Hinduism Vegetarianism_and_religion

1 hinduism

1.1 nonviolence
1.2 current situation
1.3 animal sacrifice in hinduism

hinduism

vegetarianism integral part of schools of hinduism although there wide variety of practices , beliefs have changed on time. estimated 30% of hindus vegetarians. sects of hindus not observe vegetarianism.

nonviolence

a variety of south indian dishes served on banana leaf.

the principle of nonviolence (ahimsa) applied animals connected intention avoid negative karmic influences result violence. suffering of beings believed arise craving , desire, conditioned karmic effects of both animal , human action. violence of slaughtering animals food, , source in craving, reveal flesh eating 1 mode in humans enslave suffering. hinduism holds such influences affect person permits slaughter of animal, person kills it, person cuts up, person buys or sells meat, person cooks it, person serves up, , person eats it. must considered slayers of animal. question of religious duties towards animals , of negative karma incurred violence (himsa) against them discussed in detail in hindu scriptures , religious law books.

hindu scriptures belong or refer vedic period lasted till 500 bce according chronological division modern historians. in historical vedic religion, predecessor of hinduism, meat eating not banned in principle, restricted specific rules. several highly authoritative scriptures bar violence against domestic animals except in case of ritual sacrifice. view expressed in mahabharata (3.199.11-12; 13.115; 13.116.26; 13.148.17), bhagavata purana (11.5.13-14), , chandogya upanishad (8.15.1). instance, many hindus point mahabharata s maxim nonviolence highest duty , highest teaching, advocating vegetarian diet. mahabharata states adharma (sin) born when creatures started devour 1 want of food , adharma destroys every creature reflected in manu smriti (5.27-44), particularly renowned traditional hindu law book (dharmaśāstra). these texts condemn slaughter of animals , meat eating.

the mahabharata (12.260; 13.115-116; 14.28) , manu smriti (5.27-55) contain lengthy discussions legitimacy of ritual slaughter , subsequent consumption of meat. in mahabharata both meat eaters , vegetarians present various arguments substantiate viewpoints. apart debates domestic animals, there long discourse hunter in defence of hunting , meat eating. these texts show both ritual slaughter , hunting challenged advocates of universal non-violence , acceptability doubtful , matter of dispute.

current situation

in modern india food habits of hindus vary according community or caste , according regional traditions. hindu vegetarians eschew eggs consume milk , dairy products, lacto-vegetarians.

according survey of 2006, vegetarianism weak in coastal states , strong in landlocked northern , western states , among brahmins in general, 55 percent of whom vegetarians. many coastal inhabitants fish eaters. in particular bengali hindus have romanticized fishermen , consumption of fish through poetry, literature , music.

hindus eat meat encouraged eat jhatka meat.

animal sacrifice in hinduism

animal sacrifice in hinduism (sometimes known jhatka bali) ritual killing of animal in hinduism.

the ritual sacrifice forms part of festival honour hindu god. example, in nepal hindu goddess gadhimai, honoured every 5 years slaughter of 250,000 animals. bali sacrifice today common @ sakta shrines of goddess kali.