Animal Sacrifice --- Read it Completely

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Jai Sita Ram Dear Punnyatman

Answer to your question.

 

Vegetarianism

Bija or germ is the subtlest form of this universe.

According to Purusha Suktha, the sublime vedic song,

one fourth of the ‘Supreme Person’ has become this

manifest world and the rest is unmanifest maintaining

its essential status. Thus the divinity and purity of

the phenomenal world is unquestionable. It should not

be lowered when passing through media. The function of

the mind is vital behind the concept of purity and

impurity. The primordial concept of this universe

being divine and pure, the germ or Bija forming out of

food has its original halo around it. As the germ

develops into the Gigantic mass of the Universe every

care must be taken to justify the purified concept of

the germ. Again Purusha Sukta explains that the

Supreme Purusha, the manifest reality behind the

cosmic world has infinite heads, eyes and legs. What

are these infinite organs other than those beings

ranging from the lowest to the highest level. If we

lay hand on any live substance for our physical

maintenance, we are cutting off one of the organs of

the Supreme Purusha of whom we are also made. This

being the truth, origin of the nature is not

materialistic. We can connect the concept of Yoga with

the different stages of development. Spirit is not

essentially different from matter. Hence proceeds the

divinity of life and the concept of non-violence

(Ahimsa). Hence it is the sanction of Vegetarianism,

which purify each organ of the universe through the

agency of the Human body. Human beings alone are

capable of higher understanding and realisation.

Balancing purity in the body through vegetables leads

to the balanced purity in the mechanism of the

universe. It is proved that the vegetable world also

manifests life. But it is ‘Thamasic’ in character,

ie., inactive and a vegetarian has traversed three or

four subtler regions in the spiritual life than the

non-vegetarian. That plants are sensitive to music,

capable of feeling etc., is at present a proven fact.

But their developing anything to organic expression or

mind-stuff is not yet supported by evidence. The

‘thamasic’ nature of the vegetable world may be

confirmed. Plants have to traverse countless regions

to assert in the realm of spirituality. The spiritual

mechanism of the world is relevant when the cosmic

person is described as having indefinite heads, arms

and legs. The energy overflowing from the supreme

God-head is supporting every limb and movement in the

universe. Any attempt to explain away the world by

the application of material science is fatal to the

spiritual goal of man. The Yogi discards even dry

leaves wholly depends on the intake of air. ‘Swayam

Visheernadrumaparnavrttiha Para hi Kashta Thapasa’.

The supreme stage of penance consists in the eating

of leaves dropping from the trees on their own. This

quotation is from ‘Kumara Sambhavam’ of Kalidasa.

 

Philosophy Behind Vegetarianism

 

Vegetarianism is not merely a code of eating habits.

There is a grand philosophy behind it which demands

deeper understanding. Vegetarian food can develop the

finer structure of the mind which is helpful in the

realisation of the final end of humanity. The capacity

of the mind to grasp purer ideas and develop on

subtler lines is amply increased by the intake of

Satvic food. The mind itself is the reflected

experience of life in the body. Purity of the mind

depends on the purity of the body also. Hence the

relevance of Satvic food is implied. The mind grows

steadfast and is never shaken by evil impulses. The

relation of the mind to the cosmic purpose of creation

is evident from the following paragraph. Indian

philosophy attempts to reconcile every movement in the

world with the cosmic purpose. Not a single element

is relegated to the background. ‘Annat Bhavanti

Bhootani’.

 

Status of the Animal World

All forms of life, as integral parts of nature, must

be respected. Indian religious system insists on the

recognition of the sub-human levels of existence. An

appreciation of all forms of life is essential to

transcend the domain of nature. In our metaphysical

quest as such, we may respect the laws of nature and

pass calmly through her. Eating of meat is violation

of nature and leads to the degeneration of human

nature. The animal world has also to be preserved to

serve the divine purpose behind creation. Imbalance in

nature is never in favour of the preservation of the

world.

 

Life on the Watery Level

 

Plants and shrubs are of more watery content than the

animals. Pain is absent on the watery level. The

vegetable world is more serene and nobler that a

moderate consumption of vegetables does not send acute

pain through the inner and subtler region. The concept

of causal waters (Karan Jalam) is a dominant factor.

All the pain and agony of phenomenal existence is

ultimately merged into the primordial waters at the

phase of total dissolution. This dissolute waters

turns into life waters at the beginning of creation,

out of which is projected the different stages of the

created world. The all embracing power of the causal

waters also sends its pure force through the vegetable

world. At the time of creation space is issued out of

the principle of ‘Ahamkara’ (ego). Air proceeds from

space, Fire from Air, Water from Fire and finally

Earth from Water. This process favours the concept of

the self-same base, the primal substratum of the

universe. Space gives rise to the quality of Sound,

Air to Touch, Fire to Form, Water to Taste and Earth

to Smell. This is all described in the Bhagavatha

Mahapurana. It is clear that water is a finer element

than Earth. Man plucking and eating vegetables seldom

disturbs the balanced state of the created world.

