Writes jha in his book, animal sacrifices were very common, the. Vedas prescribe punishment for injuring or killing cow by expulsion from the kingdom or by death penalty, as the case may be. Jan, 2012 questionare there references for eating meat in the vedic literature. But there is no more brahmin supermacy in this world and i find it amazing that people still think they are somehow sticking it up to the supreme caste by eating beef. If eating beef in hinduism is considered as a sin then, why do some hindus eat.
Rigveda bhashya commentary on rigveda by swami dayanand saraswati. Is the adoption of vegetarianism within hinduism a later feature caused by the influence of buddhism. The beef industry is so extremely powerful that when president carter held a token meatless luncheon at the white house in 1977, he was sent all sorts of threatening telegrams. One who partakes of human flesh, the flesh of a horse or of another animal, and deprives others of milk by slaughtering cows, o king, if such a fiend does not desist by other means, then you should not hesitate to cut off his head. Does the vedic literature directly recommend vegetarianism. There is no cow slaughter or beef eating in vedas or any. Oct 05, 2015 indias scheduled tribes and scheduled castes who account for 25 percent of the countrys population, are beef eaters. The hindu religious fundamentalists have always associated cow slaughter with muslims,professor dwijendra narayan jha, a historian and author of the book, the myth of the holy cow,says that.
Whether indian or western breed of cow both are equally important from religious point of view. Oct 09, 2015 people who write lies about the vedas advocating cow killing or meat eating are attempting to pervert the entire basis of a religion that holds ahimsa as its basic tenet. Jul 30, 2017 public domain in this poster condemning the consumption of beef, the sacred cow kamadhenu is depicted as containing various deities within her body. Manu smruti, the law book of hindus, in chapter 5 verse 31 answer. Some dharma texts composed in this same period insist that cows should not be eaten.
Most surveys, including one by the office of registrar general and census commissioner of india, show 60% to 70% or even more of indians eat meat. Jhas 2002 book, the myth of the holy cow, presented historical evidence that hindus ate beef long before the muslim invasions in. Since it is a very sensitive subject, i would like to be factual. That the aryans of the rig veda did kill cows for purposes of food and ate beef is abundantly clear from the rig veda itself. Read to debunk the myths of vedas having support of beefeating. Modern hindus forbidden from eating beef but ancient hindus. One may also question that as yajnas were rituals, one cant say that the consumption of the flesh of cow and other milch animals was a common practice among the people in vedic india. First let us understand from where this concept of hindus being vegetarians came from and then ill discuss the holy books references. Book excerpt read what ambedkar wrote on why brahmins started worshipping the cow and gave up eating beef it was a strategy, wrote the father of indian constitution, to vanquish buddhism. Cow is holy in both ramayana and mahabharata, lord rama got cows as a dowry from sitas father, lord krishna loved cows was a gopala and condemned animal sacrifices in geeta. First ever book dispelling myths about beef and animal sacrifice in. This amply proves how ignorant and biased communists malign vedas. Devta of this sukta is varunn the above mantra relates to the knowledge of celestial bodiescomprising of planets, stars etc. Well not cow beef eating but deer meat eating and wine, to justify his own habits.
Scholars have known for centuries that the ancient indians ate beef. So it has no concern with eating beef or any nonvegetarian food. Dietary habits in hindu scriptures vedas there is clear evidence of meat consumption including beef during vedic period historical vedic religion of hinduism. The meaning of the former is it is honoured, while the later means it is thought. There are lot of references in vedas about cow sacrifice, killing of cow and eating cow meat and beef can you tell me any quotes from any vedic literature mentioning cow slaughter. The the earliest of the vedas, the rig veda, mentioned the consumption of meat offered in sacrifice at the altar, but even such ceremonial meateating was an exception, rather than a rule. Rigveda 617 1 states that indra used to eat the meat of cow, calf, horse and buffalo. There was a time in this very india when, without eating beef, no brahmin. In the time of the oldest hindu sacred text, the rig veda c.
