The material presented here is based on a thorough and objective analysis of roots of Vedic words, the context in which they appear, Vedic Vocabulary, Philology, Grammar and other tools critical for correct interpretation of the Vedic mantras. Thus this research series does not merely rely on blind reproduction of works of Max Muller, Griffith, Wilson, Williams and other indologists on Vedas and Vedic language. While they are more popular in contemporary western academia, we have objective reasons to conclude that their works are far from authoritative. We shall explore this facet in more detail in this research series.
Welcome to this first part of the research series on critical evaluation of Misconceptions surrounding the Vedas – the first books of knowledge on earth.
For centuries aspersions have been cast upon the Vedas; the primary holy scriptures of the Hindus of having unholy contents. If one really started believing in those aspersions, the entire Hindu philosophy, culture, and traditions would reduce to nothing but savagery, barbarism and cannibalism.
The Vedas – the very roots of Hinduism, rather the first source of knowledge on earth – are meant for guiding the actions of human being in order to lead a blissful life.
This slanderous campaign has been unleashed by different vested interests to embarrass Hindus around the world citing specific references from the Vedas.
This also comes handy in convincing poor and illiterate Indians to give up their faith on the grounds that their fundamental holy books – the Vedas – contain all the inhuman elements like denigration of women, meat-eating, polygamy, casteism and above all – beef eating.
The Vedas are also accused of animal sacrifice in sacrificial ceremonies popularly known as the YAJNA. Interestingly a section of home-bred intellectuals claiming to have deep study of ancient India has also come up, who cite references from works of western indologists to prove such unholy content in the Vedas.
Saying that the Vedas permit beef-eating and cow-slaughter amounts to striking a lethal blow to a Hindu’s soul. Respect for cow forms a core tenet of Hinduism. Once you are able to convince him of flaws in the foundation of this core tenet and make him feel guilty, he becomes an easy prey for the predator faiths. There are millions of ill-informed Hindus who are not empowered to counter argue and hence quietly surrender.
The vested interests that malign the Vedas are not confined to foreign and home-bred indologists alone. A certain class among Hindus exploited the rest of the population including the socially and economically weaker sections by forcing them to believe and follow what they said in the name of Vedas or else face the wrath.
All the slanders heaped upon the Vedas can be attributed mainly to the interpretations of commentaries written by Mahidhar, Uvat and Saayan in the medieval times; and to what Vam-margis or the Tantra cult propagated in their books in the name of the Vedas.
In due course the falsehood spread far and wide and they became even more deep rooted when western scholars with their half baked knowledge of Sanskrit transliterated these interpretations of commentaries of Sayan and Mahidhar, in the name of translating the Vedas.
However, they lacked the pre-requisite understanding of Shiksha (Phonetics), Vyakarana (Grammar), Nirukta (Philology), Nighantu (Vocabulary), Chhanda (Prosody), Jyotish (Astronomy), Kalpa and so on that are critical for correct interpretation of the Vedas.
The purpose behind Agniveer movement is to objectively evaluate all such misconceptions about the Vedas – the foundation of human knowledge and establish their piety, sanctity, great ideals and philosophy that cater not only to Hindus but to every human being without bars, bias or discrimination of any kind.
Section 1: No violence against animals
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Yasmintsarvaani bhutaanyaatmaivaabhuudvijaanatah
Tatra ko mohah kah shokah ekatvamanupasyatah
Yajurveda 40.7
“Those who see all beings as souls do not feel infatuation or anguish at their sight, for they experience oneness with them”.
How could people who believed in the doctrines of indestructibility, transmigration dare to kill living animals in yajnas? They might be seeing the souls of their own near and dear ones of bygone days residing in those living beings.
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Anumantaa vishasitaa nihantaa krayavikrayee
Samskartaa chopahartaa cha khadakashcheti ghaatakaah
Manusmrithi 5.51
Those who permit slaying of animals; those who bring animals for slaughter; those who slaughter; those who sell meat; those who purchase meat; those who prepare dish out of it; those who serve that
meat and those who eat are all murderers.
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Breehimattam yavamattamatho maashamatho tilam
Esha vaam bhaago nihito ratnadheyaaya dantau maa hinsishtam pitaram maataram cha
Atharvaveda 6.140.2
O teeth! You eat rice, you eat barley, you gram and you eat sesame. These cereals are specifically meant for you. Do not kill those who are capable of being fathers and mothers.
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Ya aamam maansamadanti paurusheyam cha ye kravih
Garbhaan khaadanti keshavaastaanito naashayaamasi
Atharvaveda 8.6.23
We ought to destroy those who eat cooked as well as uncooked meat, meat involving destruction of males and females, foetus and eggs.
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Anago hatya vai bheema kritye
Maa no gaamashvam purusham vadheeh
Atharvaveda 10.1.29
It is definitely a great sin to kill innocents. Do not kill our cows, horses and people.
How could there be justification of cow and other animals being killed when killing is so clearly prohibited in the Vedas?
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Aghnyaa yajamaanasya pashoonpahi
Yajurveda 1.1
“O human! animals are Aghnya – not to be killed. Protect the animals”
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Pashunstraayethaam
Yajurveda 6.11
Protect the animals.
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Dwipaadava Chatushpaatpaahi
Yajurveda 14.8
Protect the bipeds and quadrupeds!
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Kravy da –kravya[ meat obtained from slaughter] + Ada [ the eater]—the meat eater.
Pisacha — pisita [meat] +asa [eater]—the meat eater.
Asutrpa — Asu [breath of life] + trpa [one who satisfies himself on]—one who takes others life for his meals.
Garba da and Anda da – the foetus and egg eaters.
Mans da – the meat eaters
Meat eaters have always been looked down in Vedic literature. They have been known as Rakshasas, Pisacha and so on….All these words are synonyms of demons or devils that have been out-cast from the civilized human society.
