prohibition of eating beef in hinduism

[The_Rationalist]

As a person born in a hindu family I have been raised since childhood with the teaching that eating beef is not allowed in hinduism. I would like to know from the members here in this forum, why is eating beef prohibited in hinduism? is it a sin to eat beef? if yes then why is it a sin? And does the hindu scriptures like vedas prohibit consumption of beef or is it just a practice incorporated into the hindu faith by certain group of people for certain reason?

 

[Vinayaka]

An individual can do whatever they like. One can find evidence either way. So you will get both sides of the argument.

As for scripture, it comes from both sides as well. So if you want to eat meat, ignore the scriptures that 'prohibit' it. If you want to be a vegetarian, then find all the scriptures you can that say its fine.

So it boils down to whom you believe. For me personally, that means my intuition, my conscience, my 'higher' mind.

Here's some evidence of how long ago the debate was on.

https://sites.google.com/site/thirukurals/higher-virtue-based-on-grace/abstaining-from-eating-meat

 

[Kalicharan Tuvij]

There is no point in outsourcing our conscience to an outer agency, and justify something or reject something based on that. Why, people made even religions reflecting their common minimum level of prevalent consciousness, so yes, I think anything can be justified. But what cannot be justified is, outsourcing the conscience. If you cannot explain it to others, or cannot prove it to others, no need to bother. Earth will continue revolving round the Sun, despite you and me or that person.

Talking from Hindu perspective, we know, in the Veda the word गो (cow) means more than just "an animal". It is the very basis of all Creation. Even as a sceptical Hindu, one might say, oh this is just "poetic imagery", but may still respect that and show some extension of that respect to the real cow, the go-mAtA.

It has got something to do with Hindu-ness. Naturally, this compassion extends to all animals, and even trees.

 

[Rohit Adhikarla]

As a person born in a hindu family I have been raised since childhood with the teaching that eating beef is not allowed in hinduism. I would like to know from the members here in this forum, why is eating beef prohibited in hinduism? is it a sin to eat beef? if yes then why is it a sin? And does the hindu scriptures like vedas prohibit consumption of beef or is it just a practice incorporated into the hindu faith by certain group of people for certain reason?

The rationale is that Cows are considered milk producing and since milk was very essential in Vedic times cows became a symbol of divine life giving mother which of course should be spared from being killed.


The irony is that Hinduism *as such does not does care about how today's milk consumption affects the lives of cows adversely.In my opinion,beef eating is not any more ethical than eating mutton.And this consumption of non-vegetarian is a *ethically sub optimal choice.Eating beef is just a few notches above consumption of dairy products which itself is sub optimal (there is almond /soy milk if you are interested).But practical health benefits of non-veg food should be taken into account -in the sense that it is easier to have a balanced diet with non-veg food than with a veg only diet.


So,how sinful is eating beef ?-answer is it depends.If you ask me -not any more than the decision to burn crackers on diwali.(An ethically and environmentally sub optimal choice).


The reason against meat eating is that - the animal being killed,apparently has rajasic and tamasic gunas which can enter your consciousness and make your progress a little difficult.Further,considering you do have more ethical choice available a person concerned about spiritual should make sure that no corner kept dark.And no you will not be born as a pig just because you had some beef some day.

 

[Vinayaka]

outsourcing our conscience to an outer agency,

I like that ... outsourcing the conscience In other words, be a follower, let others decide.

 

[Aupmanyav]

As a person born in a hindu family I have been raised since childhood with the teaching that eating beef is not allowed in hinduism. I would like to know from the members here in this forum, why is eating beef prohibited in hinduism? is it a sin to eat beef? if yes then why is it a sin? And does the hindu scriptures like vedas prohibit consumption of beef or is it just a practice incorporated into the hindu faith by certain group of people for certain reason?

In the Vedic religion, beef eating was not prohibited. Indra was invoked saying that we have slain a bull as sacrifice and you should come and partake it. Prohibition for beef eating, therefore, is indigenous. Reasons are that people do not eat up their pets and cow was a pet, a loved member of the family, each member of the family spent time in caring for it. The children took it out for grazing, the men bathed it, the daughters fed it, and the dame of the house milked it. Birth of a calf was no less than the birth of a child in the family. People did not generally have 100 or 1000 cows. Normally, they would just have one or two. The cow provided milk, the products of which contribute hugely to Indian cuisine. The calf after having grown pulled carts, tilled fields, milled grain, or drew water from the well. Apart from the use of cow-dung as a fertilizer and in making adobe huts, even a dead cow gave leather. When the daughter of the house married, she did not weep with the members of the family but weep even for being removed from her cow. When a daughter-in-law came to the house, one of the first things done was to introduce her to the cow. I think that make enough reasons to venerate cows and avoid eating beef. But it all depends on the person. If somebody feels like eating beef, it is a free world, who can stop that person?

