The cow is called “Gow” in Samskrit. The holy scriptures of Sana:thana Dharma including the Rig Veda, the Yajurveda, the Upanishads, and the Pura:na:s refer the cow as “Gomatha” (meaning “Cow – the Mother”).
They extol the importance of Gomatha in the Vedic way of life because of the kind of central role she plays in Vedic religion/spirituality. Ghee is the most important contribution of gomatha because without cow ghee we cannot perform yagnas/homas which is the single most important ritual in the Vedic religion/spirituality and way of life. Cow’s milk, curds, butter, ghee and other daily-use products and their derivatives are invaluable in A:yurveda medical system, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and other spheres of our life.