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Urjam no dhehi dwipade chatushpade
Yajurveda 11.83
“May all bipeds and quadrupeds gain strength and nourishment”
This mantra is recited by Hindus before every meal. How could the same philosophy which prays for well-being of every soul in every moment of life, approve of killing animals?
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Section 2: No violence in Yajna
Yajna never meant animal sacrifice in the sense popularly understood. Yajna in the Vedas meant a noble deed or the highest purifying action.
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Adhvara iti Yajnanaama – Dhvaratihimsaakarmaa tatpratishedhah
Nirukta 2.7
According to Yaaska Acharya, one of the synonyms of Yajna in Nirukta or the Vedic philology is Adhvara.
Dhvara means an act with himsa or violence. And therefore a-dhvara means an act involving no himsa or no violence. There are a large number of such usage of Adhvara in the Vedas.
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In the post-Mahabharata period, misinterpretation of the Vedas and interpolations in other scriptures took place at various points intime. Acharya Shankar reestablished the Vedic values to an extent.
In the more recent times, Swami Dayanand Saraswati – known as the grandfather of modern India – interpreted the Vedas as per thecorrect rules of the language and authentic evidences. His literature, which includes commentary on the Vedas, Satyarth Prakash loosely translated as Light of Truth, An Introduction to the Vedas and other texts led to widespread social reformation based on Vedic philosophy and dispelling of myths surrounding the Vedas.
Let us discover what the Vedas have to say on Yajna.
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Agne yam yagnamadhvaram vishwatah pari bhuurasi
Sa id deveshu gacchati
Rigveda 1.1.4
O lord of effulgence! The non-violent Yajna, you prescribe from all sides, is beneficial for all, touches divine proportions and is accepted by noble souls.
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The Rigveda describes Yajna as Adhvara or non violent throughout. Same is the case with all the other Vedas. How can it be then concluded that the Vedas permit violence or slaughter of animals?
The biggest accusation of cattle and cow slaughter comes in the context of the Yajnas that derived their names from different cattle like the Ashwamedh Yajna, the Gomedha Yajna and the Nar-medh Yajna. Even by the wildest stretch of the imagination the word Medha would not mean slaughter in this context.
It’s interesting to note what Yajurveda says about a horse
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Imam ma himsirekashafam pashum kanikradam vaajinam vaajineshu
Yajurveda 13.48
Do not slaughter this one hoofed animal that neighs and who goes with a speed faster than most of the animals.
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Aswamedha does not mean horse sacrifice at Yajna. Instead the Yajurveda clearly mentions that a horse ought not to be slaughtered.
In Shathapatha, Ashwa is a word for the nation or empire
The word medha does not mean slaughter. It denotes an act done in accordance to the intellect Alternatively it could mean consolidation, as evident from the root meaning of medha i.e. medhru san-ga-me
Raashtram vaa ashwamedhah
Annam hi gau
Agnirvaa ashwah
Aajyam medhah
(Shatpath 13.1.6.3)
Swami Dayananda Saraswati wrote in his Light of Truth:
A Yajna dedicated to the glory, wellbeing and prosperity of the Rashtra the nation or empire is known as the Ashwamedh yajna.
“To keep the food pure or to keep the senses under control, or to make the food pure or to make a good use of the rays of Sun or keep the earth free from impurities[clean] is called Gomedha Yajna”.
“The word Gau also means the Earth and the yajna dedicated to keep the Earth the environment clean is called Gomedha Yajna”
“The cremation of the body of a dead person in accordance with the principles laid down in the Vedas is called Naramedha Yajna”.
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Section 3: No beef in Vedas
Not only the Vedas are against animal slaughter but also vehemently oppose and prohibit cow slaughter.Yajurveda forbids killing of cows, for they provide energizing food for human beings
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Ghrtam duhaanaamaditim janaayaagne maa himsiheeh
Yajurveda 13.49
Do not kill cows and bulls who always deserve to be protected.
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Aare gohaa nrhaa vadho vo astu
Rigveda 7.56.17
In Rigveda cow slaughter has been declared a heinous crime equivalent to human murder and it has been said that those who commits this crime should be punished.
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Sooyavasaad bhagavatee hi bhooyaa atho vayam bhagvantah syaama
Addhi trnamaghnye vishwadaaneem piba shuddhamudakamaacharantee
Rigveda 1.164.40 or Atharv 7.73.11 or Atharv 9.10.20
The Aghnya cows – which are not to be killed under any circumstances– may keep themselves healthy by use of pure water and green grass, so that we may be endowed with virtues, knowledge and wealth.
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The Vedic Lexicon, Nighantu, gives amongst other synonyms of Gau[ or cow] the words Aghnya. Ahi, and Aditi. Yaska the commentator on Nighantu, defines these as-
Aghnya the one that ought not to be killed
Ahi the one that must not be slaughtered.
Aditi the one that ought not to be cut into pieces.
These three names of cow signify that the animal ought not to be put to tortures. These words appear frequently throughout the Vedas in context of the cow.
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Aghnyeyam saa vardhataam mahate soubhagaaya
Rigveda 1.164.27
Cow – The aghnya – brings us health and prosperity
Suprapaanam Bhavatvaghnyaayaah
Rigveda 5.83.8
There should be excellent facility for pure water for Aghnya Cow
Yah paurusheyena kravishaa samankte yo ashwena pashunaa yaatudhaanah
Yo aghnyaayaa bharati ksheeramagne teshaam sheershaani harasaapi vrishcha
Rigveda 10.87.16
Those who feed on human, horse or animal flesh and those who destroy milk-giving Aghnya cows should be severely punished.
