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Meat Eating is Allowed in Hinduism. But Why?

Diet in Hinduism

We all know that Ahimsa or Non-violence is one of the core practices of Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma. Yet, we see that there are more non-vegetarian Hindus than Vegetarian ones.

Some people get confused about it. Vegetarian people often say that it is cruel to kill animals for food and restrain meat-eating.

Before we reach the answer to why Hindus eat non-vegetarian food, let's look at some of the facts that you might not know:

  1. More than 70% of Hindus are non-vegetarian to some extent. 
  2. More than 90% of the Hindu population in Tamil Nadu eats Non-veg. 
  3. Some of the Brahmins also eat meat, yes, Bengali and Kashmiri Brahmins eat non-veg.

What do scriptures say?

Hindu texts strongly encourage minimal violence and cruelty. They give more importance to vegan food than the opposite. Atharvaveda (6.140) mentions that "rice, beans, barley and sesamum" are the food types allotted for human consumption.

Many of the scriptures say that a man when he faces a threat to his survival. In this situation, he is even allowed to consume beef.

There are many contradictions, though. Manusmriti (5.51-52) states that there is no greater sinner than the man who makes his flesh thrive on someone else's.

What will happen if you do eat non-veg food?

Although there are a few exceptions, most of the Hindu texts do not ban eating non-vegetarian food. They encourage becoming a vegetarian.

In Bhagavad Gita (17.8-10), Lord Krishna says, "Different types of food have different influence on the behaviour and body of a Man. Meat has Tamasic property, so it increases anger, impatience and laziness in the body of a Man."

In short, "You Will Not Become a great sinner by consuming meat." But Your food will influence your body according to its property. That's why Kshatriya people ate meat and Brahmins did not. 

What does Bhagavad Gita say about non veg food? 

Gita 17.8 - The food which promotes longevity, power, good health, pleasantness, and satisfaction,
which is juicy, nourishing, and pleasing to the stomach, are adopted by those flourishing in sāttva (bright righteousness).

Gita 17.9 - Those foods which are bitter, sour, salty, very hot, dry, and overly-piquant, which produce pain, grief, and sickness, are adopted by those caught in rajas (passion).

Gita 17.10 - Those foods which are stale, bland, putrid, and toxic, which is unfit for sacrifice, are adopted by those drowning in tamas (dark destruction).

In any of the above lines, Krishna does not particularly command Arjuna to eat food of any kind. He described the nature of food and leaves it to him.

Now, it is on Arjuna what quality does he want to have by adopting the food accordingly.

What do Scientists say about Sattvic diet?

There have been no solid study on the effect of Sattvic food on human body. But there are many researchers and even celebrity chefs who agree that vegetarian food has better effect on human mind.

Chef Kunal Kapur, who is one of the most popular chefs in India, has also told in an interview that foods like onion and garlic increase agitation, anxiety and aggressive behavior in human body. 

He says, "Even Chinese culture recognizes this fact which is as old as ours." Source- NDTV interview

There is also a series of TED videos that discuss how the food affects your mind with more than 40 videos on the subject. It has title You are what you eat [source].

So, Does that mean Hindu scriptures support cruelty to Animals?

Since ages, Hindus believed that Plants have life in them. And Lord Krishna says that he resides in every living body. So plants are considered as living beings and more than that they are considered sacred.

Also, Hindu Scriptures denote that plants have feelings of joy and pain. There are some references in Ramayana that when Sita was in Lanka, her sorrow stirred the trees and plants along with animals and birds. They expressed their pain by shedding flowers like tears.

So, there is no question of cruelty at all. Because if you want to survive, you have to take life energy from outside of your body. And no matter what type of food you eat, you consume a life either in the form of plant or in the form of an animal.

Why can we eat living plants but not living animals?

There are three types of Gunas (गुण) or qualities: Sattva, Raja and Tama (सत, रज, तम).

Sattva- This quality makes you calm, pleasant. It has high patience, forgiveness and submission to God. Sweet foods like Potato, fruits and milk increase Sattva Guna.

Raja- It means the quality of Kings. It makes you passionate, egoistic and active. This guna is neither too good nor too bad. Sour, salty, burning and hot foods increase Rajasic Guna. Onion and Garlic fall in this category.

Tama (Tamas)- This Quality makes you destructive, imbalanced, violent and ignorant. Food cooked more than three hours ago, meat and human flesh are Tamasic foods.

