Cows are intrinsic to Vrindavan, without cows one cannot imagine Vrindavan. Cows are celebrated in Vrindavan because Lord Krishna Himself reared cows in Braja as a cowherd. Besides Lord Krishna instructs that in the human society cows must be protected and nourished. They give us wonderful cow milk which can nourish the brain, not just externally but also support in developing special faculty to understand finer spiritual subject matter.

The cows of India have been known to be very much part of the civilization and was protected by the entire community. Infact cows are to be as much revered as ones’ mother as per the revealed scriptures and this practice is prevalent even today in most parts of India.

Hare Krishna Movement Vrindavan (HKM-V) aims to showcase the importance of cow protection by rearing and protecting cows in its goshala called Surabhi Kunj. Goshala is named after the heavenly cow Surabhi. Cows being reared and protected are from the native Indian breeds. The goshala has been extent for many years. The cows are not treated as milking machines but cared for like one’s mother. They are fed three times a day with well-planned nutritious feeds consisting of green fodder, dry fodder and specially made animal feed made from wheat and other grains mixed with Jaggery. During winters the cows are fed extra jaggery to enable them to fight the cold weather. Gopalakas or caretakers are engaged round the clock to ensure proper care and support.  A veterinary doctor visits every day to check the health and well-being of the cows. Cows are sheltered in spacious cow shelters and are taken out to graze in stipulated grazing spaces.

The milk produced from the cows are largely not used for commercial purposes, but used to cook offerings to the deities of the temple and to feed the devotees of the ashram who are serving as volunteers and full time sevaites.

At Surabhi Kunj currently:

Cows	26
Bulls	26
Female Calves	17
Male Calves	5
Non-milking  cows	4
Total cattle being protected	78