Vimucchyadhvamaghnyaa devayaanaa aganma
Yajurveda 12.73
The Aghnya cows and bulls bring you prosperity
Maa gaamanaagaamaditim vadhishta
Rigveda 8.101.15
Do not kill the cow. Cow is innocent and aditi – that ought not to be cut into pieces
Antakaaya goghaatam
Yajurveda 30.18
Destroy those who kill cows
Yadi no gaam hansi yadyashwam yadi poorusham
Tam tvaa seesena vidhyaamo yatha no so aveeraha
Atharvaveda 1.16.4
If someone destroys our cows, horses or people, kill him with a bullet of lead.
Vatsam jaatamivaaghnyaa
Atharvaveda 3.30.1
Love each other as the Aghnya – non-killable cow – loves its calf
Dhenu sadanam rayeenaam
Atharvaveda 11.1.34
Cow is fountainhead of all bounties
The entire 28th Sukta or Hymn of 6th Mandal of Rigveda sings the glory of cow.
Aa gaavo agnamannuta bhadramakrantseedantu
Bhooyobhooyo rayimidasya vardhayannabhinne
Na taa nashanti na dabhaati taskaro naasaamamitro vyathiraa dadharshati
Na taa arvaa renukakaato ashnute na samskritramupa yanti taa abhi
Gaavo bhago gaava indro me achhaan
Yooyam gaavo medayathaa
Maa vah stena eeshata maaghanshasah
1. Everyone should ensure that cows are free from miseries and kept healthy.
2. God blesses those who take care of cows.
3. Even the enemies should not use any weapon on cows
4. No one should slaughter the cow
5. Cow brings prosperity and strength
6. If cows keep healthy and happy, men and women shall also keep disease free and prosperous
7. May the cow eat green grass and pure water. May they not be killed and bring prosperity to us.
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What more proofs does one need to understand the high esteem in whichnot only the cow but each living being is held in the Vedas.
The learned audience can decide for themselves from these evidences that the Vedas are completely against any inhuman practice… to top it all the Beef and Cow slaughter.
There is no Beef in Vedas.
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Bibliography:
1. Rigveda Bhashya – Commentary on Rigveda by Swami Dayanand Saraswati
2. Yajurveda Bhashya – Commentary on Yajurveda by Swami Dayanand Saraswati
3. No Beef in Vedas by BD Ukhul
4. Vedon ka Yatharth Swaroop (True nature of Vedas) by Pt Dharmadeva Vidyavachaspati
5. All 4 Veda Samhita by Pt Damodar Satvalekar
6. Pracheen Bharat me Gomamsa – Ek Sameeksha (Beef in Ancient India – an analysis) by Geeta Press, Gorakhpur
7. The Myth of Holy Cow – by DN Jha
8. Hymns of Atharvaveda – Griffith
9. Scared Books of the east – Max Muller
10. Rigveda translations by Williams/Jones
11. Sanskrit English Dictionary – Monier Williams
12. Commentary on Vedas by Dayanand Sansthan
13. Western Indologists – a study of motives by Pt Bhagvadutt
14. Satyarth Prakash by Swami Dayanand Saraswati
15. Introduction to Vedas by Swami Dayanand Saraswati
16. Cloud over understanding of Vedas by BD Ukhul
17. Shathpath Brahman
18. Nirukta – Yaska Acharya
19. Dhatupath – Panini
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Addendum on 14 April 2010:
After this article, there was severe reaction from various sources who cannot live with the fact that Vedas and ancient culture of our nation could have been more ideal than their current communistic ideals. I received several mails that tried to refute the articles by citing additional references that support beef-eating. These include 2 mantras from Rigveda, and some Shlokas from Manu Smriti and a few other texts. An example is the comment from Avtar Gill on this page itself. On these, I have to say the following:
a. The article has given evidence from Manu Smriti itself which states that even one who permits killing is a murderer. Thus all these additional shlokas are either from adulterated Manu Smriti or misinterpreted by twisting of words. I recommend them to read Manu Smriti by Dr Surendra Kumar.
b. A typical example of foul play by those hell-bent on justifying their obsession with beef in ancient texts, is to translate Mansa as ‘meat’. In reality, ‘Mansa’ is a generic word used to denote pulp. Meat is called ‘Mansa’ because it is pulpy. So mere presence of ‘Mansa’ does not mean it refers to meat.
c. The other texts referred by them are among dubious ones not considered authoritative evidence. Their modus operandi is simple – state anything written in Sanskrit as Dharma and translate the way they want to prove whatever they want. This is how they have been fooling us all by filling our textbooks with all unverified demeaning claims.
d. With regards to Vedas, they could come up with two mantras that supposedly justify beef eating. Let us evaluate them:
Claim: Rigveda (10/85/13) declares, “On the occasion of a girl’s marriage oxen and cows are slaughtered.”
Fact: The mantra states that in winter, the rays of sun get weakened and then get strong again in spring. The word used for sun-rays in ‘Go’ which also means cow and hence the mantra can also be translated by making ‘cow’ and not ‘sun-rays’ as the subject. The word used for ‘weakened’ is ‘Hanyate’ which can also mean killing. But if that be so, why would the mantra go further and state in next line (which is deliberately not translated) that in spring, they start regaining their original form.
How can a cow killed in winter regain its health in spring? This amply proves how ignorant and biased communists malign Vedas.
Claim: Rigveda (6/17/1) states that “Indra used to eat the meat of cow, calf, horse and buffalo.”
Fact: The mantra states that brilliant scholars enlighten the world in the manner that wood enhances the fire of Yajna. I fail to understand from where did Avtar Gill and his friends discover Indra, cow, calf, horse and buffalo in this mantra!
In summary, I continue the challenge to everyone – cite one single mantra from Vedas that justify beef-eating and I shall be eager to embrace any faith that he or she may decide for me. If not, they should agree to revert back to the Vedas.
