The question was enough to perplex me because it was completely unexpected. As I grasped to come to terms with it, I noticed the American tourist’s face, and saw a genuine curiosity reflected back at me. Standing in the Palika Bazar, one of the well-known flea markets of Delhi and struggling with the ruthless humidity, the blond woman nearing 50s was not an odd one out; this place is famous among tourists hoping to buy some budget-friendly ‘Indian’ goodies, mostly clothes, to take back home. As she tried to communicate with the vendor, who despite his best to understand her was still looking around to get some help, I stepped in. After getting what she wanted I told him that she wants the ‘three products that she had previously picked.’ As he went away looking for bags, we, the two ladies chatted up with a little mott chaat beneath his humble arrangement (it was not a shop, just a little tent under which he sold several things including earrings, wall hangings besides hats and clothes as well). It was all nice till she asked about the ‘Cow God.’ I eyed her with a doubt of my own; can I ever explain ‘our way of thought’ to someone who probably has been munching a beef patty throughout her life? Will I be harsh with her if she would question my beliefs and hence spoil her admiration for India and Indians that she just poured in front of me? When I found I was lacking, I kept quiet but she took it as if I was insulted and started apologizing instead. It just embarrassed me even further and then just to show that the question, although surprising, did not insult me or my beliefs anyway I tried to tell her after informing her that my knowledge is limited.

‘The Cow God is actually nothing like the Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent God that Western societies make of. We believe that anyone can become one with the Supreme by awakening the inner self and how do we do it? We do it by meditating, by keeping our karma in check and by not harming any living being either knowingly or unknowingly. In India, particularly among Hindus, Jains and Sikhs, cows are respected as mothers because while a mother nourishes you for 9 months in womb and 5 years through her milk, cow nourishes one till the end of a person’s life. Another thing to remember here is that we believe that everything is made by God and all His creations must be nurtured and respected, in case of cow this limit is further accentuated by the number of benefits she provides us; even her urine is used in medicines. So Cow is not ‘God’ like you said, but we consider her to be one of His best creations and hence we respect and love her like a mother and for Hindus, Mother is God and also the first Guru, so Cow becomes God-like, and thus, just like a Mother.’

She was listening intently, and to my satisfaction, she seemed happy to have solved a mystery that was perplexing her for quiet sometime it seemed. Then after grasping everything she finally spoke and said, “so far it is the best explanation I have heard. Last time someone told me that there are millions of Gods who live in a Cow’s body and that is why she is God, but what you say makes lot of sense.”

I felt happy that she found my humble effort good enough, meanwhile the vendor returned while we kept chatting on the economic and social condition of India. It turned out that she was an Atheist, but was fascinated by Indians. She found several peculiarities in our way of life like the ‘Cow God,’ and it was because of these that she decided to come here and decode the riddle. I stayed for a while to help her get all paid and packed up, and saw that she had chosen a Ganesha hanging to take back with her to the States. Ganesha, in Hindu mythology, is the God of good and auspicious beginnings, so hopefully she would continue her search for the answers to other mysteries. She was not just a tourist, I realized, but a ‘traveler’ who has an appetite to go beyond ‘touristic attractions’ and educate herself of new concepts. Adieu Samantha!