The story of Surabhi
Narada said—О Brahma who was Surabhi, who arrived in the Goloka? Who was she? Where was she bom and what is the story about her? You kindly tell me.
Narayana said—Surabhi was born in Goloka and the foremost of the cows. She is the chief goddess of the cows, the eternal cow and the mother of the gods.
Now I am going to tell you about the story of Surabhi who happens to be the eternal one. In the earlier times, in the forest named Vmdavana, she was bom when lord Krsna once playfully went to Vmdavana together with other cowherdesses.
Once Krsna the lord of Radhika playfully went to Vmdavana together with all the cowherdesses.
On reaching there, they hid themselves playfully in a secluded place. After sometime, they developed a desire for consuming milk. He then playfully created the cow Surabhl from his left side together with the calf. Finding her with her calf, he started milking her. The milk was like the nectar which removed the cycle of birth and death. Thereafter the warm milk was consumed by lord Krsna himself. The vase in which the cow was milked fell onto the ground and was broken, as a result of which a stream of milk was consumed by lord Krsna himself. The vase in which the cow was milked fell on the ground and was broken as a result of which a stream of milk appeared on the scene which spread over an area of a hundred yojanas and was subsequently known as the ocean of milk.
Then there appeared a step-well for the water- sport of Radhika which was filled with gems. Thereafter from the hair-pits of Surabhl lakhs and crores of cows with calves emerged. They had many sons and grandsons, the number of which could not be estimated. They were all spread over the entire universe. Thus I have told you about the creation of the cows.
О sqge, in the earlier times, Surabhl was adored by the lord and she came to be adored by the entire universe in the three worlds.
Thus at the command of lord Krsna, her adoration started from the next day, offering her a lamp. This is all that, I have heard from the mouth of Dharma.
О great ascetic, I am now apprising you of his dhyanam, stotra, miilamantra and the method of her adoration. You please listen to me.
Her mantra is Aum Surabhyai Namaha: which consists of six letters and one meets with success by reciting it a lakh of times. It serves as the kalpavrksa for the devotees.
I am now telling you about the dhyanam and the piija as has been prescribed in the Yajurveda. The goddess who bestows fortune, increase in riches, salvation and fulfils all the desires, is the form of LaksmI, the chaste Radha and her friend, the supreme goddess of the cows, the eternal cow and her mother, is quite auspicious, adorable and giants all the wishes of the devotees; she has purified the whole universe, I adore such a goddess Surabhi.
The Brahmana should adore Surabhi in the form of a vase, the head of the cow or the post with which the cows are tied, Salagrama, the water or the fire.
The one who adores Surabhi at the time of forenoon with devotion, becomes always respectfully on the earth.
Once at the time of the incarnation of Varaha, the illusion of the lord suddenly made the milk to disappear from the ocean of the milk. This made the gods a worried lot.
Thereafter all of them went to Brahmaloka and offered prayers to Brahma. Indra then advised Brahma to adore Surabhi which he did.
Mahendra said—I adore the goddess Surabhi who happens to be the great goddess. She happens to be the cause of all the cows, I offer my salutation to the goddess, who is the mother of the universe.
I adore the goddess who is dear to Radha and was bom from the ray of padma, I offer my salutation to her. I offer my salutation to the beloved of Krsna. I offer my salutation to the mother of the cows again and again, who taking to the form of kalpavrksa bestows riches to all and also bestows grace besides riches and is intelligent. I offer my salutation to her.
She bestows all the welfare, is delightful and bestows the cows. I offer my salutation to her, she bestows grace, all the pleasure and devotion to dharma I bow in reverence to her.
On hearing this prayer from Indra, the goddess Surabhi was extremely pleased. She therefore appeared in Brahmaloka and granted a boon to Mahendra as a result of which all his desires were fulfilled. Thereafter, she went back to Goloka. The gods also, О Narada, went back to their respective abodes.
Thereafter, the entire universe was suddenly filled with milk. Thereafter the ghee emerged out of the milk which was used in the performing of the yajnas and pleased the God.
Whosoever recites the stotra with devotion, possesses cows, riches, glory and nobility. He is treated as if he has taken a bath in all the sacred places or having performed all the yajnas. Thereafter, he, enjoying all the pleasures in the universe, proceeds on to the abode of Lord Krishna and stays there for a long time. О son of Brahma, he is never born again on earth.
