re: Bulls and cows and meat eating

04-09-2005, 10:35 AM

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