One of the earliest methods to measure wealth was by the number of cattle or amount of grains. Practice of estimation of a person's wealth through "cattle wealth" is over 10,000 years old. It was in use much before money in the form of coins gained practice. Cows are one of the important components of cattle wealth and are much in use even today. In our country, cows are also considered sacred by a large section of population. Performing "Go (Cow) Pooja" is an integral part of the morning prayers for many. Gifting cows is considered as an important ritual. One of the important stages of preparing for the journey to the next world is gifting a cow. Gifting cows to the deserved in the name of a departed soul in the family is practiced even in present days. In all such rituals, cow is always accompanied by a calf and they are decorated and worshipped before gifting away. The person receiving the cow as gift is expected to take proper care of it and use its milk for his sacred rituals besides use for his own family members. Its milk, curd, butter and ghee are put to various uses. Any sacred ritual is incomplete without these items, especially the ghee.
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Hari Mahato, a poor farmer, had a desire to have his own cow. He borrows a cow and owes Rupees 80 to the seller. He for some reason cheats his own brother for Rupees 10. The unhappy brother poisons the cow and runs away being afraid of the crime. Hari Mahato borrows some more money to clear the brother's name. He and his wife shelter his son's lover, a widow. Hari takes another loan to pay the penalty for sheltering her. He gets one of his daughter married off for Rupees 200 to save a piece of ancestral land. One by one, his debts mount. In his eagerness to pay off all these debts, he overworks and is about die. His devoted and ever suffering but generous wife Dhaniya pools all her savings and the little sum is used for his "Godaan" before his death. He had a dream of owning a cow to provide enough milk to his grandson. He never realises this dream during his lifetime. But he dies with the satisfaction of having made a "Godaan" before his death. He is half satisfied at death; not achieving the dream of having a cow to provide milk for his grandson but having made "Godaan" before his death.
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The above is a short summary of the famous novel "Godaan" in Hindi language, by Munshi Premchand. Munshi Premchand lived all his life around Benares (Varanasi) and Allahabad (Prayag Raj) except a few years towards the end of his life in Bombay (Mumbai). Dhanpat Rai Shrivastava was his real name and he used "Nawab Rai" and "Munshi Premchand" as his pen names. He lived for only 56 years (1880-1936). He lost his mother when he was eight years old and spent his entire life in struggles to earn and make a livelihood. His own financial difficulties find a reflection in many of his works. Godaan was his last completed work and was released in the year 1936. He wrote over 300 short stories and 14 novels. He was bestowed with the title "Upanyas Samrat", meaning "Emperor among Novelists". He has also written many essays and translated many works in foreign languages to Hindi. He continues to be a highly respected writer even today.
Premchand's novel "Godaan" presents a beautiful picture (though not a very happy one) of the honesty and sufferings of the Mahato family. Intricate caste politics and exploitation of the week can be seen throughout the novel. Social and economic conditions of the suffering people can be seen in all his works. His Godaan was translated into English as "Gift of the Cow". He tried his hand in the film land also towards the end of his life by writing scripts for some films. His early schooling was in a Madrasa and that helped him learn Urdu and Persian languages as well.
Godaan, considered as one of the greatest novels in Hindi and modren Indian Literature, was made into a film in Hindi in 1963 with Raj Kumar, Shashikala and Mahmood as lead artistes. It was also a part of the TV serial in 2004, directed by Gulzar and starring Pankaj Kapur. His another novel "Shatranj Ke Khiladi", meaning Chess Players, was made a movie by Satyajit Ray. Premchand's literary pursuits are to be viewed in the background of his own humble life and struggles for survival.
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Garuda Purana graphically explains the journey of the soul after the death of the human body. One has to cross the "River of Hell" Vaitarani, on the way. The description of this river is extremely fearsome to read and hear. In order to cross the river easily, one has to do a Godaan or Gift a Cow during his life time. Those doing so are believed to be taken across the river in a boat or fly across by holding the tail of the cow. Those who do not do this are made to swim in the river of filth and filled with deadly animals and crocodiles. It is for this reason that shraddalu people make a Godaan during their life time or at least in the last days before their death. There is also a practice of the sons or relatives making a Godaan on behalf of the deceased, within a year of the death.
Though Vaitarani Godaan is well known, there are actually five Godaans one has to make during his lifetime. They are:
- Runa Godaana (ऋण गोदान): During one's life a person has to repay many debts to others. Some of these may be very small amounts and taken from known people with the promise of paying back shortly. An example may be a small change taken in a temple or for bus fare. There is a promise to return the amount involved. However, the amount is small enough for the giver not to demand it later or the taker to keep a track and return in due course. A debt is a debt, irrespective of the amount involved as there is a promise to pay back. If the debt is not discharged, the receiver has to take another birth to repay and the giver to receive it! Runa Godaan is made to settle all such outstanding debts during one's lifetime. No loan waiver by any government discharges such debts, but this Godaan can.
- Utkranti Godaana (उत्क्रान्ति गोदान): Death is generally said to come with lot of pain and suffering. Even if others feel that death was painless, the dying feels the pain. Utkaranti Godaana is made to prevent such pain at the time of death.
- Antardhenu Godaana (अन्तर्धेनु गोदान): One has to walk a long distance on the hot road after death. An Antardhenu Godaana saves this horrid journey and may even be provided a horse to travel the distance.
- Vaitarani Godaana (वैतरणी गोदान): Vaitarani Godan is for the purpose of crossing the river of hell Vaitarani. Such a Godaana provides a safe journey across the dangerous river as discussed above.
- Moksha Dhenu Godaana (मोक्ष धेनु गोदान): The ultimate aim is to escape the birth-death cycle. Moksha Dhenu Godaana supports achieving this goal. Leading a pious life and being useful in society is a prerequisite for this Godaana to be fruitful.
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Is there a simple method to save one from all such troubles? Srimad Bhagavata says that reading or listening of one verse from it is equal to 3000 Godaans. But that should be done with full concentration and devotion to the Lord. Doing it with such concentration and devotion is indeed difficult for most of us.
