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Showing posts with label VEDIC VEGETARIANISM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label VEDIC VEGETARIANISM. Show all posts

Killing cows is the end of human civilization

Publish an exclusive excerpt from the forthcoming book Sahadeva dasa "The killing of cows mean the end of human civilization." There are no words, one truth.

Are scoundrels who theorize that animals have no soul, or, in other words, they are not much different from a dead stone. So these people are trying to justify the killing of animals, suggesting that this is no sin. But in reality, the animals - not a dead stone. This is for those who kill them, a heart of stone. So they turned a deaf ear to all the arguments of reason and philosophical explanations and continue to open the slaughterhouse and kill animals for hunting.

Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.26.9, comment)

"What role does religion play in shaping our relationship to the animal world?" - The answer to this question tried to give in 1967, a history professor at the University of California (Los Angeles) Lynn J. White, who published in the journal "Science" article, "The historical roots of our the environmental crisis. " In this article, he notes that the relationship of the western world with animals and nature were formed, first of all, the Judeo-Christian tradition (he also examines Islam and Marxism, considering them an integral part of the Western world). This tradition, says White, is based on the idea that the world was created solely for man: "God created specifically for use by the creation of man and held that nothing in the universe should have no other purpose but to serve humanity." In parallel with this Western Christianity separated man from nature.

In the ancient religious traditions of people saw themselves as part of nature rather than its masters. In the animistic religions, for example, not only believe in the existence of spirits in every tree, mountain, or a spring, but in the fact that all living things should be worshiped. In contrast to the pagan and Eastern religions, Christianity is "not only established a dualism of man and nature, but also adopted the idea that exploiting nature for its own purposes, the person doing the will of the Lord." White points out that Christianity - a very complex formed from the mixing of different philosophical concepts of religion, so that its different areas differ in their views. But overall, he says, Christianity and Western civilization hold this view of nature that distinguishes humans from all natural the world and encourages its use for selfish purposes.

It was the spread of Christianity, the conviction of White, largely contributed departure of people from the previously accepted belief that all life forms, including plants, have souls.

"Whenever Herman saw the killing of animals, it appeared the same idea: in their behavior in relation to all the creatures of God's people - the Nazis'
Isaac Bashevis Singer

"In ancient times, every tree, every stream, every river, every hill had its spirit-defender", - says the scientist. But Christianity has changed this outlook. According to Christian belief, man was created in the image and likeness of God, and at the end of creation, and therefore inherited the Earth in the property. "By destroying pagan animism - says White - Christianity has made possible the exploitation of nature without taking into account the creatures that inhabit it."

White's article came around a lot of discussion, but one thing is certain: they described worldview should be responsible for the amazing cruelty to animals that we see in today's world. Moreover, introducing these people astray religious beliefs have influenced various spheres of life - especially on ethics, economics, education and politics.

The Vedic Wedding - vivaha-yajna

Vaishnava weddings and photo shoots are different from other photo shoots that are present at these events generally clean and bright soul of the people, eating vegetarian food, do not take alcohol, honest and highly gentlemen. This is Vedic philosophy and culture. It leaves no one indifferent, even photographers and photographers. 

Russian Hindu People - Paul and Julia beautiful couple I met them earlier at the big festivals, but this nvashey meeting did not even recognize the newlyweds - they were so glowing, beautiful and smart. Wedding photo shoot or wedding always requires open spaces, so I always suggest a little "walk", even if the weather is a bit cold and winter. So this time we get a little wonderful wedding photo session in a nearby park, although earlier and was not planned.

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple -1
VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple-2


VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple
VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple


VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple


VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple
VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple
VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple
VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple

VEDIC WEDDING:: Paul and Julia beautiful Russian hindu couple


Hare Krishna Hare Hare - Lord Krishna Love this couple 

Vegetarianism: Non-Violence as Daily Practice

Vegetarianism: Non-violence as Daily Practice

For many Hindus, vegetarianism is more than a way of life, it is a tradition. Vegetarianism can also be realized as a daily ‘sadhana,’ or spiritual practice, for a vegetarian lifestyle becomes a practice of ‘ahimsa’ or non-violence in thought, speech and action.

