serve great sages. They did not gothrough a birth cycle; they were emanations of Kamadhenu’s own power, sent todifferent parts of India (like Patteeswaram) to establish sacred sites. 4. Non-BiologicalMotherhood Kamadhenu is called the "Mother of all Cows" (SarvaBhuta Matrukam) not because she gave birth to them physically, but because sheis the original blueprint or the "Soul" from which all bovine lifeoriginated. Since you are interestedin the daughters like Patti, would you like to know the specific story of howPatti created the sacred tank at the Patteeswaram temple with her own milk? yes The legend of Patti and the sacred tank is a significant partof the Patteeswaram Dhenupureeswarar Temple history in Tamil Nadu. The Legend of Patti’sMilk Abhishekam Patti, the divine daughter of Kamadhenu, was sent by hermother to assistGoddess Parvathi (Parasakthi), who was performing intense penance at thislocation to seek Lord Shiva. The Act of Worship: While Parvathi meditated, Patti decidedto perform her own worship of Lord Shiva. She discovered a Swayambhu Lingam (self-manifestedLingam) hidden in the forest. Creating the Flow: Patti began to perform Abhishekam(ritual bathing) by showering her divine milk directly onto the Lingam from herudders. The Sacred Tank: According tolocal tradition, the abundance of divine milk she offered was so vast that itcollected and formed a sacred reservoir or contributed to the spiritual powerof the temple's holy waters, now known as the Theertham. Divine Recognition: Lord Shiva was so pleased with thecalf's selfless devotion that he granted her salvation (Mukti) and named theentire town Patteeswaram in her honour. Unique Temple Featuresrelated to Patti Dhenupureeswarar: Because a cow (Dhenu) worshipped here, thepresiding Lord is called Dhenupureeswarar. Nandi’s Position: Uniquely, the Nandi (bull) in this templeis shifted slightly to the side. Legend says Shiva ordered Nandi tomove so he could clearly see the young saint Thirugnana Sambandar arriving, but some also link this to the Lord's focus on the humble worship ofthe calf, Patti. Healing Waters: The temple tanks (like the JnanaVapi) are considered highlysacred; bathing in them on full moon days is believed to cure illnesses andremove curses With whom kamadhenuthe divine cow is now? In the spiritual and mythological realm, Kamadhenu does notreside in a single physical location, but her presence is described in three distinct ways: 1. In the CelestialRealm (Goloka) The most common belief is that Kamadhenu resides in Goloka(the "World of Cows"), the highest spiritual heaven. According to the Puranas,specifically the Srimad Bhagavatam, Goloka is the eternal abode of LordKrishna, where Kamadhenu and her countless descendants live in eternal peaceand abundance. 2. In the Court ofLord Indra (Swarga) Because she emerged from the Churning of the Ocean (SamudraManthan), she is considered one of the "Ratnas" (jewels). She was gifted to theSaptarishis (the Seven Sages) for their rituals, but she is also frequentlydescribed as residing in Indra Loka (the kingdom of heaven) under theprotection of Lord Indra. Wheneverthe gods or sages need divine assistance or a grand feast, she"manifests" from this celestial realm. 3. In Every Cow onEarth >From a ritualistic and Vedic perspective, Hindus believe that Kamadhenu >resides spirituallywithin every living cow. This is why the cow is worshipped >asGo-Mata. It is believed that all 330 million deities (Devas) residein different parts of a cow's body. By feeding or serving anordinary cow, a devotee is technically serving Kamadhenu herself. 4. With Sage Vashishta In the stories of the Ramayana and Mahabharata, she (or herdaughter Nandini) is eternally associated with Sage Vashishta. Even today, inspiritual visualizations and ashrams, she is depicted standing besideVashishta, providing the "milk of wisdom" and the resources neededfor his meditation and sacrifices. I will continue inthe next posting -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/1677008092.498489.1770302278815%40mail.yahoo.com.
