In 2005, as an aspiring (now) initiate in the Gaudiya Vaisnava lineage of the Brahma-Madhva Sampradaya (hindu to your lazies) I went on my first pilrimage to the the holy places of Sri Navadvip Mayapur and Sri Vrndavana Dhamas, India where Caitanaya Mahaprabhu and Sri Krsna performed their pasttimes. I took many photos of my travels but some of my favorites are of the beloved and holy cows of India. What follows are the cream of the crop of those pictures. Enjoy!

The Mayapur Goshala (cow protection farm) was one of my favorite places to make friends with cows.

It was amazing to watch individual cows come to the handler when he called their names.

Standing by the Holy Ganges river.

Cows in the Kunj (forest)

In Vrndavana we met a western family who moved to India over 20 years ago to achieve “simple living, high thinking”. His two cow and bull were HUGE, very friendly, provided his family with milk, fertilizer, fuel for cooking and helped with plowing of their small vegetable farm which feeds the family and many of the naughty monkeys running about.

Very typical Vrndavan street corner. Dirt roads, a skinny, unfortunately abandoned cow and walls marked with “Jai Sri Radhe!” or “Radha Bol!”.

The “Bull Power” school bus for the Sandipani Muni School, which is for poor children and orphans.

I passed this crew everyday for a week. I always felt like i was about to be mugged by them.

These two scared the daylights out of me and a friend on a late night walk down a narrow alley.

On the holy parikrama path on Govardanna Hill.

Ok these guys aren’t cows, they’re water buffalo but it was crazy to be in a boat on the Ganga and see them swim by with the handler.
For information on cow protection in Vrndavan Dhama, check out CareForCows.org.

All Photos ©2007 nicholas hans.