Misquoted verses of hindu scriptures for meat eating. But the theory that in vedic times there was no cow slaughter is historically inaccurate,as beef was offered as food to guests and persons of high status. Often times i hear indians and followers of the vedic path explain that meat eating is all right, that the vedic shastras do not condemn it. People do not kill any living creatures, do not keep pigs and fowl, and do not sell live cattle. Beef eating in vedas and other hindu texts truth about hinduism. Food and culture from ramayana to the scriptures, its clear india has a long history of eating meat the vedas refer to about 50 animals deemed fit for sacrifice and, by inference, for eating. In sraddhas, however, that are performed in honour of the pitris, persons for their own good should make offerings of diverse kinds of meat. Supreme is indra over all these verses indicates that indra, a god of vedic age, used to eat meat. What the hindu scriptures really say about cow worship question is, when and how did the life of the supposed holy cow become bigger than the life a hindu girl or a muslim man in india.
I am from a family who are shakti worshippers and believe in advaita philosophy. But this fact cannot be regarded as evidence that beef eating was condemned in the rigvedic period. Dear concerned, whether hindus are permitted to eat meat or not is an age old. When a man who is properly engaged in a ritual does not eat meat, after his death he will become a sacrificial animal during twentyone rebirths. Answerfirst question, are there references to eating meat in the vedic literature. Saying that the vedas permit beefeating and cowslaughter amounts to striking a lethal blow to a hindus soul. Quotes that disapprove, even denounce, meateating rig veda.
Join our whatsapp broadcast group by sending a whatsapp message to. Vedic offerings primarily consisted of plant and dairy products, such as ghee, honey, soma an intoxicating plant juice, milk, yogurt and grain. There is no cow slaughter or beef eating in vedas or any classical hindu scriptures. They further state that the food we eat determines the temperament we possess. Rigveda, manusmiriti sanction beefeating, the milli. But for this beef eating, a person who wants to read the verses in other way, or the way they are, its very clear that beef eating is in vedas. Importance of the cow in vedic culture stephen knapp. He is abstaining from variety of things one of them is said to be the meat. From ramayana to the scriptures, its clear india has a long history of eating meat. Oct 10, 2015 there are evidences showing that people are unable to digest the meat and that it saps the immunity power of diseases in human body. Vegetarian vs non vegetarian in hinduism you become what.
As it is, cow eating being banned has been a prt of our culture for a long time. Hinduism and its complicated history with cows and people. Vashistha dharmasutra 14 writes, if a brahmin refuses to eat the meat offered to him on the occasion of shraddha or worship, he goes to hell. If we only went by what the vedas say, we wouldnt have temples and murtis. Vedas do not talk about killing or eating cow meat beef. Hindu scriptures and beef eating 22 islam and hinduism. After the fourth century bc, when the practice of vegetarianism spread throughout india among buddhists, jains and hindus, many hindus continued to eat beef. The vedas are also accused of animal sacrifice in sacrificial. In rig veda book 10 hymn 86 verse says indra will eat thy bulls, thy dear oblation that effecteth much. Music books and ideas business and economy science and technology. Earlier in the book, ambedkar introduces the concept of broken men, whom he. Does this not prove that cow meat is permisible in hinduism.
Some hindus who did eat meat made a special exception and did not eat the. Dear concerned, whether hindus are permitted to eat meat or not is an age old question. This argument only substantiates the view that cow was not an inviolable animal and that beef eating was not a taboo in vedic times. Jhas interpretation of rigveda mantra 108614 underlines practice of eating beef, which is absolutely wrong according to vedas. Rigveda 6171 states that indra used to eat the meat of cow, calf, horse and buffalo. Udayji, did you know vedas boasts about cow meat eating. How can a cow killed in winter regain its health in spring.
