The Story of Surabhi: The Celestial Cow of Tapovanam

Surabhi: Picture taken before her arrival at Tapovanam (05.08.2024)

In the hymns of the Rigveda, the seers prayed, “May the cows roam freely, may they not be bound, and may they always have green pastures.” At Vasishtha Vedic Tapovanam, this prayer lives in reality. The cows and bulls of Tapovanam graze in open fields, unbound, surrounded by abundance and peace. Their arrival here is never by accident—it is guided by the divine will, the hidden connections of past lives that draw beings together at the right moment.

It was this same divine arrangement that brought Surabhi to Tapovanam.

In August 2024, Guruji received a call from Sri Shiva Narayana garu, the retired RDO who had earlier donated Lalita and Govinda. He asked if Guruji would accept another cow—a young Ongole breed, just a year and a half old. Guruji agreed, and on 6th August 2024, the new cow arrived. She was named Surabhi, after the celestial cow of Vedic and Purāṇic lore—also known as Kamadhenu, born of the churning of the cosmic ocean, the mother of all cows, the granter of abundance, purity, and well-being.

Surabhi of Tapovanam carried that same mystic grace. She was not extroverted like Lalita, nor playful like Gauri, but instead resembled Govinda in her nature—quiet, mature, and watchful. From the very beginning, she chose to stay close to Govinda, following him everywhere.

Surabhi was also cautious and shy. She did not come near humans, fearing they might try to bind her. Her tall legs and swift movements made her almost acrobatic—she could leap over fences like a horse. Once, when the veterinary doctor came to give her an injection for a minor skin infection, no one could catch her. She raced across the fields with astonishing speed until finally restrained. At that moment, Govinda rushed forward to confront those holding Surabhi, as if to defend her from harm. Their bond was undeniable.

Despite her distance, Surabhi was immediately welcomed by the herd. Lalita, Govinda, Gauri, and little Nandi accepted her on the very first day, as though she had always belonged to Tapovanam.

Now, Surabhi is carrying her first calf, and soon, the descendants of Surabhi will grace the sacred soil of Tapovanam. Her presence is not just that of another cow but of a living reminder of the celestial Surabhi of Vedic legends, the wish-fulfilling Kamadhenu who once blessed the ashram of Renuka and Jamadagni Maharshi.

As Guruji often says:

“These cows are not merely animals. They are companions of yajna, carriers of divine will, and living embodiments of Sanatan Dharma.”

And so, Surabhi too has become part of Tapovanam’s growing family—her quiet strength and mystical presence adding yet another thread to the eternal tapestry of Vedic revival through cows, bulls, and yajna.