MILPITAS — Comfortable grassy pastures speckled with yellow wildflowers. Mild rolling hills so far as the attention can see. A large vibrant blue sky dotted with puffy clouds.
It’s a heavenly surroundings match for a king — or some cows.
Welcome to Sri Krishna Balaram Goshala, a cow sanctuary hidden off the lengthy and winding Outdated Calaveras Street. Right here, 16 of the Bay Space’s luckiest — and holiest — cows reside in concord with nature, whereas receiving each day love and care from locals.
With two foot-long horns protruding from both facet of their heads, a big hump resting on their shoulders and folds of free pores and skin drooping from their neck, these aren’t your typical black-and-white milk carton dairy cows.
They’re Gir Cows, a sort of cattle native to India and a sacred species to those that comply with Hinduism.
Folks from everywhere in the Bay Space flock to the Milpitas goshala — which interprets to “shelter for cows” in Hindi — to pay their respects by feeding, massaging and even bathing the animals, whereas additionally taking the chance to unwind and join with nature.
The goshala, which opened in 2016 on the location of a former quarry, was constructed to guard cows and guarantee their well-being by means of correct diet, medical care and different sustainable practices. Volunteers and employees additionally share Vedic tradition, or spiritual practices tied to Hinduism, which emphasize the non secular and ecological significance of cows.
The initiative is supported by the Indian Heritage Basis, a Milpitas-based nonprofit that promotes the non secular data of Lord Krishna, a significant deity in Hinduism, and the Values Plus-Basis, a Fremont-based training program.
The realm accommodates all of the necessities for cow-care taking: a backyard to develop crops for the cows, storage areas for feed, coated sheds the place the cows can sleep in at night time, and even a small workplace for workers and volunteers from the muse.
Daily, guests come onsite to look after the cows, together with feeding or massaging the animals and farming numerous natural crops for them to eat.
Standing round 5 ft tall, the cows look intimidating. However their eyes soften once they see people — particularly in the event that they strategy with an outstretched hand and provide to softly stroke the facet of their bellies.
On a latest Friday morning, customer Srihari Sampathkumar and his 2-year-old son Atman Srihari just do that. Holding a small brush that matches the dimensions of their arms, the 2 work collectively to brush a herd of cows sunbathing.
It’s the third or fourth time Sampathkumar has come to the goshala. The Palo Alto resident mentioned he likes how the cows are taken care of in an moral means. Being within the open fields additionally provides him a break from the hustle and bustle of metropolis life.
“There are good vibrations here,” Sampathkumar mentioned, holding his son in his arms. “You come here and feel a sense of peace.”
Atman would possibly register these feeling too when he’s older, however proper now the toddler’s consideration is totally targeted on getting acquainted with the women. “I want to see the cows,” he says in a chirped voice. “What are the cows’s names?”
Overlooking their go to, is Ramanama Dasa, who manages the goshala. Wearing a cotton white garment, Dasa is in control of numerous duties: overseeing the livelihood of the cows, watching over the property, welcoming and directing guests. If some aren’t spiritual, he’ll clarify the importance of defending Gir Cows.
Cows are often known as a divine “mother figure” in Vedic custom, based on Dasa. Their contributions to society are quite a few: they supply milk that nourishes each the physique and thoughts, and their dung is used as an natural fertilizer and meals. The cows of their pure habitat additionally radiate a way of peace and quietness, qualities which might be typically tough to seek out within the tech-heavy Silicon Valley, he mentioned.
“If we are making artificial things, that never gives us real happiness,” Dasa mentioned, standing within the discipline because the cows graze close by. “We have to be in the natural environment … with the cows or animals that will give us natural peacefulness and calmness for the mind and body.”
Huge modifications are coming some to the goshala. Building is underway to construct a model new workplace house, a care taker residence, parking zone designated orchards and an irrigation tank, amongst different issues. All of the work is funded by contributions and donations from group members who need to preserve the cows completely satisfied and the house sacred, Dasa mentioned.
Caretaker Srinivasa Chandru mentioned the heritage basis is planning on constructing a brand new 80-acre temple just a few hills up from the goshala, the place a whole bunch of its members can host festivities and worship collectively whereas surrounded by cows.
The bold venture is sort of a decade away from completion, based on Chandru, however the hills of Outdated Calaveras is the right place for it. Seated excessive above town, the realm seems to be like a bit piece of heaven, he mentioned.
“Sometimes the clouds will come down, and we can feel we are flying on top of the hill,” Chandru mentioned, searching into the horizon. “It feels heavenly.”
