Gau Daan puja in an Indian temple courtyard with a garlanded white cow, priest and devotee family

Gau Daan · गौ दान

The Sacred Gift of a Cow — From Wherever You Are

For Hindu families living outside Bharat, the chance to perform Gau Daan is too often lost. We perform it for you in India — and you can join the puja live.

Offer Gau Daan Read the Story

Devotee offering kumkum, rice and marigolds on a cow's forehead during Gau Daan puja

Why Gau Daan

Gau Mata — Mother of All Abundance

In Sanatan Dharma the cow is revered as Gau Mata and Kamadhenu — the wish-fulfilling mother in whom the devatas are said to reside. She nourishes without asking anything in return.

Gau Daan, the gift of a cow, is traditionally counted among the seven sacred dānas a person is called to offer in their lifetime before leaving this world — one of the most meritorious acts of giving in Hindu tradition. The donated cow sustains a family or goshala for years, so the blessing continues long after the puja.

For the global Hindu family

Living in the USA or anywhere abroad no longer means missing this sacred duty.

Be present, live

Join on Zoom at a time you choose and take the sankalp yourself.

The Story of Vaitarni

Crossing the River of Karma

The Garuda Purana tells that when the soul leaves the body, it must cross the Vaitarni — a fierce river between this world and the abode beyond, its currents shaped by the karma of a lifetime.

One who has offered Gau Daan in their lifetime is met at the river's edge by a cow. Holding her tail, the soul crosses the dangerous waters with ease and reaches the far shore.

One who has not must struggle across on the strength of their karma alone — a hard and uncertain crossing on the path toward liberation.

Illustration of a soul crossing the Vaitarni river holding the tail of a radiant sacred cow

How It Works

Three Simple Steps

Choose your offering

Select your Gau Daan offering and whether you wish to attend live or simply make the donation.

The puja is performed in India

Vedic priests perform the Gau Daan puja with full sankalp in your name and gotra — live on Zoom at the time you choose, or on your behalf.

Receive your blessings

A token cow is mailed to you, along with a personalized Gau Daan certificate and your official donation receipt.

What You Receive

A Lasting Remembrance of Your Gau Daan

Token cow mailed to your home as a sacred keepsake.
Personalized Gau Daan certificate calling out your offering alongside your name.
Official donation receipt from THE AUM FOUNDATION for your records.

1. How would you like to participate?

Your availability — two preferred dates & times

Option 1 — Date *

Option 1 — Time *

Option 2 — Date *

Option 2 — Time *

Your time zone

Our team will confirm the final muhurat with you and email your private Zoom link.

2. Your offering

Live Zoom Puja$2,000 USD

3. Your details

First Name *

Last Name *

Email *

Phone (optional)

Name(s) on certificate

Gotra (optional, for sankalp)

4. Mail me my token cow

Street address *

City *

State / Province

ZIP / Postal code *

Country *

Secure payment processed via Stripe. You will receive a personalized Gau Daan certificate and an official donation receipt.