 

Man Not Carnivorous by Nature

The structure of the human body is not in favour of

eating flesh. The sharp claws and the pointed teeth

are remarkably absent in man. Carnivorous animals are

endowed with suitable intestines, kidney and liver in

order to support their meat eating habits. The small

intestines in the carnivorous animals are

conspicuously shorter and unbelievably lengthy in man.

Even carnivorous animals eat the herbivorous ones not

the carnivorous species. The herbivores feeding on

herbs and shrubs are supported by nature and in turn

helping the carnivores. Thus the herbal system

(cyclic system of life remembered) serves as a living

link between the herbivores and carnivores. The

structure and function of the human organs are

different and destined to be softened in the context

of finer tastes and discrimination. Man is more

resourceful in adjusting himself with any circumstance

 

 

Seasonal Varieties

The variegated seasonal yields of nature provide

abundant foodstuff for man. The blessed nature cannot

be depicted as a temptress. She, the empress of

divine glory supports her progeny with the endless

gifts of the Almighty. Man may not yield to momentous

pleasures, forgetting his supreme position in the

hierarchy of created beings.

 

 

Medicinal Value

The medicinal value of herbs and plants are well

known. The Sanskrit word for herbs and plants is

‘Oushadhi’. ‘Oushadham’ made out ‘Oushadhi’ means

medicine. Remedy for all known diseases can be found

in nature, in the vegetable world. The vedas and the

Upanishads contain clue to this. Rishis of ancient

India who are the advocates of Ahimsa, are great

physicians also. Nature cure is a recognised system

of medicine in India and the rest of the world.

 

Bad Effect of Eating Flesh

 

Animals facing slaughter develop a chain of

psychological infirmities. A serum forming out of fear

would poison the blood and flesh of the killed

animal. This acts as a negative force and is harmful

to health. Part of life of the animal will be

shattering through the skin pores of the body and the

nature of fear accumulated in the process of killing

and deposited on the flesh will never help a meat

eater. Meat eating has a bad effect on the working of

the mind. The chain of frustration and ultimate agony

will disturb the subconscious level of the universal

mind. The individual mind and the Universal mind are

one and the same in the final analysis. Any excess of

bad impressions is sure to upset the ideal balance of

the total mind stuff. A part of bad impressions would

get entangled with the mangled flesh of the slain

animal, the earthy aspect dominating there. Moreover

the negative force (Papa) of life would settle

wherever the same frequency of thought waves is

existent. As a result the killer and the eater will go

degenerate in their subconscious levels. Scientists

and doctors do not encourage the tendency to meat

eating. Vegetables can provide the required substance

for a healthy life.

 

All Passing Through the Medium of Vegetables

Animals ceasing from life, pass through the medium of

vegetables. Plants grow on the ruins of dead animals.

Thus all forms of life, disintegrating, are

transformed into the five elements, the gross aspect

sticking to the earth. According to the Adhyatma

Ramayana (Kishkinda Kandam - Sampathi Vakyam) the

Jiva, deprived of merit (Punya) falls down from

heaven. It has a short life in the lunar world (the

moon is the symbol of mind). Then continuing its

course, the Jiva sprouts as rice plant on earth. Rice

becomes food, semen and falls into the womb of woman.

The life cycle ultimately depends on the medium of

vegetables.

 

‘Jiva......ksheenapunya padatyarvaganichha

Karmachoditha

Patitva mandale chendostato neeharasamyuta,

Bhoomau patitva vreehyadau tatra stitva

chiram puna

Bhootva chaturvidham bhojyam purushai

bhujyate tata

Reto bhootya punastena streeyoni samchita’

(Adhyatma Ramayana)

 

The concept of time in measuring the course of

a Jiva is indefinable. Some moments in the higher

celestial worlds are equal to millions of years on

earth. There is an episode in the Bhagavatha

Mahapurana. King Revata passed a few minutes with his

daughter Revathi beside the seat of Lord Brahma in

the Sathya Loka. The music that was going on, ceasing,

the supreme Lord heard the prayers of the king. The

perusal of the horoscope of Revathi graciously

granting the Lord drove the king to the fact that

twenty eight chaturyugas had already passed on earth

since his departure from his earthly city. ( 28 x

12,000 x 360 human years ). The inscrutable play of

time passes the understanding of the most refined

mind. It is against such immeasurable and

inconceivable background that the merit and defect of

human beings tending to go vegetarian or

non-vegetarian should be considered. Argument both

ways is not advisable. This is not the plane of

reason, but the plane of intuition

 

