The Authentic Source: Why Killing or Eating Beef Is Considered a Sin in Hinduism
Understanding the dietary and ethical restrictions in Hinduism, particularly concerning the consumption of beef and cow slaughter, is crucial for individuals from diverse backgrounds. This article delves into the authentic sources of the Hindu scriptures, specifically the Vedic and Mahabharata texts, to explain why killing or eating beef is considered a sin in Hinduism.
1. Vedic Passages
The Vedic texts lay down the foundational beliefs and practices of Hinduism. From these texts, we can find explicit references to the sanctity of cows and the prohibition of their slaughter.
Shatapatha Brahmana
Shatapatha Brahmana Kanda III, Adhyaya 1, Brahma 2 provides a deeply philosophical reason:
“21. He the Adhvaryu then makes him enter the hall. Let him not eat of either the cow or the ox for the cow and the ox doubtless support everything here on earth. The gods spake: Verily the cow and the ox support everything here: come let us bestow on the cow and the ox whatever vigour belongs to other species! Accordingly they bestowed on the cow and the ox whatever vigour belonged to other species of animals and therefore the cow and the ox eat most. Hence were one to eat of an ox or a cow there would be as it were an eating of everything or as it were a going on to the end or to destruction. Such a one indeed would be likely to be born again as a strange being as one of whom there is evil report such as he has expelled an embryo from a woman he has committed a sin let him therefore not eat of the cow and the ox.
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This passage highlights the bonding between humans and the natural world, especially cows. The mantra emphasizes that cows and bulls are cosmic supporters, and consuming them would result in desecrating this bond.
Mahabharata: Santi Parva
Mahabharata Santi Parva, XCI further supports the ban on cow slaughter with the following passages:
“79.?Kine are called in the Srutis the Unslayable. That man indeed commits a great sin who slays a bull or a cow. In days of yore, many Rishis with restrained senses addressed much addressing Nahusha, saying, 'O king, thou hast slain a cow which is declared in the scriptures to be like unto one’s mother. Thou hast also slain a bull which is declared to be like unto the Creator himself.'
80.?For these, O king, have excessive power over all beings and govern the universe. Therefore, hundreds of such persons commit sin by slaying them.
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These verses reinforce the idea of cows being above the common cattle, likening them to the deities themselves, thereby making their slaughter an act of grave sin.
2. Consequences and Punishments
The Mahabharata Anusasana Parva, LXXIV describes the severe consequences for killing or eating cows:
“15. Hear what the consequences are that overtake those persons that steal a cow for killing her for food, or selling her for wealth, or making a gift of her unto a Brahmana. He who without being checked by the restraints of the scriptures slaughters a cow or kills one, or eats the flesh of a cow, or they who for the sake of wealth suffer a person to kill kine, all these, viz., he that kills, he that eats, and he that permits the slaughter, rot in hell for as many years as there are hairs on the body of the cow so slain.
16. They who eat beef, go to a world accursed, subject to the infliction of a great many evils. They obtain a body of a worm or an insect or a plant or an ant.
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This passage clearly outlines the ethical and spiritual punishment for transgressions against cows, not just through direct slaughter but also through consumption—painting a grim picture of eternal suffering for such transgressions.
3. Esoteric Interpretations
Incidentally, some passages in the Vedic texts are esoteric, which means they are not to be interpreted literally. Skandapurana Nagarakhand-Tirthmahatmya 263 precisely mentions this:
“12. Moments pass on without winking and Yoga takes place. When speech is mastered by the Yogin, it is proclaimed as Gomedha sacrifice of GO cow speech.
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Here, the Gomedha sacrifice is an allegorical reference rather than a literal practice, suggesting that the concept of cow sacrifice is symbolic in nature.
Conclusion
The Vedic and Mahabharata texts provide a rich tapestry of reasons for the prohibition on slaughtering and eating cows in Hinduism. These sources emphasize the profound belief in the sanctity and cosmic importance of cows, instilling a sense of reverence and ethical responsibility.
Understanding these authentic sources can help individuals appreciate the cultural, spiritual, and ethical dimensions of these practices within the Hindu tradition.
References:
Shatapatha Brahmana Kanda III, Adhyaya 1, Brahma 2. Mahabharata Santi Parva, XCI. Mahabharata Anusasana Parva, LXXIV. Skandapurana Nagarakhand-Tirthmahatmya 263.Keywords: Hinduism, Slaughter of Cows, Vedic Passages, Mahabharata