This article is also available in Hindi at http://agniveer.com/4387/there-is-no-beef-in-vedas-hi/
[mybooktable book=”a-hindus-fight-for-mother-cow” display=”summary” buybutton_shadowbox=”false”]
[mybooktable book=”mans-nahi-maa-gaumans-per-hindu-pratikar” display=”summary” buybutton_shadowbox=”false”]
@ jai shankar ji jai shankar ji jai shankar ji
Kalpanaon ke pankh pe sawar ho kar aap vastavikta se koson door nikal gaye hain. jee chahta to nahi ke main apki kori kalpanao mein apka sehbhagi banu lekin apke tark ko galat siddh kiye bina raha bhi nai jaata…
To paristithi kuch aise utpann ho jave ke sabjiyan,ghas-phoos,ped paudhe sabhi vishayle ho jaayein to kya manushya apni jeevan raksha ke liye maans na khave ?
shankar ji ! ek baat kahun ??? apka tark nisandeh hasyapad hai. us parishtithi mein jabke shaak sabji ityadi vishayle ho jaayein to bhala kaun sa jaanvar zinda rahega apka bhojan banne ko ???? kyun ??? to suniye Maansahari jeev ya to maansahari jeevo per ya fir shakahari jeevo pe nirbhar hain. theek ? Vishayle ghas phoos,patte,ped paudhe khakar shakahari jeev mrityu ko prapt hoga..theek ? ab inhi vishayle jeevon ko khane wala maansahari janvar kya vishmukt reh sakta hai ? to bacha kyaaaaa ???
wo chodiye shriman… kisi jaanvar ka bhog lagane ke liye aap swayam kab jeevit bache rahenge aisi paristithi mein ?
maine jo link diya tha kya aapne wo padha ??? mera agreh hai ke aap usey padh kar apne adhoore gyan ka aaklan kijye…
@the islamist,ji kya aap ki durd dristi hai,taras aata hai,is liye jawab bhi deta hu,maine sirf sabji jaharili hogi ye kaha jo aadmi khata hai,to aap ne ghasphus,ped poundhe inko hi vishaila kar diya.ye aap ki samaj me kyo nahi aa raha bhai,jab ghas jahrili hogi to janvar usko kyo khayenge??? Aur ye baat ki jab janvar unko kha bhi le to turant mar jayenge.ab tum khud to mara huve ka maans nahi kha sakte quran ke mutabik.par jo jin janvar ne abhi jahrili ghas nahi khayi,aise zinda janvar ko bacha to sakte nahi,phir jiv hatya ho jayegi ki nahi?kya tum unko rokoge nahi?socho tum khud sabji nahi kha rahe ho aur janvaro ko bhi nahi khane de raho ho,janvar jo mar gaye hai jahar se unka maans bhi nahi kha rahe ho.jinda janvar pe tume taras aa raha hai.khud jaharili sabji kha ke mar gaye aur jate jate bivi baccho ko ye hidayat bhi nahi de sake ki janvar ko ghas mat khane dena.bichare ab janvar bhi mar rahe hai,aur sawal phir bhi baki hai ki kya vo maans khaye jinde janvar ka ya jahrili sabji khaye???
I THINK THERE WAS PROK ALLOWED TO EAT IN VEDAS
OR AGNIVEER SHUD HAVE NW TOPIC NW……
PORK IN QURAN INSTEAD OF BEEF IN VEDAS
I M HINDU AND NOBDY NEED TO TELL ME IF THERE Z BEEF IN VEDAS OR NOT,TILL YOU R NOT HINDU-IF U RMUSLIM ,CHRIST,OTHER AND HERE DEBATE 4 BEEF IN VEDAS SO LTS DEBATE ON PORK I QURAN AND OTHER TOPICS
OTHERWISE I KNW WT I SAY WT I BELIEVE……
@ jai shankar sahib !!!
aap apne liye gaddha khod rahe hain… chaliye maan liya jaaye ke sabji vishaili ho gayi jiski kalpana to aasan hai per vastavikta se fir bhi mael nahi khati…jaane dijye ..sabji vishaily hogayi sahib… to insan zinda rehne ke liye janvar ka maans kyun na khaye haina ???
Nahi khayega nahi khayega nahi khayega … Insan Fruits khayega.. insan dharti se ugne waali doorsi cheezein khayega… rice…wheat…Jaw… aadi aadi aur aadi…
Taras khane se aap mand buddhi ho chuke hain…. Maans kha kar dekhiye shayad kuch badal jaaye 😀
@the islamist,bhaijaan wa kya buddhimani hai aapki,bhai manana padega aapko.bahot badhiya jawab diya.maine sabji jahrili hogi,to aadmi maans khayega ye kaha to tum ab fruits kha rahe ho.chalo vishay ko aage badhate hai,ab jab sabji jahrili huyi hi hai ab hum fruits ko bhi jahrila mane to phir kya aap ab bhi kankar,patthar,mitti khayenge??sawal phir khada hota hai,ki….???socho aaj ke jamane me to sabji itni mahangi ho gayi fruits to aur bhi kitne mahange ho gaye jo ki aachi halat me bhi khana mushkil hai.jahrili halat me to isko koun khayega bhai?aadmi ke samne agar aisi halat aaye ki usko shakahar mile hi na jo aadmk khata ho to vo bhuk se marne ke bajay maans khana kyo nahi pasand karta,aasan sawal hai par tum samaj nahi rahe.kya baat hai dost,zara soch ke dekho to jo janvar khate hai ghaspus aadmi to unko nahi khata,aadmi vahi khata hai jo uske pet ki rachna ke mutabik hai,bina pakake sab maans khaye to phir main manuga ki aadmi mansahari hai.fruits to bina pakake kha sakta hai phir maans ko kyo nahi?
