Vrushaba (Indian Breed Bull) is the life of Indian Agriculture.

सर्वाः गोजातयः सुस्था भवन्त्येतेन तद्गृहे।
नानाव्यधिविनिर्मुक्ता वर्षमेकं न संशयः ।। (Krishi Parasara-104)

By doing this all the cattle in the farmers' house become healthy and free of all diseases. 'Krishakanam Hitarthaya'- Usefulness to Farmers. The idea behind the worship is to make people manage, maintain their animate as well as inanimate resources in a good condition. “Life of Vedic people wants to express gratitude to anything”

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Methods Involved:

a.

गोपूजां कार्तिके कुर्याल्लगुडप्रतिपत्तिथौ ।
बध्दवा श्यामलतां शृङ्गे लिप्त्वा तैलहरिद्रया।। (Krishi Parasara-99)

On the first day of kartika is said to be known as Laguda Pratipat. Laguda is ‘Stick or Staff’. Horns of vrushaba (bull) should be smeared with oil and turmeric powder and shyamalatha (kind of climbing creeper (Ichnocarpus Frutescens)) should be tied to them.

b. The cowherds hold a stick in their hand to ward off evil while taking the bullock through the village in procession on festival day.

कुङ्कुमैश्चन्दनैश्चापि कृत्वा चाङ्गे विलेपनम्।
उद्यम्य लगुडं हस्ते गोपालाः कृतभूषणाः।।

ततो वाद्यैश्च गीतैश्च मण्डयित्वाम्बरादिभिः।
भ्रामयेयुर्वृषं मुख्यं ग्रामे गोविघ्नशान्तये।।

On this day cowherds should anoint their bodies with saffron and sandal paste, should put on ornaments and sticks in hand. They should take the bullock to the village by decorating him with clothes. They should sing songs and play instruments in order to appease evil spirits posing threat to bullocks.

Scientific facts regarding the festival:

1. Ichnocarpus frutescens: The flowering is from the month of August to December.
2. These leaves possess certain chemicals which repeal harmful microbes and insects. Thus, this custom has a medical significance and symbolically ensures the health of cattle.
3. Treatment for Rheumatism, Asthma, Cholera, Fever, protect liver cells from damage in acetaminophen overdose, Anti Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Anti-tumour.
   (Please refer Ref: Vol.16, e Floras.org at louis, Mo& Cambridge, Ma: Missouri botanical garden press & Harvard university herbaria.)
4. Body of a Vrushabha is always fragrant; emits the perfume of scented gum-resin. -Agni purana
5. Their bodies are marked with whirling lines which indicate good fortune --Mrugapakshi Sastra

Why should we perform this festival?

वृषेन्द्रस्य वृषा दिवो वृषा पृथिव्या अयम्।
वृषा विश्वस्य भूतस्य त्वमेकवृषा भव ।। Atharva Veda -6:86.1

Meaning: Indian Breed Bull is the chief (Vrsan) of Indra, chief of heaven, chief of Earth is this man, chief of all existence, do you be sole chief.

• A report of world agricultural organisation in 1996 stated that native breed of cattle from India were fast disappearing. Our focus must be complementary to our culture and rural economy. Cattle are the root of agriculture today. The mutual dependence of agriculture and cow has come to be known as 'shwetakranti'.

A House without a Bull is Inauspicious.

• While 70% of farmers cannot work with tractors on their small lands, about 12 crore acres of land remains sterile. The fertility of these lands can be increased with the urine and dung of cattle even if they be old or maimed energy obtained from cattle prevents atmospheric pollution.
• Bull is best Indian tractor. They are friends of environment & enemies of pollution. While in 1951 there were 700 cattle for every thousand people, by 2001 it has come down to 400. If this continues it might be reduced by 20 by 2011. It is unfortunate that cattle are useful are being declared useless and slaughtered.
• Urine and dung of cattle do not produce pollution. cattle-ploughing the land or drawing a motor, drawing juice from cane or rotating the oil press, they serve as natural fertilizers & insecticides.

Basis of our culture is agriculture and that we must protect the cattle.

वार्तायां संस्रितस्तात लोको हि सुखमेधते।।