Symbolism of butter

Symbols give meaning to a object, plant, or animal. For example, the two upright stones in the Zen Garden could symbolize a man

and a woman standing on the shore of a river.

Symbol?

•Ayam Kambing beg!

Meaning!

•I am coming back!

• Butter as a luxury food, naturally occupied a prominent place in ancient religious ceremonies, either as an ointment or as a sacred or magical food. Until quite recently the Bretons would place a pat of butter near a person suffering from cancer. The butter was supposed to absorb the disease and it was buried after the sick person’s death.

• The Indian of Vedic times invoked butter as a primordial deity: “Tongue of the gods, navel of the immortal. Let us praise the name of butter, let us maintain it with our sacrificial homage….As a wild steed break through barriers, so does melting butter caress the flaming logs and the fire satisfied, accept it” Rig-Veda (IV,58)

• The butter made from the milk of Indian sacred cows was intended for religious ceremonies: it was a purified, clarified, liquid butter. Indian still use the clarified butter called ghee for cooking. In Tibet butter is made form yak’s milk. It is eaten when very rancid, almost like cheese, and mixed with tea, the sacred drink.