@the islamists ji,bhai ye jo maansahar hai,wo nahi allah,eshwar,god in ke upar depend hai,quran me allah saaf pharmata hai,ki usko na khoon pahunchta hai na maans,sirf us aadmi ki prayer us tak pahuchti hai.is ka arth hua ki allah ko maans pasand nahi hai.magar vo jo aadmi allah ke naam se janvar ki kurbani de raha hai,us ki ye soch ki ye maans allah ko mile,ye soch hi allah ko milti hai maans nahi.kyoki maans to aadmi hi khata hai.aur sochta hai ki ye allah ko mil raha hai.socho agar maans allah ko milta to allah kya bhukha hai,uska kya muh hai,peth hai,jo maans kha sake???ye sab nadani aadmi ki hai,aadmi ki izad hai ki vo maans kha sake.is liye allah ke naam par vo maans kha raha hai.yahi nadani hindu bhi kar rahe the magar,buddha aur mahaveer ne inko roka.aaj koi bhi hindu jo ahinsa ko manta hai vo maansahar nahi karta ,jo karta ho uske paap ke vo swyam jimmevar hai.
@jai shankar ji
Aap se ek baat kahun… Doosro ke kandhe per bandook rakh kar chalana band kariye ? Qurbani ka Maans Allah ko pahuchta hai aur ye soch kar log bali/qurbani karte hain ye main aapse hi sun raha hun. kis guru ki shiksha ka prabhav hai ye ? kripya aap apne vicharon ko dharmic jama pehnane ka prayatan na karein.
Hindu/Muslim bhai maans khayein ya na khayein ye unki marzi hai. Maansahari hona agar paap hota to vedic kaal ke brahmin maans ka sevan kyun karte rahe ? Maine isliye he wo link apko diya tha jisse ke aap jaan sakein ke Ved mein maans ke baare mein aur kya kya likha hai…
Namaste.
I have some doubts regarding Ashwamedh, Gomedha and Nar-medh.
Can someone who knows Sanskrit, kindly explain to me, in detail, the mistakes that the translators who claim that Aswamedh, Gomedha and Nar-medh involve sacrifice in the literal sense, have made?
Secondly, if Ashwamedh, Gomedha and Nar-medh DON’T involve sacrifice in the literal sense, can someone explain to me, in detail, what exactly is involved in these Yajnas?
Thanks in advance.
Anyone?
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/why-is-it-ok-to-eat-plants-and-not-animals everybody please go to this…..
[…] Link: There is no Beef is Vedas: Part I document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src=%27http://s10.histats.com/js15.js%27 […]
Sensational! What a sleek, educated and sophisticated refutation of those accusations! I am in awe! – and my hair remains standing on end! haha! Gau-mata ki jai
Dear Agniveer
Apparently, one Mr Sarang insists in ” Tamil Hindu” web site that there is animal sacrifice in ” Poorva Mimmasa”. I am not an expert on all this.
I would appreciate your response. Thanks
Agniveer I have a question on vaccinations against diseases. Several of the vaccinations are made with cow parts (bovine extract, calf, gelatin). Look up on the internet the ingrediants and mediums used on vaccination. If we as Hindus do not consume any cow as food, how can we let enter into our bodies cow products through vaccinations? Should we get a religious exemption from taking vaccinations that contain cow products the same way Jews and other faiths do who do not consume pork as it is against their faith?
Ultimately it is each person’s decision but how would the scriptures guide us here on vaccinations containing cow products?
@Arun
I think one shouldn’t take it, if he knows that its made of using any animal’s part. Its un-vedic as vedas asks us to practice ahimsa towards all living beings(not only to cow). I think one should search for alternatives rather than breaking laws of nature, that’s to have compassion towards all living beings.
We humans can develop/use many alternatives if we want to but one should skip the killing innocent lives. You “may” cure yourself from that disease by using it, but the unbearable burden of bad karma & the blood of an innocent animal in your hand will never let you cure from the pain/sufferings in coming births.
Om Shanti
Companies making these vaccines should be responsive to consumers. When parents learned of mercury in some vaccines companies took out the mercury. So people need to make their concerns heard, and companies should be working with consumers to address their concerns. Vaccines are important and people have a right to vaccines that do not contradict or violate their beliefs.
If they want to sell to people whose religion forbid consumption of beef in any form (or for others pork, or forbid to consume any animal parts) then they should produce them without those animal parts.
The key is people have to speak up and demand their right to vaccines free of bovine/calf etc…otherwise there is no impetus to develop such vaccines.
Or maybe an Indian company can start making vaccines that will not violate ones’s religious belief make them free of bovine and other animal products.
First it is a excellent article and very well researched and thanks for enlightening us . In today’s world “kalyug” darkness is so wide spread that any tiny light of even a insect seems like the “Sun” itself. No wonder in this “Dark age” only the dark religions like Muslim and Chirstians can flourish. Wanted to add on some comments made by Muslims on this article, Hindus believe in 1 God . They believe Him to be able to take on any form as He is formless and LIMIT LESS, and limitless are the ways to Reach to Him, thus He can be worshipped in ANY form and that can be plants, human form or anything which better suits you. Like not all people can like a single color, so it is not possible for all Humans to like just 1 form or just 1 Path to him. Thus Hindusim is the Most ALL emcompassing religion and plus it is scientifically the most acurate religion. Infact the so called western religions are Limiting God by declaring Him to be just of 1 kind and hence are fairly inferior.
Secondly Namaste means “Namo Uste” or “I bow to the devine in you”. This means “salutations to the Lord who exists everywhere including in you”.
Please Agniveer tell me how can I find all the original hindi translations of veda as well as Upanishads.
please reply this.
It is urgent.
you can find agniveer store full hindu translation of four vedas as for upanishads on you can from ishoipanishad on agniveer website
Great article, great translation. There are all these other misleading articles about this topic which are really bad. It is ridiculous to assume that Hindus suddenly developed a culture of worshiping the cow. Common sense would say that it has to be an ancient custom to be so widely accepted. And even many enlightened sages of India have said that sattvic food is vegetarian.
i have gone through the articles on a fantic site trying to attack agniveer the only articles i found hard to refute are mainly polygamy in hinduism,beef in hindu scriptures,slavery in hinduism,dowry in hinduism and verses on reincarnation can you try explain these or refute this through an article
Respected Agniveerji,
Sri Chandrashekara Saraswathigal , the late head of the Kanchi Mutt (A.K.A maha periva) has given many discourses .All his discourses have been published in the form of a series of books (7Vols.) named “Voice Of God”.