Vegetarianism Not a Must for Hindus
Though vegetarianism is associated with Hinduism, it is not true that even a majority of Hindus are vegetarian, nor is it a condition of Hinduism to be a vegetarian. In fact, it is stated in the “Manusmriti” (5:56), “There is no sin in eating meat… but abstention brings great rewards.” So, one cannot state, “I am a vegetarian because I am a Hindu.” Stating this may also imply that all Hindus are vegetarian, which is not true.

In this case, why are some Hindus vegetarian and some are not? It is believed that before India was invaded by outsiders (Vedic era) the majority of Indians were not meat eaters. Influences of outsiders (invaders) came to change that. It was also common practice for the ‘Kshatriya’ caste (warriors) to eat meat as it gave more strength and set the mind up ‘more’ for fighting. This may seem odd, after all how can eating meat make one feel ‘more’ predisposed to violence (i.e., anger, aggression, fighting moods, etc.). This stems from the philosophy of ‘himsa’ or violence.

Is Meat-Eating Violence? 
By partaking in eating meat, especially in the old days before prepackaged, supermarket foods, and fast food, one had to think of where to find the animal, how to kill it, how to prepare it for consumption, and then how to cook, eat and preserve it. Hence, the whole process of eating animals was ‘himsa,’ because one had to think of all this, possibly speak of it (planning the killing, etc.) and act on it by killing, preparing and eating the animal. In Indian history, we have the seminal example King Ashoka (circa 273-232 BC), who – from being a ruthless warrior – not only became a Buddhist, but also promoted ahisma and vegetarianism in his later life.

When we eat the flesh of a dead animal, we not only partake in ‘himsa’ in our own spirit, but we can also become affected by the spirit of the dead animal. In order to have been eaten the animal had to die. In dying, it felt pain, it struggled, cried, tried to continue living as long as possible. Since it was slaughtered, it died in fright, pain, mental and emotional anguish and struggle. Then it has to be skinned, gutted, processed and packaged to end up on a plate, decorated and consumed in human pleasure. In human pleasure, one does not think of the pain of the once living animals on the plate. Hence partaking in eating meat, one is not just ingesting and digesting protein and nutrients, but the feelings of violence which erupted in the animal from its unnatural death.

The Hindu epic  “Mahabharata” states: “The purchaser of flesh performs himsa 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,” 115:40)

Similarly, vegetarianism and ahimsa can be realized through the old adage “treat others as you would like to be treated.” Swami Dayananda, in his “The Value of Values” connects this to ahimsa and vegetarianism by stating that we should not think of ‘somebody’ being our dinner if we do not want to be ‘somebody’ else’s dinner.’

Further, the “Mahabharata” (18.113.8) says: “One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self. This, in brief, is the rule of dharma. Yielding to desire and acting differently, one becomes guilty of adharma.”

Some of the spiritual reasons, we’ve discussed here may have stemmed from the practical reasons people refrained from eating meat initially. Modern meat-eating Hindus will usually not eat beef or pork (which is rapidly changing), but eat all other kinds of meat.

What Good is Meat for You? 
Many know the reason that the cow is not eaten is because it is considered ‘holy’. It was thought that by eating pig flesh, people could contract the diseases of the pig. This may seem far-fetched, but if we look at modern society, many diseases are transmitted to humans from the dead animals they eat.

Some sicknesses come from under cooking the meat or not preparing it properly before cooking it. However, some sicknesses stem from the ways in which humans selfishly try to increase meat production by unnatural methods. Most common of these is the ‘mad cow’ disease, which resulted from people mixing cow fodder with pieces of dead animals to ‘fatten the cows’ quickly.

God created many vegetarian animals, one being the cow, and so this would naturally disturb the god-given balance of the cow and then also affect all members forthcoming in the food chain.

