Mahabharata refers to Goa as Goparashtra, ‘a nation of cowherds’. Parshuram, the Hindu god, according to legend, flung his arrow on the coast and made the waters recede, thus founding the Konkan. The Southern Konkan was called Govarashtra. In ancient Indian texts in Sanskrit she is also known as Gopakapuri or Gapakapattana. This only corroborates the idea that Goa was a very prosperous State, sin
ce cattle was the criterion of wealth. The name Gomant for Goa also occurs in the said Indian epic Mahabharata and in the sacred texts like Harivansa and Skanda as well. In the latter, Goa is even known as Gomanchala. They equally refer to her as Govapuri. Suta Sanhita, an Indian classic, for instance, has a revealing passage: “To the north of Gokarn is a 'kshetra' with seven 'yojanas' in circumference: therein is situated Govapuri, which destroys all sins. The sight of Govapuri destroys the sin committed in a previous existence, as at sunrise darkness disappears. Even by making up his mind to bathe once in Govapuri one attains a high place (in the next world). Certainly there is no 'kshetra' equal to Govapuri.”
Holy land of Goa or Gomanta(literally meaning the region of cows) has become an inauspicious region of most sinful cow slaughter. Lets unite together and stop this cruel practice of cow slaughter. Cows give milk to all without any discrimination and irrespective of your religious affiliation. So cow is like a mother to entire mankind. So, lets offer our gratitude to her and give her gift of life, by not slitting her throat.
