In Hinduism, the cow is regarded as a symbol of ahimsa (non-violence), mother goddess and bringer of good fortune and wealth. For this reason, cows are revered in Hindu culture and feeding a cow is seen as an act of worship. This is why beef remains a taboo food in mainstream Hindu and Jain society.Peter H. Marshall. Nature's Web: Rethinking Our Place on Earth. M.E. Sharpe, 1996 p. 26