Humans, unlike other animals that work on instinct alone, have the god-given ability to make conscious choices about the food they enjoy, ingest and digest. This food, in turn helps to fuel our bodies and keep us in good health emotionally, mentally and physically. Food that robs us of energy, such as heavy products that are hard on digestion, like meat, weigh us down emotionally, mentally and physically, even if we do not realize this immediately.

These are the major reasons, all related to ‘ahimsa,’ why Hindus naturally take to vegetarianism as a daily ‘sadhana’, and abstain from eating flesh.


Sources: 
Swami Dayananda, “The Value of Values,” Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Saylorsburg, PA, 2993, pp. 31-34.
Swami Tejomayananda, “Hindu Culture: An Introduction,” Chinmaya Publications, Piercy, CA, 1994, pp. 100-103.
Gopi Nath Aggarwal, “Vegetarian or Non-Vegetarian: Choose Yourself,” Books for All, Delhi, India, 1998, 27-33.

Shri J. Narayanaswamy, “Thirukkural in English”

DEITIES DWELLING IN THE BODY OF HOLY COW - GAUMATA


DEITIES DWELLING IN THE BODY OF HOLY COW, KAMADHENU - GAUMATA :

In Hindu mythology, Kamadhenu was a divine cow who was believed to be the mother of all cows. Like her daughter Nandini, she could grant any wish for the true seeker. Kamadhenu provided Vasishta with his needs for the sacrifices. Kamadhenu (kama-dhenu, 'wish-cow'), was a miraculous cow of plenty who could give her owner whatever he desired.

The cow stands for prosperity—as does Laksmi, the wife of Vishnu. Kamadhenu is especially associated with brahmans and their “wealth,” because she is the producer of the milk and the clarified butter, the offerings traditionally placed on the sacrificial fire.

The various parts of the body of the cow in which the deities, the revered sages, the various elements, are believed to dwell are given as follows:

1) Two Horns of the Cow - The Creator 'Brahma'
2) The Head of the Cow - The Deity 'Indra'
3) Forehead of the Cow - The Deity 'Agni
4) Collar of the Cow - The Deity 'Yama'
5) Brain of the Cow - The Deity 'Moon'
6) Upper Jaw of the Cow - The Highest world Dyuloka
7) Lower Jaw of the Cow - The Earth
8 The Tongue - The Lightening
9) The Teeth - The Deity 'Marut'
10) The Throat - The 'Revatee' Constellation
11) The Shoulder - The 'Kritka' Constellation
12) Bones of the Shoulder - The Summer Season
13) All the Organs of the Cow - The Deity 'Vaayu'
14) The Heaven - The World to which cow, belongs
15) The BackBone - The Deity 'Rudra'
16) In the Chest - The Eagle
17) Is the Power & Strength Of the Cow - The Space
18) Hunch of the Cow - The Sage Vrihashpati
19) In the bones of the Chest - The Stanza by the name of Vrihatee
20) The Back - Angels & Fairies
21) Bones of the Ribs - The Hostesses of the Angels & Fairies.
22) The Shoulders - The Deity 'Varuna' and Friend
23) The Forelegs - The Sage 'Tvashta & the sage 'Aryama'
24) The Hindlegs - The Destroyer 'Lord Mahadeva'
25) The Backside of the Cow - The wife of the Deity 'Indra'
26) The Tail - The Deity 'Vaayu'
27) The Hairs of the Body - The Sage 'Pawamana'
28) The Buttock - The Caste 'Brahmin' & The caste 'Kshatriya'
29) Lies in the Thighs - The Strength of the Cow.
30) Bones of the Knees - The Deity Sun and the Creator
31) The Calf of the Cow - The Celestial Beings 'Gandharva'
32) In the Smaller Bones - The Celestial Beings 'Apsara'
33) Hooves of the Cow - The Mother of the Sun, God, 'Aditi'
34) In the Heart - The Mind
35) In the Liver of the Cow - The Intelligence
36) The Nerve By the Name Of 'Puritat' - The Religious Vow 'Vrata'
37) The Belly - The Hunger
38) In the Intestines - Goddess Sarswati
39) In the internal part of the intestines - The Mountains
40) In the Ovum - The sorrow (Manyu)
41) In the sense Organs - The Subjects & the People (Praja)
42) In the Ovary - The River
43) In the Breasts - The Deity 'Varuna'
44) In the cells of the Breasts which produce milk - The Thundering clouds
45) In the Skin - The 'All-Pervasive power'
46) In the hairs of the Body,Of the cow - The Various Medicines
47) The Anus - The heavenly & Celestial Beings 'Devagana'
48) In the Intestine - The Man
49) In the Stomach - The Celestial being 'Yaksha'
50) In the Kidney - The Anger
51) In the Blood - The Demon 'Rakshasha'
52) The Appearance of The Cow - The Constellation are
53) In the Stomach - The Other living beings
54) Is the Grossness - The sky
55) In the Bone-Marrow - The Death
56) Is Like Fire - The Posture while sitting
57) Is the Deity 'Ashwinee Kumar' - The posture while getting up
58) The Deity 'Indra' - The Posture while standing and facing East
59) The Lord of Death 'Yamaraja' - The Posture while standing and facing South
60) The Creator 'Brahma' - The Posture while standing and facing west
61) The Sun God - The Posture while standing & facing North
62) The Deity Moon - The Cow while Grazing
63) The Friend - The Cow while looking
64) Pure Joy - The Posture of the Cow while turning it back

HOLY COW, THE ABODE OF ALL THE GODS :

Every cell in cow’s body is abode of the 33 crore Gods. All the 14 mythical worlds exist in the limbs of cow.
Brahma and Vishnu on the root of two horns
All the sacred reservoirs and Vedavyasa on the tips of the horns
Lord Shankara on the centre head
Parvathi on the edge of head
Kartikeya on the nose, Kambala and Ashwatara Devas on the nostrils
Ashwini Kumaras on the ears
Sun and Moon in the eyes
Vayu in dental range and Varuna on the tongue
Saraswathi in the sound of cow
Sandhya goddesses on the lips and Indra on the neck
Raksha Ganas on the hanging under the neck
Sadhya Devas in the heart
Dharma on the thigh
Gandharvas in the gap of hoofs, Pannaga at the tips, Apsaras on the sides
Eleven Rudras and Yama on the back, Ashtavasus in the crevices
Pitru Devas on the ides of umbilical joint, 12 Adityas on the stomach area
Soma on the tail, Sun rays on the hair, Ganga in its urine, Lakshmi and Yamuna in the dung, Saraswathi in milk, Narmada in curd, and Agni in ghee
33 crore Gods in the hair
Prithwi in stomach, oceans in the udder, Kamadhenu in the whole body
Three Gunas in the root of the brows, Rishis in the pores of hair, and all the sacred lakes in the breathe.
Chandika on the lips and Prajapathi Brahma on the skin
Fragrant flowers on nostrils
Sadhya Devas on the arm-pit

Six parts of Vedas on the face, four Vedas on the feet, Yama on the top of the hoofs, Kubera and Garuda on the right, Yakshas on the left and Gandharvas inside
Khecharas in the fore of the foot, Narayana in intestine, mountains in the bones, Artha, Dharma, Kama and Moksha in the feet.
Four Vedas in the Hoom… sound

JAI GUA - MATA
Those who follow Sanatan Dharma are kindly requested to avoid eating beef and also not use leather made from its skin

THE LAW OF KARMA

The law of karma underpins the process of transmigration of the soul. Karma literally means "action," but more often refers to the accumulated reactions to activities. Thus we talk of "good karma" and "bad karma," which are stored reactions that gradually unfold to determine our unique destiny.
The self-determination and accountability of the individual soul rests on its capacity for free choice. This is exercised only in the human form. Whilst in lower species, the atman takes no moral decisions but is instead bound by instinct. Therefore, although all species of life are subject to the reactions of past activities, such karma is generated only while in the human form. Human life alone is a life of responsibility.
The Bhagavad-gita categorises karma, listing three kinds of human actions: (1) Karma: those which elevate, (2) Vikarma: those which degrade and (3) Akarma: those which create neither good nor bad reactions and thus lead to liberation.


