Myths and Facts - Contd.

[Guest guest]

There were some postings about Janeyu or what we call cross thread and

Brahmins.

 

Myth: Only Brahmins wear the cross thread.

 

Fact: Even as per the old condemned caste system the three castes of

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas were entitled to wear the cross

thread. In addition some other castes like sculptors, goldsmiths and

artisans connected with temples were entitled to wear it.

 

If you take the case of a state like Tamil Nadu the majority of the

people who wear the cross thread are not Brahmins but castes like

Chettiars, Acharis( Goldsmith), Konars and others.

 

Myths: Hinduism enjoins protection of Cows.

 

Fact: It is not so. It is basically only a Vaishnavite doctrine.

 

Before you start arguing about this please check up the meaning of the

Sanskrit word GOGNAH which is a term for Adhiti a guest.

 

Myth: Vegetarianism is one of the fundamental doctrines.

 

Fact: Wrong again. There is no injunction even for Brahmins to be

Vegetarians. Our Rishis were meat eaters.

 

Again please see the Puranic story of how Agasthya Rishi killed the

demon Vathapi and his brother before you respond.

[Guest guest]

Like I made clear in my post(and also some time ago in another post on

caste system in India), I consider anyone who lives in the Brahma to

be a Brahmin.

 

Brahma Janati iti Brahmin

 

"Those who know Brahma are Brahmins".

 

Only such Brahmins will see any benefit from wearing Janyeu. Several

people wrote that other castes wear it too, however I dont see any

benefit of it, except a blind following of tradition without knowing

the reason for it.

[Guest guest]

Myth: Vegetarianism is one of the fundamental doctrines.

>

> Fact: Wrong again. There is no injunction even for Brahmins to be

> Vegetarians. Our Rishis were meat eaters.

 

 

Which Purana are you talking about? Seems to me like a Communist

Historians version of Hinduism, where people

mistranslate/misunderstand certain verses, and then have to force

meaning on them.

 

Lalu

[Guest guest]

The legend about Rishi Agasthya which indicates that our Rishis did

take Non-Vegetarian food is as follows.

 

Two demon brothers, Ilvala and Vatapi, decided to kill Agastya. One of

them was good at changing form and the other knew the Sanjivani mantra

which, when invoked can bring back a dead person to life. They hatched

a plan that the one who could change form would turn into a goat and

be killed and fed to Agastya. After Agastya had eaten the goat, the

other would invoke the Sanjivani mantra to bring back his brother to

life, who in turn would rend Agastya's stomach and come out thereby

killing him. By the plan, one changed into a goat and the other

disguised himself as a Brahmachari who invited Agastya to a meal.

Agastya knew beforehand about the plan due to his immense Vedic

powers, but he resolved to teach both a lesson. After the meal,

Agastya simply rubbed his stomach saying Jeernam jeernam vathaapi

jeernam (meaning "The food that is eaten will be digested well") to

digest the meal, while the other demon tried to bring his brother to

life in vain. Agastya plainly informed the demon that his brother has

been digested.

 

I can quote many more legends.

 

Many of the Rishis were not Brahmins. Viswamitra who gave the Gayatri

Mantra was born a Kshatriya. He was a King. A vegetarian Kshatriya?

Sacrificial Meat was eaten by all. Even today Kashmiri Brahmins do eat

meat. The Bengali Brahmins do eat fish.

 

It is good to be a vegetarian. But it should be by choice and not

under compulsion from Purohits and Pravachan speakers.

[Guest guest]

You eat plants right? So what is the difference between killing a

plant or killing an animal?

[Guest guest]

> You eat plants right? So what is the difference between killing a

> plant or killing an animal?

 

 

There is a big difference. Plants are not too concious of their

existence, while animals are. An animal knows its about to die, and it

cries out for help. The karma for killing an animal is thus huge.

[Guest guest]

True Laluji. In fact, advanced Rishis and Sadhus dont even eat plants,

taking only milk and fruits, and these too if the milk is from a cow

that has fed her calf and fruits that have fallen from trees.

 

But in the beginning, vegetarian food is ok.