What does the Atharva Veda say about cows?

Question

This article mentions about cows in Atharva Veda

Cow is believed as theomorphic animal in Atharva-veda.

What does the Atharva Veda say about cows?

Answer 1

Atharvaveda Khanda 9 Suktha 7 describes cow as theomorphic animal.

Prajapati and Parameshthin are the two horns, Indra is the head, Agni the forehead, Yama the joint of the neck. King Soma is the brain, Sky is the upper jaw, Earth is the lower jaw. Lightning is the tongue, the Maruts are the teeth, Revati is the neck, the Krittikās are the shoulders, the Gharma s the shoulder-bar.His universe is Vāyu, Svarga is his world, Krishpadram is the tendons and Vertebrae. The Syena ceremony is the breast, Air is the region of the belly,Brihaspati is the hump, Brihatī the breast-bone and cartilages of the ribs.

The consorts of the Gods are the ribs, the attendants are ribs. Mitra and Varuna are the shoulder-blades. Tvashtar and Aryaman the fore-arms, Mahādeva is the arms. Indrāni is the hinder parts, Vāyu the tail, Pavamāna the hair. Priestly rank and princely power are the hips, and strength is the thigh.

Dhātar and Savitar are the two knee-bones, the Gandharvas are the legs the Apsarases are bits of the feet, Aditi is the hooves. Thought is the heart, intelligence is the liver, law the pericardium. Hunger is the belly, refreshing drink is the rectum, mountains are the inward parts.Wrath is the kidneys, anger the testes, offspring the generative organ.The river is the womb, the Lords of the Rain are the breasts,the thunder is the udder.

The All-embracing (Aditi) is the hide, the herbs are her hair, and the Lunar Mansions her form. The hosts of Gods are her entrails, man are her bowels, and demons her abdomen. Rākshasas are the blood, the Other Folk are the contents of the Stomach. The rain-cloud is her fat, her resting-place her marrow. Sitting he is Agni, when he hath stood up he is the Asvins. Standing east-wards he is Indra, standing southwards, Yama. Standing westwards he is Dhātar, standing northwards Savitar. When he hath got his grass he is King Soma.

He is Mitra when he looks about him, and when he hath turned round he is joy.When he is yoking he belongs to the All-Gods, when yoked he is Prajāpati, when unyoked he is All.

This verily is omniform, wearing all forms, bovine-formed. Upon him wait omniform beasts, wearing every shape, each one who hath this knowledge.

For Sanskrit verses, see Atharvaveda Khanda 9 Suktha 7 (Pg No- 311 and 312)