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Home Explained Explained: Holiness of the Cow and Controversy Over Beef-Eating In AncientIndia

Explained: Holiness of the

Cow and Controversy Over
Beef-Eating In AncientIndia
A sampling of scholarship suggests both ancient Indian texts and rulers
adopted a mixed approach condoning as well as prohibiting the
killing and consumption of cows, depending on circumstances.

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Published:June 8, 2015 1:45 am

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Though there seems to have been some feeling against the killing of cows even in Vedic times, Asoka
did not forbid the slaughter of cattle, and oxen, at any rate, were killed for food even later.

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar

The Untouchables: Who were they and why they became Untouchables?
Writings and Speeches, 1948
What is the evidence that Hindus never ate beef and were opposed to the
killing of cow?
In the Rig Veda the cow is spoken of as Aghnya, one who does not deserve to
be killed Another reference [is] where the cow is called Devi (Goddess). [But]
Aghnya means a cow that was yielding milk and therefore not fit for being killed.
That the cow is venerated in the Rig Veda is of course true. [But] the utility of the
cow did not prevent the Aryan from killing the cow for purposes of food
The testimony of the Satapatha Brahmana and the Apastamba Dharma Sutra
are merely exhortations against the excesses of cow-killing and not prohibitions
against cow-killing.

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Why did the Non-Brahmin give up beef-eating? It was due to their desire to
imitate the Brahmins [But] why did [Brahmins] give up beef-eating?
To my mind, it was strategy The clue to the worship of the cow is to be found in
the struggle between Buddhism and Brahmanism and the means adopted by
Brahmanism to establish its supremacy over Buddhism
Beef-eating was made a sacrilege The Broken Men who continued to eat beef
became guilty There was no other fate left for [them] except to be treated unfit
for association, i.e., as Untouchables.
A L Basham

The Wonder That Was India, 1954

Though there seems to have been some feeling against the killing of cows even in
Vedic times, Asoka did not forbid the slaughter of cattle, and oxen, at any rate, were
killed for food even later. But the Arthasastra refers to herds of aged, diseased
and sterile cattle, and it therefore appears that before the Christian era cattle were
normally allowed to die a natural death, at least in some parts of the country
Mahadev Chakravarti

Beef-Eating in Ancient India Social Scientist, June 1979

Beef-eating was popular with the Vedic Indians Not only for the purpose of
sacrifices but for food also, the bovine species were killed in regular slaughterhouses and this is evident from [a] hymn of the Rgveda
Interestingly enough in the same Veda the cow is sometimes considered inviolable
as indicated by her designation aghnya (not to be slain) which occurs sixteen times
in the entire Rgveda We should point out that the Sanskrit word used for the

sacrificial cow is Vasa (i.e. sterile cow) and a milch cow was seldom sacrificed.
Ancient Indian medical works like the Charaka Samhita recommend beef for
pregnant women, but prohibits it for everyday use for everybody
D N Jha

The Myth of the Holy Cow, 2002

[Among the early Aryans], animal sacrifices were very common Indra had a
special liking for bulls Maruts and the asvins were offered cows The Taittiriya
Brahmana categorically tells us: Verily the cow is food (atho annam vai gauh) and
Yajnavalkyas insistence on eating the tender (amsala) flesh of the cow is well
known.
[Grhyasutras and Dharmasutras] provide ample evidence of the eating of flesh
including beef The ceremonial welcome of guests (sometimes known as arghya
but generally as madhuparka) consisted of the flesh of a cow or bull [At] the
sacred thread ceremony it was necessary for a snataka to wear an upper garment
of cowhide.
Cattle were killed for food during the Mauryan period as is evident from the
Arthasastra of Kautilya and Asokas own list of animals exempt from slaughter,
which, significantly, does not include the cow
The Mahabharata makes a laudatory reference to the king Rantideva in whose
kitchen two thousand cows were butchered each day The Ramayana of Valmiki
makes frequent references to the killing of animals including the cow for sacrifice
and for food
Caraka, Susruta and Vagbhata speak of the therapeutic uses of beef.
Wendy Doniger

The Hindus: An Alternative History, 2009

It is evident that people did eat meat, including beef, though in ways that were

becoming increasingly qualified Eating meat in a sacrifice is not the same as

eating meat for dinner, and killing too can be dichotomized in this way, as can the
eating of cows versus other sorts of meat, though several texts combine the
permission for eating meat (including cow) at a sacrifice and meat offered to a
guest
One Brahmana passage forbids the eating of either cow or bull (dhenu or
anaduha), [but] the text then adds, However, Yajnavalkya said, I do eat [the meat
of both cow and bull], as long as its tasty. We can see the conflicted belief that
there is a chain of food and eaters that both justifies itself and demands that we
break out of it: It happens, but it must not happen.