Beef consumption and cow slaughter was permitted in ancient. So this reference comes in the 3 rd book the aranyakanda, chapter 43 of the ramayana. Read what ambedkar wrote on why brahmins started worshipping. Jun 12, 2018 while it does not forbid you from meat eating but it tells you the consequences of meat eating. Modern hindus forbidden from eating beef but ancient. Section cxv yudhishthira said, thou hast told it many times that abstention from injury is the highest religion. Jan 01, 2014 written by sulaiman razvi meat especially that of cow is the centre of controversy in india. A cut and paste quote from the net is not ok with me. You can quote swami vivekananda and other books to prove that eating beef is part of the hindus daily life in the past.
Now, let me come to the issue of beefeating by brahmins. But this fact cannot be regarded as evidence that beefeating was condemned in the rigvedic period. According to some scholars bhramins converted to lactovegetarianism as a response to growing popularity of buddhism, where buddhist were accused mainly by jain of preaching non violence, but on the other hand were meat eaters. Apr 10, 2017 food and culture from ramayana to the scriptures, its clear india has a long history of eating meat the vedas refer to about 50 animals deemed fit for sacrifice and, by inference, for eating. Based on vedic teachings, mahaparinirvana sutra states, the eating of meat extinguishes the seed of great compassion. Heres what vedas say on killing cows the problem lies with the inability to interpret the ancient texts in the correct sense. Dec 17, 20 what the scriptures say about hindus eating meat. One of the examples is that the tamang people have been eating the meat of dead cow. From ramayana to the vedas, its clear india has a long history of. The manusmriti discusses diet in chapter 5, where like other hindu texts, it includes verses that strongly discourage meat eating, as well as verses where meat eating is declared appropriate in times of adversity and various circumstances, recommending that the meat in such circumstances be produced with minimal harm and suffering to the animal. So from these some people infer that this means that lord ram would normally eat meat but in the jungle he decided to stop eating meat. Hinduism and its complicated history with cows and people who eat. Rigveda, manusmiriti sanction beefeating, the milli gazette, vol.
Not every prohibition needs to be backed up by harm to yourself. Heres the unpalatable truth about beef and hinduism. The bhagavad gita talks about three kinds of foods. Also another god of vedic age, agni, is referred to as flesheater in vedas. Archaeological evidence of beef eating in india indus valley, vedic period, etc. Heres the unpalatable truth about beef and hinduism the present controversy around beef eating, accompanied by violent objection and equally aggressive support, is engineered by extremist.
For most americans, giving up meateating is as unthinkable as giving up driving. According to the myth propagated by hindu nationalists, cows are worshipped in ancient india and it was the invaders, both muslim and christian, who brought beef eating to india. Rig veda states that indra used to eat the meat of cow. Rig veda says that indra, hindu god of rain and heaven, ate beef. Dairy cows are called aghnya that which may not be slaughtered in rigveda. The book the history and culture of the indian people, published by. What the hindu scriptures really say about cow worship.
Once you are able to convince him of flaws in the foundation of this core tenet and make him feel guilty, he becomes an easy prey for the predator faiths. As basham explained in his book, varna doesnt mean, and has never meant. With the recent outbreaks of bird flu and mad cow disease, i would like to tell you about hindus eating meat as mentioned in their scriptures. What do the hindu holy books say about eating meat. By one estimate, 30% of all hindus are ovolacto vegetarians. Many hindus eat meat is that wrong jay lakhani hindu. False claims of beef in vedas brilliantly explained by an.
The mantra states that in winter, the rays of sun get weakened and then get strong again in spring. Rigveda 1085 declares, on the occasion of a girls marriage oxen and cows are slaughtered. Jul 16, 2017 hinduism and its complicated history with cows and people who eat them. And in 2015 people are slaughtered on mere suspicion of storing beef. Seriously people pro beef will argue muh history of beef eating and their wrong interpretation of the vedas. Jan 01, 2014 meat eating in vedas including cow meat. Beef eating in the hindu tradition by rohini bakshi. The vedas refer to about 50 animals deemed fit for sacrifice and. Like most cattlebreeding cultures, the vedic indians.
