prohibition of eating beef in hinduism

[LuisDantas]

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?

I doubt it.

Yet the Buddha himself died after eating pork

That is challenged by some, and there is also some belief that he may have had to eat what was offered to him.

So it is just not all that clear.

 

[Madhuri]

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)

There are texts that show sacrifice can be ok and others that encourage not harming animals. I do not think that any text says that you must sacrifice or any text that says you must not kill animals. It is encouraged to not cause harm, especially unnecessary harm. Vegetarianism can be argued to be the best way of life, based on scripture. But eating meat for sustenance is not forbidden and for some, such as the warrior people, it was very acceptable since flesh is of the mode of 'passion', which is important for people who need to ...well, be passionate.

If you are going to kill an animal, best do it in a merciful way. I suppose the sacrifice was considered to be a good way to die for the animal (comparatively speaking). Hindus who perform animal sacrifice (this makes up a minority of Hindus) adhere to Jhatka, which is a form of slaughter that kills the animal instantly, unlike the Jewish or Muslim methods that require slow slaughter. Hindus who eat meat are encouraged to eat from animals that have been killed in this method (perhaps due to the Ahimsa principle- although I'm sure most Hindus just go to the supermarket or whatever is most convenient).

 

[Jainarayan]

If you are going to kill an animal, best do it in a merciful way. ... Hindus who eat meat are supposed to eat from animals that have been killed in this method (perhaps due to the Ahimsa principle).

It may be cold comfort, but in the US, Canada, UK, and most likely Australia, that is exactly how animals are slaughtered. In the US slaughter methods are overseen by the USDA, which has strict guidelines. In a word, the animal doesn't see it coming, and more than likely doesn't feel it (I won't go into the details).

 

[Madhuri]

It may be cold comfort, but in the US, Canada, UK, and most likely Australia, that is exactly how animals are slaughtered. In the US slaughter methods are overseen by the USDA, which has strict guidelines. In a word, the animal doesn't see it coming, and more than likely doesn't feel it (I won't go into the details).

That's what they say but the evidence doesn't seem to support that. The animals seem to know exactly what's coming and the videos make it look like they experience some pretty extreme fear and suffering.

 

[Vinayaka]

It may be cold comfort, but in the US, Canada, UK, and most likely Australia, that is exactly how animals are slaughtered. In the US slaughter methods are overseen by the USDA, which has strict guidelines. In a word, the animal doesn't see it coming, and more than likely doesn't feel it (I won't go into the details).

What's in law, and what's in practice are often two different things.
CFHS | Slaughter

It was on a field trip in 8th grade when our school toured a slaughterhouse when I first started making a connection to what I was eating on a table.

 

[Jainarayan]

As usual I will play devil's advocate here. I don't eat beef myself, but there's a few things I think we need to realize. It's true that the goal is to do as little harm as possible. However, consider this:

Dairy cattle, no matter how well they are treated (it defeats the purpose of profits for a dairy farm to mistreat its cash cows, pun intended), are eventually slaughtered when their calf-bearing and milk producing days are over. Moreover, days after giving birth, the calf is taken away from its mother while she continues to produce commercial milk. That milk is used in pujas, and to make butter, ghee, yogurt, and cheeses. Then the cow is slaughtered. Unless a temple has its own goshala, the milk used in abhishekams comes from cows that will without a doubt be slaughtered for pet food, leather, gelatin and a host of other things.

The cattle used for beef are young castrated males, steers. Female cattle are not slaughtered for food. So even for those who do eat beef, you're not eating gomata. And while I think veal is an abomination, it is not female calves that are used.

I'm not advocating eating beef or any other animal, but we're deluding ourselves if we think we are doing good by not eating beef, yet still using commercial milk and milk products. Sooner or later all commercial cattle will be slaughtered for and because of our use one way or another.

 

[Madhuri]

I'm not advocating eating beef or any other animal, but we're deluding ourselves if we think we are doing good by not eating beef, yet still using commercial milk and milk products. Sooner or later all commercial cattle will be slaughtered for and because of our use one way or another.

That is very true and is a big reason why I'm seeing more and more of my Hindu friends turning to veganism (I also no longer eat dairy).

 

[Vinayaka]

Heifers get slaughtered as well. Pre-harvest management for slaughter heifers | Health content from BEEF Magazine

I'm practically a vegan as well.

 

[Jainarayan]

What's in law, and what's in practice are often two different things.
CFHS | Slaughter

That is very often true, but the USDA is serious about the law.

animal slaughter in the US section

United States[edit]
In the United States, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) specifies the approved methods of livestock slaughter:[9]

Each of these methods is outlined in detail, and the regulations require that inspectors identify operations which cause "undue" "excitement and discomfort" of animals.

In 1958, the law that is enforced today by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) was passed as the Humane Slaughter Act of 1978. This Act requires the proper treatment and humane handling of all food animals slaughtered in USDA inspected slaughter plants. It does not apply to chickens or other birds.[10]
Note 9 https://awic.nal.usda.gov/governmen...ces/federal-laws/humane-methods-slaughter-act
Note 10 Humane Slaughter of Livestock Regulations

I doubt that any farm would bring out the allowed equipment or switch methods when the USDA inspectors come, to avoid the fines for using illegal methods.

Again, I'm neither condoning nor condemning, because it's not my place. Rather, I'm simply pointing out that we should not get warm fuzzies by saying we don't eat beef, yet use commercial dairy products. We are contributing to the violence against cattle... there ain't no two ways about it.