Useful Analogies

Going on holiday/Going to prison

Attaining a heavenly destination is like going on holiday; a lower birth like going to prison.

> By performing pious activities, one accrues good karmic credits and attains a higher birth in which one can enjoy without any difficulties. However, when one's pious credits are exhausted, one falls again to earth, just as one must return from holidays to the regular routine of work when one's well-earned funds are exhausted.

> The residents of heaven can perform sinful actions, but generally do not, as they have all facilities of life.

> For transgressing universal and God-given laws the soul is degraded to the lower species.Then, through gradual purification (by suffering), he rises again to the human platform. Once in the lower species the soul cannot exercise free will and is more or less condemned to a "sentence." This is very much like a criminal who illegally tries to enjoy life by circumventing the law rather than following it.
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Related Practices




Pious activities such as charity, penance and pilgrimage, especially when performed in anticipation of material benefits, such as a higher standard of living on earth or an elevated birth on the heavenly planets.

Avoidance of impious acts, considered to bring misfortune and degradation. These includes the neglect or abuse of five sections of society, namely women, children, animals (especially cows), saintly people, and the elderly

Personal Reflection

> Explore common notions of karma, for example, sayings such as, "He had it coming to him!" and "What goes around comes around."

> How much free will do we feel we have in life? What should we strive to change and what should we be content to accept?
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Common Misunderstandings
Hindus don't eat meat because they think that they will then be reborn as an animal.

This statement suggests that Hindus perform pious activities largely out of fear and selfishness. It neglects the finer sentiments behind vegetarianism, such as empathy for fellow living beings.

A good dog may become a human in the next life, whereas a bad dog may become a bird or insect.

The soul passing through lower species doesn't create any new karma. He only works off the karmic reactions generated whilst in the human form and gradually rises towards another human birth.

Hindus blame suffering on karma.

Not usually. Blame and responsibility are different. Karma entails understanding that we are all ultimately responsible for our own lives. Belief in karma does not automatically create indifference to the suffering of ourselves or others (as the above statement may imply), but underpins sentiments of "helping others to help themselves.
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Scriptural Passages

"In proportion to the extent of one's religious or irreligious actions in this life, one must enjoy or suffer the corresponding reactions of his karma in the next."

Bhagavat Purana 6.1.45
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Glossary Terms

> Punya – pious activities.
> Papa – sinful activities.

THE HOLY COW in HINDUISM

The cow is sacred to the Hindus, a fact that puzzles the foreigner who finds numerous animals wandering the streets of the towns and cities, muzzling at fruit and vegetable stalls and sometimes obstructing traffic. The sacred ness of the cow is a central and crucial clement in Hindu belief. The cow is supposed to be the living symbol of Mother Earth. For the early migrants the cow was an indispensable member of the family. As agriculture was the occupation of the migrants, the cow provided them with milk and its byproducts and also necessities of life such as fuel, manure for the farm, etc. During this time the Aryans prayed to their numerous gods through ‘yagna’ (from ‘yaj’, to worship). This was initially a simple way of private worship but became public in character and consisted of invoking the fire-god, ‘Agni’, by ritually kindling sacred wood on an altar, and keeping the fire alive by constantly feeding it with melted butter. It was through the instrumentality of ‘Agni’ (fire) that the offering of milk-pudding and a drink of milk, curds and honey (madhupeya) was conveyed to one’s chosen gods. Thus the cow supplied the major requirements of the yagna and this association soon made it sacred.

Later on animal sacrifices waned as gradually the Hindus veered towards vegetarianism due to the influence of early Jainism and Buddhism, specially on the Brabmins and Vaishyas. Gradually the cow came to be known as ‘Gaumata’ (cow the Mother) and ