Thiruvallikkeni
has its own charms – mainly the temple of Sri Parthasarathi and its surrounds
! .. .. yesterday saw this Calf on the
banks of holy Kairavini pushkarini - just trying to get up
"Born only hours ago, yet already standing on its own feet
—the quiet courage of new life."
Slightly edited removing its tethering ropes - what strikes me is its innocence. Not sure whether it is a he or she !! – and that decides its future totally. Whether male or female, this calf has no awareness of the future. It is simply experiencing the world for the first time—finding its footing, recognizing its mother, and discovering its surroundings.
"Only a few hours old, this little calf knows nothing of the debates and economics that surround cattle. It seeks only its mother's warmth, its first meal, and the strength to stand. Looking into those gentle eyes, one cannot help but wish that every newborn life—whatever its fate—receives kindness and compassion."
Modern domestic cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus) descended from the aurochs (Bos primigenius), a large wild bovine that once roamed Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Bos Taurus is traced to Turkey, Iraq, Syria and surrounding regions; while Zebu (Bos indicus) is traced to the Indus Valley (present-day northwest India and Pakistan). The last wild aurochs died in 1627 in Poland.
Under natural conditions, cattle are capable of living much longer than most people realize. The cattles’ natural life span is 18 – 25 years with some exceptions lasting even 3 decades. Dairy cattle generally live 8 – 10 years but have a tough life once they stop giving milk.
A newborn calf is a precocial animal. Unlike human babies, which are born relatively helpless, calves are neurologically advanced at birth because, in the wild, they needed to be able to follow their mothers and escape predators almost immediately. With a few minutes of their birth most calves stand; they are nursed and within a couple of hours they start walking too. Within a day of birth, they can recognize their mother's voice and smell. Their running and playing are great things to be seen and loved !!
A calf's first milk, colostrum, is vital—it provides antibodies that protect it from disease during its first weeks of life. In our culture, a newborn calf is often regarded as a symbol of innocence, prosperity, and new beginnings, reflecting the revered place of the cow in our culture.
"Born
only hours ago, this little calf knows nothing of the world it has entered. In
a land where the cow is reverred, may reverence also mean compassion—not only
in words and rituals, but in clean water, nourishing fodder, gentle care, and
freedom from suffering. True respect for any living being is measured by how we
treat them every day."
29.7.2026