Spiritual Development

 

Although hinted at in the beginning of this essay,

the spiritual relevance here demands serious

understanding. Ahimsa and vegetarianism is the basic

concept of Vidika Sanathana Dharma. Ahimsa is the

primary equipment for spiritualism. ‘Ahimsa Paramo

Dharma’. Ahimsa (non-violence) is a nobler concept

than the so called olerance. Ahimsa aims at purity and

balance, the satvic quality. Certain varieties of

vegetables such as onion and garlic are predominantly

rajasic and are avoided in a spiritual life. Thus

ahimsa and vegetarianism are inseparably connected

with the Sanathana Dharma. Also consider the selfless

service, the vegetable world is rendering. The

Sanathani conception prohibits taking food from

selfish and impure agents. The innocent animals,

mostly the object of man’s avarice, craving for their

life are most selfish and form the most impure food

when slaughtered. Here doctrine of Ahimsa should do

justice to the animal world and declare its affinity

with vegetarianism

 

Yajna Concept and Universal Mind

 

Yajna concept or service pattern of the of the

vegetables is fundamental to the life system. ‘Sarvam

Yajne Pratishtitham’. The green world makes the earth

fit for life of the animal world ranging in variety

from from the smallest unit of life to man. The

vegetable and the animal regions are harmoniously

interwoven into a single household. The distributory

system of service in the cosmic pattern is meant to

help each species to cross through its present status

to a higher level. This process will continue without

hurting any aspect of the universal life system. The

balancing of Punya (merit) and Papa (defect) is

possible through this mechanism. Punya can be defined

as the positive force of life distributed in the

physical system of the universe which helps to pass

through all the barriers of worldly existence and

culminates in the most purified form of life, rid of

all Vasanas (instincts). The negative force of life

absorbed by the life system unknowingly, owing to the

impetus of the dominant force of the material world is

called Papa which breeds relative and binding forces.

The implied balance of Punya and Papa may not be

disturbed. Selfless action arouses purified regions in

the universal mind and is blessed and blessing.

Selfish impulses have the same negative impact. Man,

on account of his superior power for reasoning, is

expected to maintain this Yajna concept of the nature

and act as a conscious agent for the spiritual

well-being of the world. Impact of the individual

mind on the universal mind has already been asserted.

This essay proposes to halt, inviting a reference to

the well known experiment conducted under the sun.

Certain young rabbits were separated from their

mother, taken far away under the sun and killed. The

psychological change over the mother rabbit was

closely measured simultaneously. The convulsion and

agony that overtook the mother was so remarkable that

the subtler link connecting the feelings of two minds

placed at distant places is baffling the intellect of

man. The concept of Yajna that is manifest in the

world serves the supreme divine purpose and finally

rests on and merges into the supreme Brahman.

 

Annat Bhavanti Bhootani

Parjanyadannasambhava

Yajnat Bhavanti Parjanyo

Yajna Karmasamudbhava

Karma Brahmodbhavan Viddhi --- (

Bhagavad Gita )

 

Curty: www.srdm.org

 

 

 

--- moorthyvlr <moorthyvlr wrote:

 

> Dear sir,

> I read about your comments on animal

> sacrifices. i would like say few facts known to me.

> Eating food in itself is a sin. But none of us can

> live without eating. When we eat we destroy life (

> Plants/ milk etc are also life). There is no food

> which can be called vegetarian. It sound weird but

> it is fact we destroy the pests, dwelling place of

> worms, insects. We may not eat those but they are

> the manure sometimes which makes them grow.

>

> Then why do saints ask us to eat

> vegtarian diet. It is there again a science of

> diet.How is the food transfering to energy in to

> eleticity that runs in our nerves, which there again

> stimulate our emotions, physical health and mental

> health.In our body complex reactions takes place.

> Food stuff which we eat act as stimultant or like

> catlyst with our nature ( Good in us and bad in us).

>

> Non-veg stimulates negative thoughts

> of ferocious like a restless tiger.Wise say to win a

> war the soldiers are given baffalo milk rather to

> cows milk as baffalo is more ferocious.Food is a

> catalyst( are substances which speeds up a

> reaction), which can increase or decrease our in

> born character in us.

>

> Comming to animal sacrifice,It is for

> meat lovers. They are people who have not won their

> tongue a powerful sense organ. when they make a

> animal sacrifice they make a vow " O Divine Mother I

> am ready to be a animal and be the food for the

> animal which am sacrificing now in front of you".

> Our muslim brother pray "God you are incharge of the

> blood spilt on your account."

>

> A desire can be overcame by two way

> 1.satisfying the desire and leaving it 2.never

> getting into the taste of such desire ( total

> prohibition).

>

> With regards,

> Moorthy

>

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