Acharya Prashant explains that religious symbols and rituals, such as the veneration of the cow or the use of sacred water, were originally established by wise individuals to remind humans of their mortality, the truth, and their intimate connection with nature. These symbols were meant to foster a sense of equality and compassion toward all living beings, encouraging humans to see the same consciousness in animals as they do in themselves. By elevating animals like the cow, lion, or even the owl to sacred status, ancient wisdom aimed to protect nature from human exploitation and to establish a relationship of intimacy rather than conquest.