It deals with all the things in Sanathana Dharma (from A to Z)
I was shocked to read the following line in Vol 2. Pg 229-232 “Is sacrificial killing Justified”
It sounds as if there is animal sacrifices in the vedas. In Pg.231 1st para it says
“In the concluding paragraphs of Chandogya upanishad, where ahimsa or non violence is extolled you find these words, “Anyathra thirthebhyah” .It means Ahimsa must be practiced with the exception of vedic rites.
Pg 231.Last Para
One is enjoyed to perform 21 sacrifices. These are three types pakayagna ,Haviryagna and Somayagna .In each category, there are 7 subdivisions .In all the 7 pakayagnas as well as the first 5 haviryagnas there is no animal sacrifice.It is only from the 6th haviryagna onwards (it is called nirudapasubandha ‘) animals are sacrificed .
LINK
http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap23.htm
Sankaracharya’s are very learned ones. Maha periva has given this in one of the speech.It is shocking for me to read this.
Personally I am not an expert in vedas. can you clarify this for me. This is because what you are saying and What Shankaracharya is saying is completely contradictory .
My friend’s guru is “Seshadrinath Sasthrigal” .He once said that few IIT students approached him. By any chance is that you?
Thanks. I am completely confused!!
When I searched for this answer, I bumped into another article, conversation between Caitanya Mahāprabhu (ISKCON) and a Muslim.
Link:
http://www.vaniquotes.org/wiki/In_the_Vedas_there_is_recommendation_for_animal_sacrifice_in_some_sacrificial_ceremony,_not_ordinarily._And_that_sacrifice_is_meant_for_testing_the_power_of_chanting_mantra
It says that it is not killing,but rejuvenating an old/sick animal.
Please answer my query.
Thanks
No we did not approach him. But we can bet that Shankaracharya is completely misled here. Many of them give unnecessary importance to frivolous non-Vedic texts. Agniveer’s stand is based purely on Vedas and we proudly assert that there is no reference to animal sacrifice in Vedas. All these mentions come in superstitious and frivolous texts that be better rejected. Vedas say that those who merely mug mantras without intellect are being wasteful. No wonder, dominance of such dogmatic mindsets is a reason why we became slaves for thousand years and faced so many atrocities. Agniveer recommends following Vedas and not just any crap written in Sanskrit. And all those texts that emphasize on animal sacrifice for divine blessings, or gender discrimination, or birth-based caste system, or vulgar stories in name of role models are all crap. Typically, you will find such crap together in same set of books and hence can easily reject them. Follow Dharma based on principles and reason, and not looking at someone’s clothes or designation. Principles above personalities.
Hi Agniveer,
Another very very important part you are missing in this ..
The gomas bhakshaya.. actually referrring to go mas( the tongue .. ) bhakshya (eating) .. .eating the tongue is a very rare yogic siddhi called kechri mudra which the patanjali yoga sutrta rishsi like yagawalka referred to. This has erronously been considered as eating beef by ignorant and psuedos
The kechri mudra is eating the tongue and when enctor starts flowing down from the pituarty gives cessation of mind .
well shankacharya did not follow the four vedas he followed Upanishads which he believed were based on vedas and were so like the vedas and it is also true many hindus have been influenced by anti hindus Marxists and Europeans who tried to make hindus hate their religion and look for others religion when they started ruling india and puranas are some of the most corrupted book I don’t even think many of them were written by learned hindus but probably by evil Brahmins we see many similarties between the puranas and the Abrahamic beliefs
[…] […]
According to me it it logically why should be vegetarian
Everything is created by god ; if god wanted us to eat meat of innocent animal he should have given us teeth and sharp tooth belong to carnivorous animal but he has not provided us , Also our digestive system is made only for vegetarian food yu can do research yu will come to know about there digestive system, Also meat consuming people are more prone to heart attack , cholesterol , cancer etc also the gov of us has started meat free tuesday in usa why ???? lots of lots animal are killed brutally tourchering just for the sake of taste and Also in halal system killing in these way there will be less pain but there is pain to innocent animal who cant speak and About cow after mother milk if someone has drank is the milk of cow dont take everything for granted , About killing of cows they are also same sensitive as that of human being if they see blood out of human being they will fell restless , cows is pure by every sense milk,urine and
for fools read these
According to the Hadith, the Holy Prophet Muhammad said:
“One who kills unnecessarily, even a sparrow will be questioned by Allah on the day of Judgment.”
“One who takes pity on cutting the head even of a sparrow, and feels compassion towards the sparrow, Allah will similarly show mercy towards him on the day of Judgment.”
“Killing any living beings besides those who are inflicting pain is forbidden.” (O. Gudratov, N. Gudratov, Muhammad Peygambarin: Hayati va Kalamlari, Baki, 1990, p. 114, 147) “If the beasts will know about their inevitable death, as humans do, they will not eat flesh.” (Mahammad Ali, Muhammad Peygambarin Hayati, Baki, 1993, p. 150)
mam ma himsirekashafam pashum kanikradam vaajinam vaajineshu
Yajurveda 13.48
Do not slaughter this one hoofed animal that neighs and who goes with a speed faster than most of the animals. – As per this since slaughter was carried out, it is written not to slaughter! that to specifically recommends one hoof, not two hoof animals.
Namaste Deva,
It is a very popular saying that “half knowledge is harmful”. If you look at the complete mantra it means not to kill non-violent animals and to kill the harmful ones when needed.
