In 1974, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) purchased 300 acres in central Pennsylvania and started Gita-nagari, “the village where the Bhagavad-gita is sung and lived.” Rooted in Srila Prabhupada’s translations of India’s ancient Vedic literature, the village set out to demonstrate the natural sweet relationship between the land, the animals, humanity, and God. In 1985, the village residents started Adopt A Cow, to bring the message of a cruelty-free society to others.
We are currently protecting over 50 cows and oxen. You can help us in our mission by reading the adoption plans in the brochure and select the one that suits you best.
Adopt-A-Cow program has been educating the public and providing
an opportunity for others to get involved in cow protection since 1985.
Adopt-A-Cow is part of Gita-Nagari farm, a Hare Krishna community in rural
Pennsylvania. The name Gita-nagari in Sanskrit means: "the village
where the song of God is sung." Farm communities like Gita-nagari are
gradually striving towards the goal of self-sufficiency, based on the philosophy
of "simple living and high thinking", as propagated by the teachings
of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Our philosophy and beliefs are based on the Vedic literatures of ancient
India, of which a major principle is that of cow protection. Cow protection
is a crucial element towards establishing a simple and peaceful society.
Cows give us milk, which is one of nature's most complete foods, and their
manure can be used to fertilize the soil to grow grains, which can then
be plowed and harvested by teams of oxen. The routine slaughter of animals
for gratifying the tongue only leads to karmic consequences that affect
the whole human society in the forms of violence, war, pestilence, etc...
not to mention the degenerative health effects of meat-eating. By adopting
a cow, you will help support cow protection, as well as educating others
about the importance of protecting the cow.
We rely solely on the contributions of sympathetic donors. If you have any
questions, please feel free to call or write to us, or e-mail us at …..
We hope to hear from you soon.
The basic principle of economic development is centered about land and
cows. The necessities of human society are food grains, fruits, milk, minerals,
clothing, wood, etc. One requires all these items to fulfill the material
needs of the body. Certainly one does not require flesh and fish or iron
tools and machinery....
Grains and vegetables can sumptuously feed a man and animals, and a fatty
cow delivers enough milk to supply a man sumptuously with vigor and vitality.
If there is enough milk, enough jewels, then why do people need cinemas,
houses of prostitution, slaughterhouses, etc? What is the need of an artificial
luxurious life of cinema, cars, radio, flesh and hotels? Has this civilization
produced anything but quarreling individually and nationally? Has this civilization
enhanced the cause of equality and fraternity by sending thousands of men
into hellish factory and the war fields at the whims of a particular man?
It is said that the cows used to moisten the pasturing land with milk because
their milk bags were fatty and the animals were joyful. Do they not require,
therefore, proper protection for a joyful life by being fed with sufficient
quantity of grass in the field? Why should men kill cows for their selfish
purposes? Why should man not be satisfied with grains, fruits and milk,
which, combined, can produce hundreds and thousands of palatable dishes?
Why are there slaughterhouses all over the world to kill innocent animals?
--His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada