After his remarks praising “the medicinal properties” of cow urine sparked criticism, IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti Monday clarified his position, asserting that his comments were based on scientific research and a broader understanding of Indian medicine. “I personally consume Panchagavyam," Kamakoti said, referring to a mixture used in Hindu rituals, made by combining cow urine, cow dung, milk, curd, and ghee. On January 15, 2025, during a speech at a ‘Go Samrakshana Sala’ event in Chennai, Kamakoti purportedly spoke about the benefits of cow urine, or goumutra, in treating various health conditions and recalled an anecdote of a sanyasi who allegedly recovered from a fever after drink it. “A prominent sanyasi came and developed a fever. He was suggested the idea of calling a doctor… I forgot the name of that sanyasi. He immediately said he would drink goumutra. Goumutra was immediately brought, and he consumed it with much ease. The fever seemed to have disappeared in 15 minutes. So, antibacterial, antifungal, digestive issues, and irritable bowel syndrome – for many such issues – goumutra is a important medicine. We should consider it with due importance,” he said. The remarks led to criticism from various quarters, including political leaders and rationalist organisations. On Monday, Kamakoti said, "So now the question is what is the scientific validation of cow urine? There are five papers published in the US and a US patent, published in Nature (a British weekly scientific journal). It has details of its antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties that are validated. This is exactly what I said in my speech also.” He said there is even a product on Amazon called ‘Panchagavya Ghritham’, referencing a Kerala Ayurvedic medicine made from a blend of traditional ingredients. "This product is approved by whatever medical aspects," he said. Kamakoti said cow urine has been a part of Ayurveda and Indian medical traditions. "Now it is a political controversy, but I don’t want to talk about politics," he said. "It is purely scientific. There is validation in papers. That will give clarity. My point is there is a scientific justification." He also took a positive view of the media attention that his remarks had garnered, seeing it as an opportunity to highlight the relevance of Indian schools of medicine. "I look at this issue positively because it has triggered an interest in the subject," Kamakoti said. "We have Indian schools of medicine, we have naturopathy, there are many such Indian schools of thought and naturopathy hospitals. Exploring the scope of Indian schools of medicine is a very good thing."