 

[Kalicharan Tuvij]

I like that ... outsourcing the conscience In other words, be a follower, let others decide.

And, Vinayaka ji,

The subject matter, on which we are pronouncing here, relates more to "human thing" than a scientific or mathematical (I heard sub-optimal word) stuff.

I say this since, we know, and Hindus have always acknowledged as such, that even plants have life, so mathematically/ scientifically speaking Hindus should shun eating grains and vegetable as well.

So it is a human thing basically, and even there it is not about people who are like rags-tags and must do and eat anything to survive.

 

[Sumit]

As a person born in a hindu family I have been raised since childhood with the teaching that eating beef is not allowed in hinduism.

Yes, that's right. Vedic scriptures are against any type of animal slaughter not only cow. Karma, reincarnation and non violence are foundation of Dharma.
Vegetarianism Recommended in Vedic Scripture

Read Vedas and you will find many other versus against meat eating.

 

[TatTvamAsi]

Be more confident in your traditions! Stop being so squeamish about values that have been instilled in you by your family.

The beef-munching vermin will glibly make fun of Hindus for worshiping the cow and practicing vegetarianism.

This is how you demolish their double-standards and hypocrisy:

1.) Ask them if they eat dogs/cats.

--> They will most-likely say NO (emphatically too).

2.) Ask them, "Is that because you are a dog/cat worshiper?"

--> They will again say NO but that they are kept as pets.

3.) If they are kept as pets, your society has ascribed certain value to dogs/cats. Ask them, "So, does this mean that dogs/cats have any intrinsic value"?

--> They will say no (unless they are confused) but because they are considered to be pets, "We don't eat them."

4.) So if they don't eat them, the value placed on dogs/cats is arbitrary. If this society had, for instance, decided to keep chickens as pets (some people do), they would be protected and not eaten (right?). So, it is in fact they (humans) who decide the value of an animal and determine whether it is fit for consumption or not - a very Judeo/Christian "value" where they think everything in the world is for man's use/consumption.

We Hindus accept that ALL living things have intrinsic value. That is why we don't eat meat. Those who do, do so out of necessity and that too in small quantities - an Indian meal, even a non-veg one, has the non-veg part as a "side dish" and not the main course.

The cow, in particular, has a lot of intrinsic value due to more esoteric reasons.

This is the reason why these people practiced slavery without an iota of shame; they thought (some still do covertly ) blacks were 3/5 human and so they could be treated like trash.

Read up on synthetic vs integral value; the Dharmic framework is based on integral value whereas the Abrahamic framework is synthetic. Hence, you have these knee-jerk reactions to atrocities that were considered "normal" in the near-past.

Again, as I've said before, I am thinking of opening a REAL Hot-DOG stand!

Any investors want to discuss terms? The sustainable advantage is that there is no competition and plenty of people in my area who will eat a puppy-sandwich and have a kitten-milkshake to "wash things down". XD

*Not my pic:

 

[NobodyYouKnow]

Even though people talk about holy Mother Cow, I got a different reason - I would feel pretty weird eating Nandi the bull, so I don't.

Om Namah Shivay

 

[ronki23]

The author of the below link has wrote quite a detailed piece.

Beef eating in ancient India

Don't some Hindus sacrifice animals? Yet most of my Grandparents' generation would not even let their children even touch an egg let alone eat one!

Did Buddhism change Hinduism on the stance of eating meat? Or was it there before.

I know Jains do not eat even potatoes,onions or garlic but Jainism is a separate religion

Not sure why older Sikhs are vegetarian as some of the Gurus ate meat. I know Gurudwaras don't serve it as Hindus visit

I was told that Gujaratis do not eat snake either due to Shiva? I was told snake is a big no-no so I assume elephant,monkey,lion and crocodile are also prohibited

 

[Vinayaka]

Don't some Hindus sacrifice animals?
Did Buddhism change Hinduism on the stance of eating meat? Or was it there before.

Yes, a few still do. Bali, Nepal, and some Indian villages still employ animal sacrifice in rituals. But the vast majority doesn't.

But I don't follow how a Buddhist historical analysis applies to this.

