Animal sacrafice in Hinduism

[Charzhino]

Having read the above article, it says that over 250,000 animals will be killed as a sacrafice to the gods in Hinduism. Is this Vedantic teaching or man man deviation?

EDIT: I cannot post the link since i Do no have 15 posts yet. This is a summary of the article from the Gurdian paper in the UK:

The world's biggest animal sacrifice began in Nepal today with the killing of the first of more than 250,000 animals as part of a Hindu festival in the village of Bariyapur, near the border with India.

 

[Metempsychosis]

Too much freedom is given in Hinduism ,that is cause of this problem.They dont follow vedanta.Rituals are for fools.These sacrifices have no place in Hindu philosophy.
Reforms will take place soon.Already I have seen a post on this here.

 

[Riverwolf]

Only a couple of sects of Hinduism actually have animal sacrifice. Most of them have offerings of fruits or nuts, the like.

Animal sacrifice directly contradicts the practice of ahimsa.

 

[Madhuri]

Animal sacrifice digusts me. I was not aware that this was practiced still greatly in any sect.

 

[Riverwolf]

I personally think this is one of the problems with labeling Hinduism as a single religion: the practice of one Hindu religion begins to falsely represent the entire body of religions.

 

[Madhuri]

I personally think this is one of the problems with labeling Hinduism as a single religion: the practice of one Hindu religion begins to falsely represent the entire body of religions.

Exactly. I mean, people generalise for all groups but unfortunately few people know much about Hinduism.

 

[zenzero]

Friends,

Animal sacrafice in Hinduism

Kindly understand that the word *hinduism* should be consciously discarded and *sanatan dharma* should take its original place because sanatan means *eternal* and it is an open ended. since it is not *a* religion. It is about *Ways of living* Whatever be the way followed by any human to merge with universal consciousness, falls under it in effect all humans follow some path and so are followers of sanatan dharma.
Sacrifices of animals are still in practice by worshippers of goddess *kali* but many have shifted to offering vegetables as sacrifices mostly a result of economic reasons than a question of raising of awareness or consciousness.
Sanatan dharma representing the human race by its very definition should be all about raising of the total consciousness of the whole race which encompasses all areas/ subjects/ whatever the minds can think off including sacrifices of animals.
Only when the Individual becomes awake, understand or is conscious then only can change or the dharma chakra moving happen.
This is the personal understanding.
Love & rgds

 

[Andal]

Namaste,

It's important to understand that for each age humans are given a certain set of practices that are considered to be the most efficacious. In an earlier yuga animal sacrifice was permitted in particular situations. When animal sacrifice occurred during that time that animal gained liberation. In this yuga though it has devolved into an act of ignorance, superstition, and greed. The Lord made it clear through his incarnations in this age that animal sacrifice is not allowed.

This practice you see in Nepal is to local gods of that village that get lumped into being "Hindu" just because those people label themselves is Hindu even though those gods and goddesses are not recognized by other traditions. So the media presents it as being Hindu practice when it is actually folk religion being practiced.

This is not uncommon. For example, you find fortune telling in some Buddhist temples in China. Well that's not Buddhism but folk religion creeping in. You also find it in Iranian Shia Islam where images of saints are given a special place in devotional life. You also find it in Latino Catholicism. It's folk traditions entering the fold and claiming to be the mainstream.

Aum Hari Aum!!!

 

[zenzero]

Friend krishnakanta,

whatever you have spoken are those of divisions between many.
Religion is all about the way to be ONE.
Devising ways of this merger is the only way to go about anything.
Be it animal sacrifice or whatever.

Love & rgds

 

[Andal]

Friend krishnakanta,

whatever you have spoken are those of divisions between many.
Religion is all about the way to be ONE.
Devising ways of this merger is the only way to go about anything.
Be it animal sacrifice or whatever.

Love & rgds

Namaste,

I don't mean to be disrespectful but, what?

 

[zenzero]

Friend krishnakanta,

I don't mean to be disrespectful but, what?

Only that each human being has to awaken! to become conscious to bring any unity with existence or whatever label one uses.

Love & rgds

 

[Andal]

Friend krishnakanta,



Only that each human being has to awaken! to become conscious to bring any unity with existence or whatever label one uses.

Love & rgds

I understand now and I agree.

Aum Hari Aum!

 

[Valjean]

"Hinduism" was never a homogenous religion, just a hodge-podge of tribal traditions to the East of the (H)Indus river. True, animal sacrifice was a common feature, particularly in the Aryan influenced regions, but such a massive carnage, in this age, clearly runs counter to recent cultural trends.
Personally, I find this slaughter abominable, but consider the endless disassembly lines at slaughterhouses across the country. What's the difference, in the end?

 

[zenzero]

Friend Seyorni,

Personally, I find this slaughter abominable, but consider the endless disassembly lines at slaughterhouses across the country. What's the difference, in the end?

No difference, only in this that with all this exercises we as parts of consciousness are expanding and so is this universe.

Love & rgds

 

[Andal]

"Hinduism" was never a homogenous religion, just a hodge-podge of tribal traditions to the East of the (H)Indus river. True, animal sacrifice was a common feature, particularly in the Aryan influenced regions, but such a massive carnage, in this age, clearly runs counter to recent cultural trends.
Personally, I find this slaughter abominable, but consider the endless disassembly lines at slaughterhouses across the country. What's the difference, in the end?

I agree here. Many people are ready to jump on Hindu subsects and the Muslims for their massive animals slaughters but their sacrifices are nothing in comparison to what goes on in American and European slaughter houses. If people have a problem with these sacrifices, I certainly hope they are vegetarian otherwise they can't be in a position to judge.

Aum Hari Aum!

 

[Valjean]

I think what people find so objectionable is the "pleasing to God" motif, as if He created all these people just for us to slaughter for His amusement and pleasure.

 

[zenzero]

Friend krishnakanta,

I agree here. Many people are ready to jump on Hindu subsects and the Muslims for their massive animals slaughters but their sacrifices are nothing in comparison to what goes on in American and European slaughter houses. If people have a problem with these sacrifices, I certainly hope they are vegetarian otherwise they can't be in a position to judge.

EXACTLY!

it is not religion, it is not caste, creed, color, race etc.
It is human.
The animal instinct still remains even after evolving to this stage and only consciousness of that can remove it however it is a process that is going on and on even through the discussions on these pages.

Love & rgds

 

[Satsangi]

There are animal sacrifices mentioned in the Vedas (my understanding); but these are for material gains only i.e for rajasic and tamasic Yagnas. Such Yagnas are actually detrimental to any spiritual gain and binds one in the bondage of karmas.

Other circumstance in which eating meat is permitted is when ones life is in danger (apattkaal dharma). But some people believe that meat should not be taken in any circumstances.

The animal sacrifices, I believe, crept into Hinduism as some pseudo priests of the past could not control their desire to eat meat and hence made such ghastly rituals.

Personally, I believe and am a strict vegeterian and do believe that u become what u consume by your special senses (skin, eyes, ears, nose and tongue). No offense to any non veg people here.

Regards,

 

[Satsangi]

By the way, animal sacrifices are ther in Christianity, Judaism and Islam too. Buddhism is supposed to be non violent; but many if not most Buddhists are non vegeterians. In my understanding, animal sacrifices are contradictory to anything spiritual. "Ahimsa paramo dharmah".

Regards

 

[Riverwolf]

No offense to any non veg people here.

None taken.

I do make a point of not eating cows, though.