Cow Dung

This is considered both ritually pure and
purifying, perhaps because of its origin
in the sacred cow. A piece of ground can
be purified (as when preparing a site for
a ritual) by smearing it with cow dung.
Cow dung is one of the ingredients in
the “five products of the cow” (panchagavya), which is drunk as a means of
purification from sin. In addition to its
spiritual significance, cattle dung is very
important for daily life in the villages of
India. When mixed with clay it forms a
hard, dustless, and easily cleaned surface that is preferable to an earthen
floor. It is also a reliable source of fuel
available to even the poorest people.