 

[Vinayaka]

That is very often true, but the USDA is serious about the law.

animal slaughter in the US section I doubt that any farm would bring out the allowed equipment or switch methods when the USDA inspectors come, to avoid the fines for using illegal methods.

Again, I'm neither condoning nor condemning, because it's not my place. Rather, I'm simply pointing out that we should not get warm fuzzies by saying we don't eat beef, yet use commercial dairy products. We are contributing to the violence against cattle... there ain't no two ways about it.

The very fact that we're alive, and in this technological world means we're performing himsa. We drive cars, use products tested on animals, and much more. I think it's more in how hard we're trying than in actually doing. Total ahimsa would be some unreachable goal or ideal, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't adjust our own lives as far as we're capable of, and educate the world. Many societies practice a purposeful disconnect to the entire meat industry. Kids don't actually know what they're eating, or where it came from.

 

[Jainarayan]

That is very true and is a big reason why I'm seeing more and more of my Hindu friends turning to veganism (I also no longer eat dairy).

That is one way to solve the problem. Our temple has built a goshala and is establishing a herd of dairy cattle. The temple will eventually only use milk provided by their cows.

 

[Jainarayan]

The very fact that we're alive, and in this technological world means we're performing himsa. We drive cars, use products tested on animals, and much more. I think it's more in how hard we're trying than in actually doing. Total ahimsa would be some unreachable goal or ideal, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't adjust our own lives as far as we're capable of, and educate the world. Many societies practice a purposeful disconnect to the entire meat industry. Kids don't actually know what they're eating, or where it came from.

I understand that and I'm not denying it. In fact, I'm all too aware of it. Maybe I'd be happier being one of the many people who adopt vegetarianism and/or shun beef thinking they are being noble and ethical, without realizing what you said above. I could be wrong, but this is something I see all over the internet in articles and other forums.

 

[Aupmanyav]

There are texts that show sacrifice can be ok and others that encourage not harming animals. I do not think that any text says that you must sacrifice or any text that says you must not kill animals. It is encouraged to not cause harm, especially unnecessary harm. Vegetarianism can be argued to be the best way of life, based on scripture.

Perhaps animal sacrifice in a Yajna is a relic of early Aryan traditions (read more than 10,000 years ago, when they did not know agriculture and depended on hunting). Later, animals were substituted by symbolic offerings probably made of barley dough (wheat and rice not being known to them). Even now the Gods are offered barley, given grass to wear (in form of a ring - kusha), are given a grass mat for sitting, the devotees could wear woolen clothes which are considered always pure, and the oblations are given by wooden spoons (iron, in particular, is to be avoided). This is a throw back to stone age.

 

[Kalidas]

That is one way to solve the problem. Our temple has built a goshala and is establishing a herd of dairy cattle. The temple will eventually only use milk provided by their cows.

HAF has a cool rating system on their site of dairy farms that treat their dairy cows and calfs humanely. Luckily for me roughly 90% of them are.in California lol.

 

[Kalidas]

I kind of view the cow similar to the way I view our murtis. All life is sacred including the cow, but not JUST the cow. Is the murti any more sacred and special than say a tree, fire, a slab of marble? In material no, but when made into an image and used for divine purposes it takes on a different role. The cow is like this to me, not very different to other animals in divinity but represents many ideas that transcend the simple life a cow lives.

 

[Valjean]

That is one way to solve the problem. Our temple has built a goshala and is establishing a herd of dairy cattle. The temple will eventually only use milk provided by their cows.

An admirable plan, Jainarayan, but what does your goshala/dairy plan to do with the calves produced by the milch-cows? and won't it end up with a steadily increasing population of elderly, non-producing cows?

 

[Vinayaka]

An admirable plan, Jainarayan, but what does your goshala/dairy plan to do with the calves produced by the milch-cows? and won't it end up with a steadily increasing population of elderly, non-producing cows?

Generally, the older cows are put out to a pasture set aside for them, just like a retirement home for humans. Not sure about bulls (steers?) though.

 

[Kalidas]

Generally, the older cows are put out to a pasture set aside for them, just like a retirement home for humans. Not sure about bulls (steers?) though.

I always thought it would be cool open a dairy farm that specializes in affordable humane dairy products. I think the only way to make it affordable would be to make it employee owned and non profit.

 

[Maya3]

I always thought it would be cool open a dairy farm that specializes in affordable humane dairy products. I think the only way to make it affordable would be to make it employee owned and non profit.

That would be amazing.

To be honest, it really bothers me at Pujas when we use milk for the Abeishka (sp?)
Would it be ok to use Coconut milk?

Maya

 

[Jainarayan]

An admirable plan, Jainarayan, but what does your goshala/dairy plan to do with the calves produced by the milch-cows? and won't it end up with a steadily increasing population of elderly, non-producing cows?

I don't know what will happen, as I'm not involved in temple management. However, I'm sure that they will follow whatever customs their sister temples in India follow that the temple is patterned after.

Generally, the older cows are put out to a pasture set aside for them, just like a retirement home for humans. Not sure about bulls (steers?) though.

I thought it might be something like that. I don't know if they'd geld the males (that's a steer). There is at least one calf already.

This is the video of the dedication:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dgt51vkb979ibt3/Gosala.mp4

Isn't the calf adorable?