LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday made a strong pitch for wider public involvement in cow protection, urging Jain families to extend support to gaushalas and saying the welfare of cattle was deeply connected with India’s cultural and spiritual traditions.
He was addressing a gathering during the Bhagwan Munisuvratanath Panchkalyanak Pratishtha Mahotsav at a Jain temple in Ayodhya.
Call for Shared Responsibility
Calling cow protection a shared responsibility, he said, "Gau Mata is a living manifestation of divinity. Protecting, conserving and promoting her should be our endeavour."
He appealed to devotees to actively contribute to gaushalas, saying every Jain family should adopt one if possible. "If a whole gaushala cannot be adopted, then support a few cows annually. And if that is also not possible, then at least bear the annual expenses of one cow and dedicate that support to a gaushala," he said.
Regular Engagement with Cow Shelters
Adityanath stressed the importance of regular engagement with cow shelters. "If Gau Mata remains healthy, India's culture will remain healthy. Vedic Sanatan Dharma will remain secure and Jain Dharma will also remain secure." He further added, "These are not separate traditions; they complement each other," underlining unity among faiths.
Referring to Ayodhya’s ancient legacy, the Chief Minister said the city had long been a centre for preserving knowledge traditions along with cow protection. "Ayodhya has a long history. The kings of Ayodhya protected India's tradition of knowledge and also protected the Gau Mata," he said.
Jain Heritage in Uttar Pradesh
Highlighting Jain heritage in the state, he noted Uttar Pradesh’s association with multiple Jain Tirthankaras, adding that five of the 24 were born in Ayodhya.
Drawing references from the Ramayana, he said, "Remember the episode in the Ramayana when Bali questioned Lord Ram's authority to punish him. Lord Ram told him that his own actions had led to his downfall and that wherever civilisation existed across the land, it was under the domain of the rulers of Ayodhya," he said.
He also spoke about Ayodhya’s sacred lineage beginning with Bhagwan Rishabhdev, whom he described as the world’s first king.
Appeal for Civic Responsibility
Referring to the Jain principle of “Live and Let Live”, he said, "'Jiyo aur jeene do' (Live and let live) can be preached only by those who are secure and bound by self-discipline. Negative and unruly forces cannot remain within the framework of self-discipline," he said.
He urged citizens to take part in cleanliness drives, tree plantation and environmental conservation, along with efforts contributing to national development and security.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for civic responsibility, Adityanath said every citizen should remain conscious of their duties towards the nation and society.