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125 comments

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Pulithevan

International business houses, students, tourists should avoid the B.J.P governed states
where saffron fanatics are in loose. One can get Lynched for eating a burger with a piece
of beef in it. Move to states Kerala and Tamil nadu , West Bengal where cultured people
live. They understand multi cultre and appreciate diversity.The 156 countries embassies

live. They understand multi cultre and appreciate diversity.The 156 countries embassies
in India should be aware of these saffron states, and when Visas are issued to the
students or workers from these states should make sure they are not part of these hate
groups like Brahminism, VHP, R.S.S. They have weird habit of eating animal excreta like
cow dung and urine which is threat to public health. Any equal opportunity employer
across the world should stop hiring or doing business withe these institutions where food
based discrimnation still exists.
(0)

about a month ago

HN

(0) reply(1)

Harikumar Nair from United Arab Emirates

Very annoying comment. Who will listen to your recommendations stop hiring
Indians. In which world you are living Mister?
16 days ago

(0)

(0) reply(0)

Congreess The

CT

Some researchers believe that Muhammad was very fond of Pork Chops, some ancient
Arabic texts say. Will DN Jha shed light on it.

250

(0)

about a month ago

(0) reply(0)

Sreeramkrishnaiah Challa from India

SC

Please quote those verses that the Author has the audacity to quote.Just like they Bible
or Koran?

250

5 months ago

(0)

(0) reply(0)

Raju Charles from United States

Beef sandwiches are the best business for Caste Hindus in the West! Dollar is Lax-mi in
America! Let Ghar wapsi deny this holy cow business!

2135

5 months ago

(1)

(0) reply(1)

TatSUp Voted

wazinaname from India

The Western hypocrites have no problem banning cat and dog meat even though
their Chinese and Korean minorities eat dog and cat meat because they love them ..
but if Indians love cows and ban beef than its a problem....
(1)

5 months ago

(0) reply(0)

RajuUp Voted

Purush from India

can u please get me the hymn sir.... killed in regular slaughter-houses and this is evident
from [a] hymn of the Rgveda - after that I would like to discuss in length on this....it would
be very kind of you if you could paste the hymn here,,,,thanks
(2)

(1) reply(1)

5 months ago

(2)

(1) reply(1)

NirajRajuUp Voted
PsybabaDown Voted
Niraj from India

Very true....since long i have been looking for those hymns,but so far it has not been
put forward by those scholars.Mr.Arun Shouri had once challenged D N Jha to show
him those hymns by giving all four vedas but he declined.
(0)

4 months ago

(0) reply(0)

Uday from France

Non-beef eating (or non-veg as a whole) does not make you less or more of a good
person. If India feels strongly about it, then they should ban it. But the end result should
not be considered a purification of oneself or provide justification for ones sinful actions.
5 months ago

(0)

(0) reply(0)

Venkatesh from India

First of all, all the comments are personal opinions of the authors. Second thing all are
marxist scholars/English authors who would like to perpetuate the stinking English
culture in India and spread the feeling that Indians are second class citizens in the world.
They never propogate Hindu Culture which has many more good things but only pick and
choose negative things about Hindu culture to pin them down and Our sickular parties
readily play ball with these immoral humans.

105

5 months ago

(0)

(0) reply(1)

Raju Charles from United States

Stinking caste brain sucks! Your Ebola caste has nothing to do with English Culture!
Culture of caste kills innocent life in India.

2135

5 months ago

(0) reply(3)

wazinaname from India

stinking racist brain sucks! your ebola racism has everything to do with christian
culture .culture of racism kills innocent life all over the world
5 months ago

(0)

(0)

(0) reply(0)

wazinaname from India

Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good
who are accustomed to doing evil.Jeremiah 13:23 . this verse clearly says that
blacks can do no good and are accustomed to evil.equality of humans in
Christianity is a myth and missionary propaganda.brainwashed rice converts like
you will never understand that.
5 months ago

(0)

(0) reply(0)

sreeramkrishnaiah challa from India

SC

Even without casteism, a Catholic Hitler killed Millions of Jews.Muslims are killing
one another and non muslims even though there is no caste in Islam.What caste
killed Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir? Pakistan? Bangladesh? Afghanistan? More
than 100 crores Hindus are killed by Muslim and Christian Rulers of India.Om
Shanthi Shanthi Shanthi.

250

(2)
(0) reply(1)
wazinanamewazinanameUp Voted
5 months ago

ranjan from India

Isn't there difference between Hitler killing millions during a few years and
Indian caste system slowing smothering millions for centuries acting like slow
poison?
5 months ago

(0)

(0) reply(0)

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