The cow shelter maintained by the Sri Vittal Rukmini Samsthan deserves special mention. A beautiful replica of Rajagopala, the deity of Mannargudi, greets the visitor to the gohsala situated close to the temple, on the bank of the Cauvery. The facility has about 300 cows, many of which are believed to be the descendants of the ones that existed during the Dwapara Yuga. The Gir variety from Gujarat stands tall.
Dr. Salai Gunalan with about 40 years of experience behind him is the residential veterinarian. Fodder is grown in the adjacent fields, watered by sprinklers. The breeze from the river meets the spray making the atmosphere cool and comfortable for the animals. The shelter is anyway provided with fans.
Special drains take the dung to the gobar plant that generates electricity, enough to meet the needs of the shelter. Diluted dung passes into the fields to become manure. Dung is also dried and processed to make holy ash (vibhooti). It is a fulltime job - feeding and bathing the animals, cutting the grass and cleaning the enclosure. Only those who find it a pleasure are engaged in the activities and it shows in the spick and span maintenance.
V.B.
