RE:Vegetarianism and Hinduism
From the Bhakti List Archives
• January 29, 2002
Dear Bhagavathas, This topic comes up often. Hinduism (Sanathana Dharma) is too broad and deep to have such narrow concepts. It is fairly clear that meat was consumed by Hindus from times immemorial. Life supports life. Ahimsa is the principle of causing least injury (in thoughts, words and deeds). Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian! Bhagavadgita discusses fairly elaborately on different kind of foods. Only people who cook for themselves verily eat sin! Gita also talks about Satvic, Rajasic and Tamasic foods. Interestingly, there is no mention or emphasis on avoiding meat. It is people who read into it and label meat as Tamasic food. Does it mean that many of our great Reshis and avataras (Rama for example) were Tamasic? Avoidance of meat may have been stressed in Bhagavatham and other Hindu scriptures, but certainly not in Bhagavadgita. We say what other shaastram is needed besides Bhgavadgita- as stated, Gita does not forbid meat and then why fuss about meat? I believe, it is mostly cultural. Brahmins (other than Bengali and Kashmiri) and few other sub-castes (Veerashaivas and some Chettiars) follow vegetarianism, by and large. Likewise, most Christians in the West do not eat dog or horse for that matter, eventhough it is not forbidden in their religion. I am told dog is consumed in Nagaland and in parts of China. When people here asksme why many Hindus do not eat cow (or other met), I tell them it is mostly cultural, just like Americans generally don't eat dog! If they ask me whether I am a vegetarian, I tell them that I am a TASTARIAN! Food has to taste good- that matters most. Try eating stale Bisibele bath (100% vegetarian). If we can think of one religion that STRICTLY FORBIDS meat is Jainism. Daasan K. Sreekrishna Tatachar [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------------------------------------------- - SrImate rAmAnujAya namaH - To Post a message, send it to: bhakti-list@yahoogroups.com Archives: http://ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/ Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
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