[Advaita-l] Use of Leather Goods

[Guest guest]

I'm aware that BrahmachAris use deer skin, sannyAsIs use tiger skin, etc. But

is it not the case that such skins are obtained after the animal undergoes a

natural death?

 

My question is regarding the use of any arbitrary leather good available in the

market for personal use - including cases where the leather comes from animals

that are reared for the specific purpose of manufacturing leather by

deliberately killing and skinning the animals' hides. Is the use of even such

leather permitted in our dharma?

 

It seems rather counter-intuitive to suppose that dharma permits the killing of

animals for our pleasure of using leather, so I'd like to see an authoritative

quote on the topic.

 

Thanks,

 

Kartik

 

--- Jayant.Madge wrote:

> Hrishis in RAMA AVATAR and previous were using VYAGRHA AND HARINA charma.

> Up until now also some of them are still using. Was that not leather.

> During thread ceremony HARINA charma is also knot on YADNOPAVIT.

>

>

> Please enlighten further.

>

>

> Best regards,

> Jayant.

>

>

>

>

>

> advaita-l-bounces

> 05/12/09 02:11

> Please respond to

> advaita-l

>

>

> To

> advaita-l

> cc

> advaitin

> Subject

> [Advaita-l] Use of Leather Goods

Is there a prohibition against the use of Leather goods (such as shoes) in

> any

> of our shAstras?

>

> Or has any well-respected authority on dharma prohibited the use of

> Leather for

> everyday use?

>

> Thanks,

>

> Kartik

>

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[Guest guest]

advaitin, S Jayanarayanan <sjayana> wrote:

>

>

> My question is regarding the use of any arbitrary leather good

available in the

> market for personal use - including cases where the leather comes

from animals

> that are reared for the specific purpose of manufacturing leather by

> deliberately killing and skinning the animals' hides. Is the use of

even such

> leather permitted in our dharma?

 

Namaste,

 

When Smriti-s are unable to resolve an issue, the Shruti guides us:

 

Taittiriya Upanishad I:xi:3-4

 

 

atha yadi te karmavichikitsaa vaa vR^ittavichikitsaa vaa syaat.h .. 3..

 

ye tatra braahmaNaaH saMmarshinaH . yuktaa aayuktaaH .

aluuxaa dharmakaamaaH syuH . yathaa te tatra varteran.h .

 

tathaa tatra vartethaaH . athaabhyaakhyaateshhu .

ye tatra braahmaNaaH saMmarshinaH . yuktaa aayuktaaH .

aluuxaa dharmakaamaaH syuH . yathaa te teshhu varteran.h .

tathaa teshhu vartethaaH . eshha aadeshaH . eshha upadeshaH .

eshhaa vedopanishhat.h . etadanushaasanam.h . evamupaasitavyam.h .

evamu chaitadupaasyam.h .. 4..

 

ityekaadasha.anuvaakaH ..

--

 

http://www.realization.org/page/namedoc0/tu/tu_1_11.htm

 

The Taittiriya Upanishad

Translated by Alladi Mahadeva Sastry

9. Now if to thee a doubt as to a deed, or a doubt as to conduct,

should occur, as the brahmanas there -- who are thoughtful, zealous,

well-versed, not hard (at heart), desirous of Dharma -- would act in

such matters, so there shalt thou act.

10. Now as to the accused: as the brahmanas there -- who are

thoughtful, zealous, well-versed, not hard (at heart), desirous of

Dharma -- would act in such matters, so there shalt thou act.

11. This is the direction; this the advice; this the secret of Vedas;

this the command; thus shall devotion be, and thus verily (all) this

shalt thou observe.