So it means, "You are what you eat." Having a plant-based diet helps you keep your mind stable. It makes you mentally stronger and wise.

Conclusion

In short, the choice of food depends totally upon you. But you should know it that too much Tamasic food will harm you.

Sattvic food will bring more pleasantness to you than Tamasic food. The plant-based diet is better for people who require working more with their mind than with the physical body.

For students (learners) and priests, being vegetarian is beneficial. And for others, it is a matter of choice.
 
Answers by TheHinduPrayer:
 
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Comments

  1. Though it had bot said clearly in th Bhagvad Gita, but lord never support such a sinful acts and it is strictly prohibited in vedic scriptures also.

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  2. The author says, 'You'll not become a Sinner by consuming meat. But your body will be influenced by mode of ignorance.' The author here must understand that this mode of ignorance is the cause of sins.

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    1. That 'eans

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    2. That means, the whole first world, whose visa offices are crowded with knowledgeable Indians, are ignorant. The irony is, we are compelled to buy their planes, computers, phones etc. The 'nationalist' Indians even feel proud of the success of duch purchase programmes.

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  3. It is true that to survive we have to take life energy from out side. By plants, we don't take their lives rather take fruits, flowers, leaves and so on. When a plant completed it's life, we take grains like wheat, rice, etc. From cow, we take milk but not her life.
    Conclusion - don't consume meat.

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    1. Interesting point. What about root vegetables? We may not necessarily consume the entire plant, but it does end its life, no? Just curious what your view is on that.

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    2. Plants Don't Have Central Nevrous System as well they Don't have Sensory neuron Or Brain.... That's why them will either no Pain or less pain.....
      It means Plant inherit Painkiller for them as there is nothing for them to sense physical pain.

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    3. Dear, just one thing to say ... Rajas can't eat food containg taste of Sour, salt etc. Tamasi can't eat stale, toxic ,meat containg food ... So for Satvic hoe it would be possible to consume food of things that are not contained of above mentioned quality all the time for Breakfast,Lunch and Dinner. In this world where sources are very limited and consumers are very high in number.
      Lastly, my heart also forbids me for eating meat but I do eat it for no reason just like salty food,sour fruits(cetrus fruits, so-called vitamin C containers) ...so if I am a sinner for eating meat thn I should be the sinner for consuming salt sourand stale food. Somebody please clearify my confusion🤔

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    4. Dear Mr. Rajput, you do not become any sinner by eating any kind of food. Instead, the kind of food you eat effects your thoughts and emotional intellect.
      In Gita, it is said that the thoughts and conscience is deeply effected by quality of food (Satvic, Rajasic or Tamasic).
      If you eat Tamasic food, your mind attracts Tamasic thoughts like anger, frustration, greed so you become more prone to those thoughts.
      It is the only reason why we say, "You are what you eat."

      I hope I addressed your confusion right. Thank You...

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    5. Killing animals only for ur pleasure is a sin!

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    6. Exactly. The author hasn’t done his research well and written callously that it is not considered a sin to eat meat.

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  4. That's so true, and I observed myself, it does, come from inside soul.

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  5. According to Bhagvad Gita, you will incur sin by eating anything Sattic, Rajasik and Tamsik food if that food is not offered to Lord Krsna first. Now, you can ask that can we eat meat after offering to Krsna. Answeris No as Krsna already mentioned about this in BG Chapter 9 verse 26 that he accepts, leaves, Fruits, Flowers and drinks (Water and milk).

    patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
    yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
    tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
    aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

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    1. Krishna actually says Hle will accept ANYTHING offered with devotion. Hence, with devotion we may employ anything and everything in Krishna's service by completely surrendering to Him.

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  6. I spent 35 years being pure vegetarian and can only say it produced mental fog, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety and digestive problems. Certainly if meat gives mental clarity, restores health and balances the mind it should be considered sattvik.

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    1. 🤣🤣....I have seen many pure vegetarians happier than others...dont blame the food for your misery.....But if you wish to eat meat , my friend the gates of Hell are waiting for you

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  7. So Krishna's statements are open to interpretation and omnivorous? His idea of Himsa-Ahimsa is rooted in the process of making 100 Ahimsak attempts to achieve something before attempting Himsa once. Now, Who is a sinner? The one who devalues conscious property of anything into a cyclic game of illusions (Maya). There is no great or simple, there-is and there-is-not. We are deluded by taste buds not necessities.

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  8. Bengali, Kashmiri, Oriya and Assamese Brahmins eat non-vegetarian food.

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