Celebrating Gau Seva in all its forms

The gaushalas of The Satsang Foundation hold a special place for visitors, volunteers, and residents alike. They are self-sustaining ecosystems where indigenous cows of the Gir, Sahiwal, and Rathi breeds are looked after with much care and reverence. Extending beyond the in-house gaushalas, Gauseva is also offered at shelters for abandoned and injured cows.

Walk with us as we offer you glimpses into the activities that animate our gaushalas.

The Satsang Gaushala, Madanapalle

The Satsang Gaushala’s calves have transformed into robust youngsters. Narmada, Gauri, and Nandi rule the roost and amuse everyone with their mischievous antics as they gambol around the open lands during their grazing sessions. 

The months of May and June have ushered in a series of wonderful interactions not only with their caretakers but also with the volunteers who have chosen to dedicate their time at the ashram in Madanapalle and the young children who were part of the Little Yogis workshops organized by the Bharat Yogavidya Kendra.

As part of their module on Karma Yoga, the children offered daily seva at the gaushala: cleaning the gaushala premises, feeding the cows, bathing them, and reveling in the loving company of their gentle ‘friends’ while singing Krishna bhajans. 

Connecting deeply with Mother Nature, working hand-in-hand, learning to make dung patties, and adorning the walls of the gaushala with Warli Art, the intrepid Yogis learned how to be fully present in the moment and act mindfully.  

The Gaushala Kshetra in The Sacred Grove, Chowdepalle

For the guests and residents of The Sacred Grove, the Gaushala Kshetra is a tranquil space which allows them the time to simply be. Feeding bananas to the cows, watching them gather the soft fruit with their sandpaper-like tongues is a surprisingly rewarding experience, creating a peaceful moment of connection and kindness.

Some guests also volunteer their time to assist the gaushala staff by helping with cleaning, filling water troughs, and supporting other daily activities. Their participation adds to the spirit of community and service that makes the gaushala such a special place.

The cold press oil unit, inaugurated by Sri M earlier this year, marks a significant addition to the sustainable lifestyle anchored in the Gaushala Kshetra. The traditional unit uses a slow-rotating wooden pestle working against a wooden barrel to crush seeds and extract oil. The process is powered by the young bulls, Lakshman and Angad. They are taken out for grazing early each morning and later brought back to the oil unit, where they work for about two hours alongside the staff. Soon to be mechanised, this cold press oil will ensure the low temperature characteristics of the extracted oil are preserved.

Most of the fodder required for the cows is grown on the sprawling campus ensuring a continuous supply of nutritious food through the year for the cows. The slurry is used to prepare cakes which are sun-dried and used to burn leaves, a natural insect repellent. Other products such as sambrani or incense made with the dried dung are being developed to help bring natural fragrance to temples and households while remaining free from harmful wood and coal dust.

Our gaushalas are living examples of sustainability, self-reliance, compassionate care, and harmonious coexistence with nature—where every activity, from milk collection to fodder cultivation, contributes to a larger vision of conscious and responsible living.

The Kalika Gaushala, Pune

The Kalika Gaushala is dedicated to the protection and care of abandoned and injured cows and bulls in Kusgaon, Pune, offering them shelter, nourishment, and compassionate care. Volunteers of the Satsang Seva Mission (SSM) have collaborated with the owner of the gaushala since early March to inaugurate the newly established Nandi Shaala, a sanctuary for bulls housed at the shelter. Since then the team has also supported the construction of an open shelter before the monsoons to ensure the safety and well-being of the cows. Fresh supplies of leafy vegetables, nutritious oil cakes, special feed, and fodder are offered at regular intervals to the cows. Loving care and attention is given to each of these vulnerable creatures, creating bonds of profound affection and tenderness with them, helping them heal.

Here’s how you can help

Sign up for our volunteer program at Madanapalle Ashram, visit The Sacred Grove, or join our team at Pune. Participate in the circle of sustainable living, contribute your time or your resources.

To contribute to the Gaushala initiative, please click here: https://app.satsang-foundation.org/donate or https://give.do/fundraisers/gau-seva-help-satsang-foundation-gaushalas-protect-our-indigenous-cows

To know more, please write to connect@satsang-foundation.org.