While most major world religions are traceable to one particular
founder, Hinduism has its beginnings in such remote antiquity that
it cannot be traced to any one individual. Its roots, however, are
firmly planted in the ancient Vedic texts. Having well considered
the origin of flesh-foods, and the cruelty of fettering and slaying
corporeal beings, let man entirely abstain from eating flesh. -
Manusmriti 5.49
Interestingly enough, the word "Hindu" is not actually found
anywhere in Vedic scriptures. The term "Hindu" is vague, and even a
misnomer. The term was introduced by Muslims from neighboring
countries who referred to people living across the River Sindhu, a
people who actually held a vast array of religious beliefs. There
is no one "Hindu religion."
The original Vedic system is actually quite different from
contemporary Hinduism. Both the old and the new, however, converge
harmoniously in regard to vegetarianism. Here are some quotes from
the Vedas:
"You must not use your God-given body for killing God's creatures,
whether they are human, animal or whatever." (Yajur Veda,
12.32)
"By not killing any living being, one becomes fit for salvation."
(Manusmriti, 6.60)
"The purchaser of flesh performs himsa (violence) by his wealth; he
who eats flesh does so by enjoying its taste; the killer does himsa
by actually tying and killing the animal. Thus, there are three
forms of killing. He who brings flesh or sends for it, he who cuts
of the limbs of an animal, and he who purchases, sells, or cooks
flesh and eats it-all of these are to be considered meat-eaters."
(Mahabharata, Anu. 115:40)
Cow Protection
According to India's traditional scriptural histories, the original
cow Mother Surabhi, was one of the treasures churned from the
cosmic ocean, and "the five products of the cow"
(pancha-gavya)-milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung-were considered
purifying. The cow is respected in her own right as one of the
seven mothers because she offers her milk as does one's natural
mother. The cow plays a central role in the Vedic ideal for
humanity: "simple living and high thinking," a life close to nature
and God. Until recently in India's history, most people lived on
tracts of land suitable for complete self-sufficiency.
The cow thus has always played an important role in India's
economy. For example, cow dung serves as an inexpensive fertilizer.
Stored in underground tanks, it also generates methane gas that is
used for heating and cooking. Cow dung is also an effective
disinfectant and is used both as a poultice and a cleansing
agent.
The very name for the cows is aghnaya which means "not to be
killed."
Vegetarianism and Nonviolence
In the Manusmriti, it is stated that one should refrain from eating
all kinds of meat, for such eating involves killing and leads to
karmic bondage (bandha).
Elsewhere in the Vedas, the last of the great Vedic Kings, Maharaja
Pariksit, is quoted as saying that "only the animal killer cannot
relish the message of the Absolute Truth." Therefore, the Vedas
inform us to obtain spiritual knowledge, one must begin with being
vegetarian.
The Lord's Mercy
According to the Vedic scriptures, one should offer all foods as a
sacrifice to God: "…all that you do, all that you eat, all that you
offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may
perform, should be done as an offering unto Me." (Bhagavad-gita
9.27)
The Gita also clarifies exactly what should be offered: "If one
offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water,
I will accept it." (Bhagavad-gita. 9.26)
The Bhagavad-gita further declares that one who lovingly offers his
food to God, according to scriptural guidelines, is freed from all
sinful reactions and consequent rebirth in the material world: "The
devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sin because
they eat food which is offered first in sacrifice. Others, who
prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.
(Bhagavad-gita 3.13)
Remnants of such devotional offerings are called prasadam
(literally, "The Lord's Mercy"). In India, the largest temples,
such as Shri Rangam in south India and Jagannath Mandir, the main
temple in Puri, all freely distribute sanctified vegetarian foods
(prasadam) daily.
Animals and Spirituality
Long before Saint Francis was declared the patron saint of the
animals, the sages of ancient India had already recognized
spirituality in all living species. Vedic texts even describe
incarnations of God in various animal forms.
Some of the more popular are the boar, the tortoise, the fish, and
the horse-there is even a half man/half lion incarnation! ( Vedic
literature does not promote polytheism, rather, the Vedas affirm
that it is the same one God who appears in various forms).
The Vedic viewpoint even acknowledges the ability of ordinary
animals to achieve exalted states of spirituality! This is so
because of the viewpoint that spirituality is not limited to the
human form and that ultimately the external body is a temporary
housing for the eternal spiritual soul.
The Vedas say that the living soul transmigrates, from body to
body, from species to species, until it finally reaches the human
form, equipped with reason and the ability to inquire into the
Absolute Truth. Exercising that human prerogative, one can end the
cycle of repeated birth and death and attain the kingdom of
God.
Here, then, is a religious tradition that emphasizes not only
vegetarianism but also the spiritual equality of all living
beings.