When I state “a virtuous man shouldnt be harmed” it nowhere means that a virtuous woman is to be harmed but it mean that the anti-social elements deserve punishment not the innocent ones.
Hope you got the ‘bhaav’ of mantra 🙂
[…] approve of killing animals? ———————————————– For more info read: No beef in Vedas — Self-Help | Motivation | Spiritualism | Rationalism | Vedas | Hinduism | Anti-C… Reply With […]
Wow! So much bickering over whether to eat meat or, not? It is absolutely pointless. Those who like meat should eat it, the Veda, Vedanta, Tantra, etc. sanctions it. Problem solved!
The Smriti shastras of the later period has forbidden beef eating as a reform suitable for Kali-yuga.
The Puranas, especially Vaishnava Shastras forbid meat eating and encourages vegetarianism.
What you eat is not so important. What you think and do in this world are really the salient things. So, eat what you like, but do the right thing.
One more thing: Hinduism is a very vast religion that looks after the salvation of all sorts of people, whatever their nature may be. Thats why there are so many variation and paths in this grand Hindu culture. But after many thousands of years, the golden period passed and abjection came over. Satya, Treta, Dvapara gave way to Kaliyuga. Now the minds of people are more materialistic and less spiritual. Selfish people misused the caste system, which was originally meant to ensure a clean division of labour. And women were given lesser opportunities than men towards freedom and education.(Though in earlier periods, Gargi, Maitreyi, etc. were great seers of Vedanta; and there were female Rishis of the Vedas like Vaka, etc.)
We Hindus should not forget true holimen like Sri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa, Yogi Lokenath Brahmachari, Yogi RatanNath Haji, Sant Saibaba of Shirdi, or, Lalan Shah Fakir who created a bridge of peace and balance between Hinduism and Islam. They declared that there is goodness in both religions and we shouldn’t hate one another, but approach with respect. With hatered we would be poisoning our own minds and lose sight of peace. Let each man practice his own faith in peace.
Namaste Amitabha,
You need a rereading of this article and still if you want to say Vedas sanction meat you must present facts with mantra not opinions.
It is very unfortunate that in name of inclusiveness people try to justify wrongdoings and sins. It is very similar to the tragedy this nation is going through iin name of secularism.
When you say “what you ‘do’ is important” the very moment you accept that nonsense killing is wrong ultimately contradicting yourself.
Its purely depends on a human whether he want to be a pure veg or non-vegetarian and religious scriptures gives this permission too, those who are making hullabaloo asking for proves from vedas, lets see how truthful are they?
It must be noted that the Purva Mimamsa Sutras (compiled between 300-200 BCE), written by Rishi Jaimini is one of the most important ancient Hindu philosophical texts. It forms the basis of Mimamsa, the earliest of the six orthodox schools (darshanas) of Indian philosophy.
Commenting on Purv Mimansa Sutra Adhyaya 3, Pada 6, Sutra 18, the Shabarbhasya says:
संति च पशुधर्माः- उपाकरणं, उपानयं, अक्ष्णया बंधः, यूपे नियोजनम्, संज्ञपनं, विशसनमित्येवमादयः
means “There are also certain details to be performed in connection with the animals, such as (a) Upaakaranam [Touching the animal with the two mantras], (b) Upaanayanam [Bringing forward], (c) Akshanyaa-bandhah [Tying with a rope], (d) Yoope niyojanam [Fettering to the Sacrificial Post], (e) Sanjnapanam [Suffocating to death], (f) Vishasanam [Dissecting], and so forth”
Expounding on this, Arya Samaj scholar, Pandit Yudhisthira Mimamsak writes in is ‘Mimamsa Shabar Bhashyam'”In this case and otherwise it appears from the Jaimini Sutras that the offering of sacrificed animals is to be made in the Yajnas. It is clearly mentioned in the Mimamsa Sutrs.
[Mimamsa Shabharbhasyam, adhyaya 3, Page 1014]
I have a more than 100 such examples but less space to mention them all.
Now waiting for the so called true hindus to falsify their own books 🙂
Thank you for the wonderful article. It is god’s work is what you are doing. I hope you get what is good for you and what you desire.
http://www.4shared.com/rar/U9yHJk_s/THE_MENACE_OF_HINDU_IMPERIALIS.html
[…] […]
certainly like your web site but you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts.
Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I to find it very troublesome to inform the truth
nevertheless I will definitely come again again.
we need to answer this http://www.academia.edu/1365001/Beef_eating_in_the_Hindu_Tradition
Anyone listening ??
I think the Agniveer team has been busy. Not trying to speak for them, but that is what I’m guessing.
Krishnarao
Hello !
Have you compared the Hawking’s Singularity with the content of Upanishads ?
Thank You
I see many Muslims say many things about eating beef. Can any Muslim here show me one verse in the Koran which says cow eating is recommended and is good ? If not then you should stop making all this noise because your logic is simply faulty.
On Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad 6.8.14:
in the Ramakrishnamission edition aukṣa and ārṣabha is in my humble opinion mistranslated with ‘meat of a young bull’ and ‘meat of a bull’,
but it is overlooked that ukṣan and ṛṣabha are also terms for two of the eight main herbal medicines (aṣṭavarga),
which have spermophytic qualities.
(or read Swami Tapasyanandas inaccurate translation of the verses of the Śrīmadbhāgavatam, volume 3, Skandha 10, chapter 10, 12-14
or his commentary on Bhāgavadgītā 17.8.)
HIndu scriptures allowed the eating of meat…
Manusmriti (Chapter 5 / Verse 30)
Manusmriti (5 / 35)
Maharishi Yagyavalkya says in Shatpath Brahmin (3/1/2/21)
Apastamb Grihsutram (1/3/10)
Rigveda (10/85/13)
Rigveda (6/17/1)
Vashistha Dharmasutra (11/34)
Also, comments of some great scholars of Hinduism are also worth noting:
(The Complete Works of Swami Vivekanand, vol.3, p. 536).
