Shanthakumari and Gopalakrishnan have 16 foster children

KOCHI: The cows in the Gowrishankaram Goshala are like the children of Shanthakumari (69) and her husband Gopalakrishnan Nair (71). By the time milkman Sivan arrives at 5.30 am to milk the cows, the couple may have bathed all the cows. The Goshala belongs to the Thiru Iranikulam Kalathil temple at Cherthala Pallippuram. The couple will begin their duty at 4 am by bathing the cow named Paru. They then go on to bathe other cows such as Keerthana, Ponnu, Muthu, Nandini, Shankari, Bhadra, Gauri, Krishnamma and Sundari. Though their house is located near to the temple, both Shanthakumari and Gopalakrishnan are happy to live in the shed next to the Goshala. What matters to this couple is not the reward, but the happiness they get by taking care of the cows.

The purpose of the Goshala is to bring in different breeds of cows for rearing and to maintain the breed of native cows. There are nine breeds of cows in the Goshala, including Krishna Valley, which was brought from Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna, and Gir from Rajasthan. Milk will be given to the needy after the temple needs. Milk of various breeds is in high demand as it has medicinal properties.

The Goshala was set up 11 years ago after a group of youngsters, who went to collect funds for the temple festival, brought a bull to the temple. The men had collected money and bought the bull after seeing its plight in front of a slaughterhouse. A new Goshala was constructed a year ago at Rs 20 lakh.