Oct 23, 2015 in times when eating beef has become a political issue, lets go back to d. David frawleys many books are perhaps the best literature explaining hindu dharma and its various branches of wisdom in the english language. There is not the slightest doubt that a person by eating meat goes to hell. The mantra states that brilliant scholars enlighten the world in the manner that wood enhances the fire of yajna. Also, comments of some great scholars of hinduism are also worth noting.
There are lot of references in vedas about cow sacrifice, killing of cow and eating cow meat and beef. The hindus of india have very little knowledge of their scriptures. According to my understanding, puranas do not say indra ate meat. Eating of meat and beef in the hindu tradition the hindu. This also comes handy in convincing poor and illiterate indians to give up their faith on the grounds that their fundamental holy books the vedas contain all the inhuman elements like denigration of women, meat eating, polygamy, casteism and above all beef eating.
Til rigveda 6171 states hindu god indra used to eat the meat of cow, calf, horse and buffalo. Hinduism and its complicated history with cows and the. Vedas are replete with beef eating hindu gods, says indias. Nonpolitical manusmriti chapter 5 verse 30 says, it is not sinful to eat meat of eatable animals, for brahma has created both the eaters and the eatables.
No beef eating in hinduism hindu human rights online news. The cow was a sacred animal that the authors of the vedas sacrificed cows and ate beef on special occasions. Dec 04, 2008 the learned audience can decide for themselves from these evidences that the vedas are completely against any inhuman practice to top it all the beef and cow slaughter. But, facts and religious scriptures prove that it was the vedichindus who were among the worlds first urban consumers of beef. Hinduism gives us the wisdom to make up our own mind on what we put in our body except there is a firm prohibition of eating cow meat beef. Jhas the myth of the holy cow where the historian reveals that not just mortals but even deities were. The churning of the sea episode brings to light the story of the creation of the cow. Til rigveda 6171 states hindu god indra used to eat. Hinduism teachings on vegetarian food habits what vedas and other hindu commentaries teaches on abstaining meat. B rigveda 6171 states that indra used to eat the meat of cow, calf, horse and buffalo. Beef consumption and cow slaughter was permitted in.
Some hindus who did eat meat made a special exception and did not eat the meat of cow. Beef eating in ancient india beef was widely eaten in. The interdiction of the meat of the bounteous cow as food was regarded as the first step to total vegetarianism. Manusmriti chapter 5 verse 30 says, it is not sinful to eat meat of eatable animals, for brahma has created both the eaters and the eatables. If the hindus were eating beef, when did they give it up. Hindu scriptures are witnesses to such sacrifices and killings of. Maharishi yagyavalkya says in shatpath brahmin 31221 that, i eat beef because it is very soft and delicious.
Saying that the vedas permit beef eating and cow slaughter amounts to striking a lethal blow to a hindus soul. Many times there seems to be some confusion or lack of clarity on whether the vedic path condones or condemns the eating of meat. There are clear references in vedas about meat consumption. A buddhists analysis of meat and beef eating in ancient india by shravasti dhammika cow on indian political chessboard. The concept of god in the vedas and other religious books is completely different from. Beef in indian dietary traditions, is a dry work of historiography buttressed by a 24page bibliography and hundreds of footnotes citing ancient sanskrit texts. Lactovegetarianism is an integral part of most schools of hinduism although there is a wide variety of practices and beliefs that have changed over time. You can claim to go against hindu culture, but dont claim beef. Of course, in this day and age meat eating includes and. May 27, 2012 myth of holy cow and beef in hinduism. An experience shows that majority of tamang people who consumed meat of a dead cow have suffered from leprosy. This is a sin perpetuated by our pseudodemocratic capitalist system and selfserving politicians. Vedas on eating, vedic food, health benefits vegetarian diet.
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