Kamdhenu or Dhenu, also referred to as Surabhi, occupies a significant place in Hindu mythology as a divine bovine figure, esteemed as the mother of all cows and the harbinger of wealth and prosperity. Worshiped fervently by devotees, Kamdhenu is believed to possess mystical powers capable of granting any wish and bestowing both material and spiritual blessings upon her devotees. Not only is she revered for her ability to fulfill desires, but Kamdhenu also holds the esteemed position as the maternal figure to several other divine beings within Hindu lore, including Nandini, the wish-fulfilling cow, and Airavata, the celestial elephant mount of Indra. Here are five aspects of Kamdhenu that you may not know
Kamdhenu was in the possession of various sages, kings, and gods, who benefited from her blessings and protection. Some of the notable owners of Kamdhenu are:
Vasishta: He was a great sage and the preceptor of Rama, the hero of the Ramayana. He received Kamdhenu from Indra as a gift, and used her to perform various rituals and sacrifices. He also used her to defeat the army of Vishwamitra, another sage who coveted Kamdhenu and tried to steal her from Vasishta. Kamdhenu produced a large number of warriors from her body, who fought and defeated Vishwamitra’s soldiers.
Jamadagni: He was another sage and the father of Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu. He also received Kamdhenu from Indra, and used her to feed his guests and perform his duties. He was visited by Kartavirya Arjuna, a powerful king who had a thousand arms and a thousand eyes. The king was impressed by Kamdhenu’s abilities, and demanded her from Jamadagni. When the sage refused, the king took her by force, along with his army. Jamadagni’s son, Parashurama, avenged his father by killing the king and his army, and bringing Kamdhenu back to his ashram.
Yudhishthira: He was the eldest of the Pandavas, the heroes of the Mahabharata. He received Kamdhenu from Dattatreya, an incarnation of the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva). He used her to perform the Rajasuya Yagna, a grand sacrifice that established his supremacy over the world. He also used her to feed the thousands of guests who attended the sacrifice, including the sages, the gods, and the kings.
This oleographs dated back to 1920-25 one of work of MV Dhurandhar and produced from Ravi Varma Press Karla Lonavala. Bombay. Dhurandhar also produced oil painting based of this subject.
