re: Bulls and cows and meat eating

[Guest guest]

Dear adiyars,

 

let us not kid ourselves about the eating of meat - there are a large number

of texts in the vedic literature where meat eating is not only snctioned but

recommended including the eating of beef. Examples are given below.

 

Food offered to guests which is accompanied by meat procures the reward of a

12 day Vedic Sacrifice. (Apastamba 2:3:7:4)

 

The meat of milch cows and oxen may be eaten and the Vajasaneyaka declares

that a bull¹s flesh is fit for offerings. (Apastamba 1;5;17;30-31)

 

It is stated in the Veda of the Vajasaneyins that the milch-cow and the

draft ox are pure and can be eaten. (Vaishtha 14:46)

 

Animals with five claws are forbidden with the exception of the Godha

lizard, tortoise, porcupine, hedgehog, rhinoceros, hare and putikhasa.

(Apastamba 1:19:37 Vaishtha 14:39)

 

If a person has unawares eaten the meat of a five-toed animal with the

exception of the hare, the porcupine, the iguana, the rhinoceros and the

tortoise he must fast for seven days (Vishnu Smrti 51:7, Gautama 17:27)

 

Firewood, water, roots, fruits, protection, meat, honey, a bed, a seat, a

house, flowers, sour milk and vegetables one should never disdain to accept

when they are offered. (Vishnu Smrti 57:10)

 

Firewood, water, grass, roots, fruits, protection, food brought unsolicited,

a carriage, milk, sour milk, grain, small fish, millet, a garland, venison

and vegetables spontaneously offered by a man of any caste must never be

refused. (Gautama 17:3, Apastamba 1;6;18;1)

 

One may eat the flesh of animals killed by beasts of prey after having

washed it, if no blemish is visible, and it is declared to be fit for use by

the word of a brahmin. (Gautama 17:38)

 

Eating of flesh forbidden during Vedic study. (Gautama 16:3)

 

Forbidden meat: dogs, humans, village cocks, village pigs and carnivorous

animals (Apastamba 1:21:14)

 

Manu 3:257. The food eaten by hermits in the forest, milk, Soma-juice, meat

which is not prepared (with spices), and salt unprepared by art, are called,

on account of their nature, sacrificial food.

 

Manu 5:11. Let him avoid [eating] all carnivorous birds and those living in

villages, and one-hoofed animals which are not specially permitted (to be

eaten), and the Tittibha (Parra Jacana),

 

Manu 5:12 ­ 14. The sparrow, the Plava, the Hamsa, the Brahmani duck, the

village-cock, the Sarasa crane, the Raggudala, the woodpecker, the parrot,

and the starling, those which feed striking with their beaks, web-footed

birds, the Koyashti, those which scratch with their toes, those which dive

and live on fish, meat from a slaughter-house and dried meat, the Baka and

the Balaka crane, the raven, the Khangaritaka, (animals) that eat fish,

village-pigs, and all kinds of fishes.

 

Manu 5:15. He who eats the flesh of any (animal) is called the eater of the

flesh of that (particular creature), he who eats fish is an eater of every

(kind of) flesh; let him therefore avoid fish.

 

Manu 5:16. (But the fish called) Pathina and (that called) Rohita may be

eaten, if used for offerings to the gods or to the Ancestors; (one may eat)

likewise Ragivas, Simha-tundas, and Sasalkas on all (occasions).

 

Manu 5:17. Let him not eat solitary or unknown beasts and birds, though they

may fall under (the categories of) eatable (creatures), nor any five-toed

(animals).

 

Manu 5:18. The porcupine, the hedgehog, the iguana, the rhinoceros, the

tortoise, and the hare they declare to be eatable; likewise those (domestic

animals) that have teeth in one jaw only, excepting camels.

 

 

dasanudasan

 

Sri Ram