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The political controversy over cow slaughter and beef-eating may be recent, but the Sangh Parivar has over the decades put in a lot of “research” into the benefits of the cow to provide a scientific justification for its protection.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has a Gou Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra (cow-science research centre) near Nagpur, which boasts many patents for therapeutic use of cow products.

It now has a detailed booklet on the “scientific” benefits of the cow. The booklet rues: “Unfortunately, around 36,000 slaughter houses in India are signalling the destruction of this priceless wealth we possess.”

The organisation’s website says that there are 450 heads of cattle, “saved from the hands of butchers,” on the centre’s campus.

Sunil Mansinghka, who runs the institution, told The Hindu: “Cow urine and dung can be used to make better fertilizers than the chemical fertilizers, which are harmful.”

‘Cow urine for asthma, jaundice’

Cow products can cure a variety of ailments, claims a booklet brought out by the Kendra. The booklet has a table listing the diseases cow dung and cow urine can cure.

Cow urine, it says, cures skin diseases, asthma, jaundice and anaemia, etc. It is also recommended for simpler conditions: “Administration of 2-4 drops of gou-mutra in the nostrils or its consumption twice a day is beneficial for cold.” Cow dung cures cough and arthritis, it says.

Cow products can be used for veterinary treatment as well, says the booklet. It cites an example of “successful” treatment: “With the use of Gaumutra Ark, the dialysis of a dog was terminated.”

The institute claims it achieved a milestone by inventing a way of using calculators and watches that work on gou-mutra.

There are cow initiatives in other parts of India too. Rajasthan Health Minister Rajendra Rathor had months ago said the State government would like to have the Sawai Man Singh hospital in Jaipur cleaned with cow urine. It could be extended to other government hospitals across the State, he said. He made this statement while inaugurating a cow-urine refinery in Jalore district. The phenoyl substitute made from cow urine is called go-noyl.

In 2009, the cow protection department of the RSS had developed a soft drink formula from cow urine to give colas a run for their money.

In this October 9, 2015 photo, a worker feeds cows at a shelter in New Delhi