Summary
The Lord created all; the Lord dwells in all. Legends and Puranas support it.
For a pious Hindu who perceives God in mountains, rivers and seas, every form of life, such as animals and birds, is also worthy of worship. He saw divinity in the cow that provides milk, the dog that keeps a watch over his property, the bullocks that ploughs his field...the list is endless.
This was because of his conviction that all life forms are manifestations of God in the lower level of evolution and that human birth itself is a step forward from past existence in animal form. The difference between man and animals was only in terms of tattvas (principles) and gunas (qualities).
Thus, human life is precious because it is attained after many levels of existence in lower form. If the value of such an opportunity is ignored he will only degenerate into lower level again.
The Atharva Veda says the cow’s body represents various devas and other divine beings. The Mahabharata, Harivamsa Purana, Manu Smriti and other literature eulogise the cow.
