Re: Dietary agreements/disagreements in Hinduism
Namaste Tikkun,
Originally Posted by
Tikkun Olam
As I understand there is no universally acceptable diet in Hinduism. Although I hear vegetarianism is common, it's not mandatory. Where did the vegetarian predilection start, and is it trying to become the dominant force? Do feel like the meat-eaters are doing it wrong? I can almost imagine the intra-religious arguments now.
The only thing I know you agree on is to not eat the cow. Is there a history behind why this one thing has uniquely become the apex of some sort of universally established dietary law? As per my brief rummaging around the internet, the earliest Hindus did eat beef, so there must have been a shift in mentality at some point.
Hinduism is widely different in comparison to any of the Abrahimic religions. It is erroneous to say it qualifies to be called as "ism" ... it is better known as "Sanatan Dharma" or the Eternal Way. It has under its umbrella various sects ... apparently contradictory philosophies and yet a very strong unifying force which binds all Hindus.
It is true that Hindus prefer vegetarian. This doesn't mean that most of the Hindus are vegetarian. I don't think so. However, Vegetarianism is considered a virtue by most of the Hindus. Many Hindus are dominantly vegetarian but also consume meat sometimes. Today's Hindu society has :
a) Predominant non-sectarian Hindus : They have dietary habits what they think is right for them. They are not under any vow or binding to follow a particular way of living. Most of these Hindus are highly influenced by Vaishnavism but they are not Vaishnavas in true sense. This makes a very high percentage of Hindus.
b) Vaishnavas : This is one of very dominant sects within Hindus. They are strict vegetarians (but milk, butter etc. comes under vegetarian categaory). They stay away from any meat/poultry products (they would not even touch them or eat on table where it is being eaten by someone else).
c) Shaivas : The Shaivas too are strict vegetarians just like the Vaishnavas.
d) ShAktas : These people are of two types. One who worships "Vaishno devi' & others who worship Goddess Durga/Kaali etc. These people are small in number comparatively. In fact, non-sectarian Hindus form a great chunk of behaving as ShAktas when they worship Mother Goddess. Those who worship Mother Goddess Vaishno Devi, they won't eat meat just like the Vaishnavas. The other ShAktas not only eat meat but also offer meat/fish/poultry products to Mother Goddess.
e) Aghoris : These people can eat anything ... even part of corpses from the burial ground. For them, everything is just another form of Lord Shiva ... and therefore, there is nothing to be abhorred.
f) The Advaita Vedantins , Yogis : These people are normally vegetarians as one of the precondition for the "eight-limbs" Yoga is to abjure violence towards all beings.
However, it is not only sects which decides the dietary habits of people as most of the Hindus are actually non-sectarian. It also depends upon their caste, regions to which they belong etc. e.g. the Brahmins normally don't eat meat. However, this is also not fully true as the Brahmins from West Bengal, Assam, Orissa and some parts of Bihar eat meat or if not meat then certainly fish. The Marwaaris from Rajasthan area are normally strict vegetarians & so are the Gujaraatis. The Tamil Brahmins are very strict vegetarians.
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As far as cow eating is concerned, it is a big NO-NO for almost all Hindus except certain very low castes which eat dead cows meat. How and when it all started can very well be only a matter of guess. The Rig Veda which is believed to be more than even ten thousand years old (passed on to generations in poetic form orally) does mention "Cow sacrifice" but people's opinion is very widely divided on whether it meant literally sacrificing cows or it has some symbolic meaning.
Today's status is that Cow is very very sacred to almost all HIndus. Eating beef by a Hindu is almost unthinkable.
OM
"Om Namo Bhagvate Vaasudevaye"
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