Abhishekam is an act of devotion and purification where we pour milk over a Shiva lingam to honor Lord Shiva. Traditionally cows were treated as beloved members of the Indian family, and they freely gave the gift of milk in return. Milk given in this way is a clear symbol of purity, nourishment, and devotion. However, with the rise of mega dairy in the West, cows live short, stressful, painful, and confined lives and the milk they produce represents the violence they experience.

According to the Humane Society’s Report, The Welfare of Cows in the Dairy Industry, cows are social, complex animals that can anticipate the future and experience pain, fear and anxiety, which makes the abuses of factory farms all the more cruel. Roughly nine million cows used for dairy in the United States are confined either indoors in tiny 2 by 1 meter stalls, and never see a blade of grass in their shortened lives (ibid). While cows can live 20 years, most dairy cows are considered “spent” after a mere 5 and are turned into ground beef (ibid). The use of IVF and artificial insemination has greatly increased and often causes pain and stress in the cows (ibid). The stress of physical restraint, impregnation, and social isolation has been measured in these poor creatures by an increase in plasma cortisol (ibid). And calves used for veal are taken from their mothers shortly after birth before being forced to spend their short lives in tiny crates. Under such extreme conditions, milk is no longer a symbol of purity or nourishment, but of violence and blood.

Further more, by purchasing large quantities of milk, not only are we propping up an industry that causes Himsa, we are also contributing to environmental practices that have dire consequences for the future. By 2050 we’ll need to feed two billion more people. The vast majority of our land isn’t producing food directly – it’s growing crops to feed cows that will eventually become hamburgers. In the United States, 27 percent of crop calories are consumed directly — wheat, say, or fruits and vegetables. More than 67 percent of crops — particularly all the soy grown in the Midwest — goes to animal feed. Most experts agree, crop production will need to double if we are to feed the growing population.

Our Hindu faith leaders must not only commit to replacing milk, which has become a symbol of harm and violence and is contributing to environmental destruction, with pure and nourishing offerings in rituals over which they preside, but also take on the responsibility of educating the larger Hindu community about the true impact of using milk sourced from mega dairies. The milk used today is far removed from the sacred, nurturing symbol it once was. Instead, it is tainted by the suffering of cows subjected to exploitation, cruelty, and early death, along with the significant environmental degradation caused by the dairy industry.

Leaders have a unique opportunity to re-align our spiritual practices with the principle of ahimsa (non-violence) by encouraging devotees to adopt cruelty-free alternatives that honor both the divine and all of creation. A consortium of saints and spiritual leaders has come together to suggest beautiful, symbolic offerings in place of milk: water infused with organic rose petals, tulsi, or sandalwood paste. These offerings maintain the essence of purity and devotion, while embodying compassion and respect for all living beings. In doing so, we can restore sacredness to our rituals, free from the suffering that current practices perpetuate, and ensure that our worship is in harmony with the earth and its creatures.

The animal agriculture industry also produces an outsized portion of global warming emissions. According to new research out of Stanford and UC Berkeley, if we were to end meat and dairy production and transition to plant-based food system would “pause” the growth of greenhouse gas emissions for 30 years!