The taboo on cow slaughter and beef eating did not exist in Vedic era.+

The taboo on cow slaughter and beef-eating did not exist in the Vedic era.

As we peep into the annals of Indian religious history we find: ~

Then there is clear evidence in the Rig Veda that Aryans regularly ate beef and sacrificed cows for religious purposes which are strictly forbidden in Hinduism:~

Quoting from Rigveda, historian H. H Wilson writes: ~ “The sacrifice and consumption of horse and cow appear to have been common in the early periods of the Aryan culture.” 

Rig Veda says:~   "May the wind blow upon our cows with healing; may they eat herbage ... Like-colored various-hued or single-colored whose names through sacrifice are known to Agni, Whom the Angirases produced by Ferbvour - vouschsafe to these, Parjanya, great protection. Those who have offered to the Gods their bodies whose varied forms are all well known to Soma." (Hymn CLXIX)  (The Rig Veda (RV), translated by Ralph H. Griffith, New York, 1992, p. 647).

In the Rig Veda: ~ Agni is described as "fed on ox and cow" suggesting that cattle were sacrificed and roasted in the fire. (RV: VIII.43.11)

Rigveda declares, “On the occasion of a girl’s marriage oxen and cows are slaughtered” (10/85/13)

Rig-Veda states that “Indra used to eat the meat of cow, calf, horse, and buffalo. (6/17/1)” 

Hindus are not in contact with their religious history therefore, they believe their inherited beliefs as the ultimate truth.

Hindus traditionalists refuse to debate whether the Vedic people practiced cow slaughter and ate beef. They believe such a debate is irreligious.

The taboo on cow slaughter and beef-eating did not exist in the Vedic era. Cow slaughter and beef-eating are barred by Hinduism is the influence of the Bhakti moment.  The cow is always connected with Lord Krishna. No Hindu will eat beef because every Hindu believes the cow is the most sacred. 

All Hindus are not vegetarians. Non-vegetarian Hindus eat other meat except beef.    There is no need to support cow slaughter and beef-eating but one must know the religious history of India for his own information.

Cow slaughter and beef-eating are barred by Hinduism, but the taboo on cow slaughter and beef-eating did not exist in Vedic times. The taboo on cow slaughter is not Vedic in origin it has been adopted from Jainism.   

Criteria like taboo on beef-eating or belief in reincarnation might stamp the Vedic seers as non-Hindus”.

The cow was a sacred animal that the authors of the Vedas sacrificed cows and ate beef on special occasions. This argument only substantiates the view that the cow was not an inviolable animal and that beef-eating was not taboo in Vedic times.

"Beef was an important part of the Vedic diet. In ancient India, cow slaughter was considered auspicious on the occasions of some ceremonies. The bride and groom used to sit on the hide of a red ox in front of the ‘Vedi’ (alter).”

Many scriptures are witnesses to such sacrifices and killings of animals for consumption. References to such commands are replete in Hindu scriptures like Manusmriti, Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmins, Grih sutras, Dharma-sutras, and others.

Quoting some references from different scriptures is imperative to bring home the point and clear the misconceptions:~

Manusmriti says: ~ “It is not sinful to eat the meat of eatable animals, for Brahma has created both the eaters and the eatables.” (Chapter 5 / Verse 30)

Manusmriti states: ~ When a man who is properly engaged in a ritual does not eat meat, after his death he will become a sacrificial animal during twenty-one rebirths. (5 / 35)

 Maharishi Yagyavalkya says in Shatpath Brahmin:~ “I eat beef because it is very soft and delicious.” (3/1/2/21)

Apastamb Grihsutram says: ~ “The cow should be slaughtered on the arrival of a guest, on the occasion of ‘Shraddha’ of ancestors, and on the occasion of a marriage.” (1/3/10)

Vasistha Dharma-sutra writes: ~ “If a Brahmin refuses to eat the meat offered to him on the occasion of ‘Shraddha’ or worship, he goes to hell.” (11/34)

Swami Vivekananda said: ~ “You will be surprised to know that according to ancient Hindu rites and rituals, a man cannot be a good Hindu who does not eat beef”. (The Complete Works of Swami Vivekanand, Vol.3, p. 536).

Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane says:~  “Bajsancyi Samhita sanctifies beef-eating because of its purity”. (Dharmashastra Vichar Marathi, page 180)

Sage Sankara says: ~ ‘Odan’ (rice) mixed with meat is called ‘Mansodan’. On being asked whose meat it should be, he answers ‘Uksha’. ‘Uksha’ is used for an ox, which is capable to produce semen. (Commentary on Brihadaranyakopanishad 6/4/18)

Renowned historian R.C.Majumdar says: ~ “this is said in the Mahabharata that King Rantidev used to kill two thousand other animals in addition to two thousand cows daily in order to give their meat in charity”. (Vol.2, page 578) (‘The History and Culture of the Indian People’, published by Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan)

As is clear from the above, several aspects that are intrinsic to the Hinduism of today, such as the doctrine of re-incarnation, avatars (‘descent’) of Gods,  caste system, and the taboo on cow slaughter and beef-eating were absent in the Vedic religion.

It was shown by a critical study of the Vedas that the Aryans had not developed the idea of the caste system, (.…)  The taboo on the use of beef was shown to be of later origin, that the cow was freely killed for ceremonial and other purposes in ancient India”.

Looking at the above aspects,   the Hinduism of today is not the ancient Santana Dharma or Vedic religion.:~Santthosh Kumaar