Hi Imran
The gomas bhakshaya.. actually refered in all this is translated like so.gomas( the tongue .. ) bhakshya (eating) .. .eating the tongue is a very rare yogic siddhi called kechri mudra which the patanjali yoga sutra rishis like Maharishi Yagyavalkya says in Shatpath Brahmin (3/ referred to. This has erronously been considered as eating beef by ignorant and psuedos
The kechri mudra is eating the tongue and when nector starts flowing down from the pituarty gives cessation of mind .
I Trust Vedas.
I would like to know scientifically, what did Vedic people do to get Calcium to body or what was the medicines given to the people who had Calcium deficiency?
Milk and milk products are excellent sources of calcium.
I dont know why these muslims are crawling all over this hindu website. If you want to become a hindu just say so. Its simple really
Simple question. If I am an atheist and dont believe in any religion and i want to eat beef, pork, chicken etc. We live in a democracy, what gives you or the government the right to question my diet? If you think killing a cow/bull is a crime, how is killing a chicken or a goat less of a crime?
Whats next? force the whole country into vegetarianism?
If you love cows so much why doesn’t the govt stop more barbaric practices like impregnating cows repeatedly and injecting them with hormones to produce milk.. is this the respect to your “holy cow” ??
This is pure hippocracy
That is exactly what the article answers. In democracy, it is not just about what I want or you want. It is about impact on millions. If beef-ban irks you so much, why you never raised question against poaching of lions, consumption of narcotics, burning of national flag, mutual cannibalism with consent and hundreds of other things that are banned by law. Democracy will always be about respecting sentiments of majority, doing things that are not harmful for majority, and adjusting individual life as per that. That is why we have elections.
I’m sorry but you are trying to divert the issue. How does poaching of lions and consumption of narcotics and my raising or not raising a voice fit into this? Thats like me saying why didnt you raise your voice againt Nirbhaya’s rape and farmer suicides in Maharashtra.
The law had already banned the killing of cows since 1976. How exactly is a bull sacred? which is what this amendment has included
There is no diversion. Point is that government does have right to regulate what you do, what you eat and what you don’t do and what you don’t eat. It has already been doing, That is called law. Ban on cattle slaughter is people’s voice expressed democratically.
Who said bull is not sacred? And bull killing and eating is not the most polluting and inefficient industry? Go and raise voice against writers of Constitution who put this ban in Directive Principles.
Beef Ban happened through democratic process. It was part of election manifesto of a party. It announced its intentions before elections, got elected by majority and now fulfilling its promise. if it did not, it would have been hypocrisy. If you want chicken and goat banned, go and follow the same process. And two wrongs do not make a right. If there are wrong practices in getting milk, that does not justify killing of cows. If cheating is prevalent in exams, that does not justify students are massacred. Instead tell what you are going to do as next step to solve other problems.
[…] urge Chapal Mehra to please visit the website of Agniveer to read a detailed article called: “There is no Beef in Vedas”. At least this way, Mehra could have a balanced view on interpretations of Sanskrit texts. In […]
[…] And don’t start quoting from silly research of DN Jha et al. Read the following before you ejaculate further:http://agniveer.com/no-beef-in-vedas/http://agniveer.com/no-beef-in-vedas-part2/http://agniveer.com/no-beef-in-vedas-film/http://agniveer.com/why-beef-lovers-are-completely-wrong/http://agniveer.com/beef-lover-ripped-apart/ […]
[…] This article is translated by Gnanaboomi Team. Original post in English is available at http://agniveer.com/no-beef-in-vedas/ […]
Both Jainism &. Buddhism canonical text attest the fact that ” Animal Sacrifice (in yajna) & meat eating ” were common in ancient india.
To whom you are fooling. Without taking reference from buddhist & Jaina texts you can’t reconstruct the Indian History.
little learning is dangerous .so if non- hindu’s wants to know about our scriptures and Veda first convert into Hinduism, learn Sanskrit the first ancient holy literature and then translate our vedas it will be appropriate
To tu bhi sanskrit me post kar na chutiye
me ek hindu hu beef ni kata per muze ye link ek muslim ne di kya aap ise explain kar sakate hay iska mtlb kya hay
10.27.1
असत सु मे जरितः साभिवेगो यत सुन्वते यजमनय शिक्षम |
asat su me jaritaḥ sābhivegho yat sunvate yajamanaya śikṣam |
1. THIS, singer, is my firm determination, to aid the worshipper who pours the Soma.
10.27.2
अनाशीर्दामहमस्मि परहन्ता सत्यध्व्र्तं वर्जिनायन्तमाभुम ||
anāśīrdāmahamasmi prahantā satyadhvṛtaṃ vṛjināyantamābhum ||
I slay the man who brings no milkoblation, unrighteous, powerful, the truth’s perverter.
10.27.3
यदीदहं युधये संनयान्यदेवयून तन्वाशूशुजानान |
yadīdahaṃ yudhaye saṃnayānyadevayūn tanvāśūśujānān |
2 Then Will I, when I lead my friends to battle against the radiant persons of the godless,
10.27.4
अमा ते तुम्रं वर्षभं पचानि तीव्रंसुतं पञ्चदशं नि षिञ्चम ||
amā te tumraṃ vṛṣabhaṃ pacāni tīvraṃsutaṃ pañcadaśaṃ ni ṣiñcam ||
Prepare for thee at home a vigorous bullock, and pour for thee the fifteen-fold strong juices.
10.27.5
नाहं तं वेद य इति बरवीत्यदेवयून समरणेजघन्वान |
nāhaṃ taṃ veda ya iti bravītyadevayūn samaraṇejaghanvān |
3 I know not him who sayeth and declareth that he hath slain the godless in the battle.