 

[ronki23]

Yes, a few still do. Bali, Nepal, and some Indian villages still employ animal sacrifice in rituals. But the vast majority doesn't.

But I don't follow how a Buddhist historical analysis applies to this.

What is the reason Hindus stopped animal sacrifice or even eating them? I hear that the Vedas are indifferent toward it (some say you can) while the Mahabharat says it's a no-no.

Is Buddhism's influence the reason Hindus became Vegetarian?

Yet the Buddha himself died after eating pork

 

[Vinayaka]

What is the reason Hindus stopped animal sacrifice or even eating them? I hear that the Vedas are indifferent toward it (some say you can) while the Mahabharat says it's a no-no.

Is Buddhism's influence the reason Hindus became Vegetarian?

Yet the Buddha himself died after eating pork

I personally don't think Buddhism influenced Hinduism much at all, given Buddhism was an offshoot of Hinduism.

Although there are passages in the Vedas to support animal sacrifice, there are also many passages in support of vegetarianism. So vegetarianism was there for a very long and ancient time. It all depends where you look.

'You must not use your God-given body for killing God's creatures' - Yajur Veda.

The ancient Tamil ethical scripture the Tirukkural is quite hard core pro vegetarianism.

For me personally, it's more a question of "How did Hindus get away from it?" not the other way around. I think the answer lies in Moslem and Christian influence over the years.

 

[ronki23]

I personally don't think Buddhism influenced Hinduism much at all, given Buddhism was an offshoot of Hinduism.

Although there are passages in the Vedas to support animal sacrifice, there are also many passages in support of vegetarianism. So vegetarianism was there for a very long and ancient time. It all depends where you look.

'You must not use your God-given body for killing God's creatures' - Yajur Veda.

The ancient Tamil ethical scripture the Tirukkural is quite hard core pro vegetarianism.

For me personally, it's more a question of "How did Hindus get away from it?" not the other way around. I think the answer lies in Moslem and Christian influence over the years.

But how did the scriptures address contradictions regarding this? And Moslem/Christian influence regarding this is in Nepal and Bali today???

I don't think Buddhism is an offshoot. Many Hindus do not believe Buddha was an avatar of Vishnu.

Not to mention Buddhism 'replaced' Hinduism in South East Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia,etc.) and is the religion of Japan,China and Korea. So how could only one avatar replace an entire pantheon?!

And these countries eat a lot of meat too (and Buddha died from pork)

 

[Vinayaka]

But how did the scriptures address contradictions regarding this?

The scriptures don't address contradictions. They have contradicting passages. I see history as mostly just conjecture, so who knows how what happened when or where? You get phrases like 'likely to have been' a lot. What's going on today is more important. Fact is, people are free to be vegetarian or not, despite historical ideas one way or another. Future karma begins today.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Vegetarianism has always being a tradition with indigenous people, sort of keeps affecting all comers. First it was the Aryans. They were meat eaters, but later many turned vegetarian. It was not something that Buddha or Mahavira invented. Same with Ahimsa, has always been a part of the indigenous tradition.

 

[Valjean]

I think there's a significant economic component, as well. In a small scale farming society cows were more valuable alive than as meat. They were transportation, they were tractors for plowing, they were a source of milk, cheese and cooking oil, they were the source of fuel for cooking. They were cheap to maintain. Often a family's cow was all that stood between them and starvation. Cows were wealth.

It's no wonder that a strong opprobrium developed against harming such a vital resource and, in the absence of any centralised enforcement agency, religion stepped in as the coercive element.

 

[ronki23]

If bovine prohibition was more economical e.g cows milk, plowing fields, urine and dung; why did Hindus adopt vegetarianism if some scriptures say you should while others talk about sacrifice?

And I hear that cows gestate for 9 months, just like humans. I missed out on the quiz answer by that (I thought the 'economic' reason was why Hindus don't eat beef).

Again, crocodile,snake,monkey,elephant, lion,tortoise are all Hindu animals. And Krishna is Govinda

Anyway, do both Buddhism and Hinduism preach ahimsa considering East and South East Asians arguably eat more meat than any other race (except for Arabs and Persians)

 

[Aupmanyav]

As I said vegetarianism was an indigenous thought. Some Aryans, basically priests, brahmins, accepted it. Otherwise also, non-violence - ahimsa, was not as much stressed anywhere in the world as in India. While foreign Gods wanted people killed, we always had humane rules, 'dharma'. Indian Gods and Goddess never advocated killing even if people did not worship them.