The Healing Power of Music: My Journey with Cows and Indian Classical Ragas at Gauswarga


 Two years ago, my journey with cows and music took a transformative turn when I first visited Gauswarga, a divine initiative inspired and blessed by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri Raghaveshwara Bharati Mahaswamiji of Sri Ramachandrapura Matha. That moment opened my heart to an ancient yet under-explored truth — music is not only for humans; it also heals, soothes, and uplifts animals, especially cows.

Over the last two years, I've been blessed to visit gaushalas in Gokarna, Kerala, and once again at Gauswarga this May. During each visit, I’ve carried with me not just instruments or songs, but an intention to connect through sound. With Indian classical ragas as my medium — gentle morning tones like Ahir Bhairav, evening melodies like Yaman, or emotionally resonant ragas like Shivranjani — I began singing and playing music for the cows.

To my astonishment and joy, the cows responded — not just passively, but emotionally and behaviorally. They became calmer. They clustered together. Their gaze softened. Some even seemed to sway subtly with the rhythm. The caretakers reported more ease in managing them, especially during milking, and over time, noted an increase in milk yield.

The Science That Echoes the Experience

What I witnessed in the gaushalas is now being backed by scientific studies from around the world:

  • The University of Leicester (UK) found that cows exposed to slow-tempo, calming music produced 3% more milk compared to cows kept in silence or exposed to fast-paced tunes.

  • A study published in the Journal of Dairy Science confirmed that music reduces cortisol (stress hormone) levels, improves the cow’s let-down reflex, and enhances milk ejection during milking.

  • Closer home, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) observed that Indian classical music increased daily milk yield by 1 to 1.5 liters per cow, while also significantly reducing signs of stress and agitation.

This blend of tradition and science validated my intuitive experiment — that nada (sound) is indeed brahma (divine), and that cows — these sacred givers of nourishment — thrive in an atmosphere of sound healing and spiritual vibration.

A Sacred Moment with Swamiji

My return to Gauswarga this May was not just a continuation of this journey, but a spiritual elevation. I had the divine privilege to sing in front of Swamiji himself — a moment that will forever echo in my soul. His blessings affirmed the deep potential of music as a tool for seva (service), healing, and cultural revival.

Under Swamiji’s vision, Gauswarga is more than a gaushala — it’s a sanctuary where desi cows live with dignity, where Vedic values guide every breath, and where sound and silence coexist in sacred harmony.

Music as a Stress Buster for Cows

Just as music helps calm the human nervous system, its effects on cows are increasingly being studied and celebrated. From improving the emotional atmosphere to enhancing milk productivity, music — especially soothing, structured sounds like classical ragas — provides a natural, non-invasive method of enriching the lives of cows.

Cows, like humans, are emotionally intelligent beings. When they are nurtured not just with food and shelter, but with kindness, calm, and culture, their health and productivity naturally flourish.

In Conclusion: When Sound Becomes Seva

As I reflect on this journey — blending music, tradition, service, and science — I am reminded of our deep ancestral wisdom: the cow is not just an animal; she is gau mata, a symbol of abundance, patience, and grace. And music is not just art — it is medicine, meditation, and offering.

If our temples have music, why shouldn’t our gaushalas?

Let us remember: when cows thrive, life thrives. And sometimes, all it takes is a raga, a voice, and an intention rooted in love.


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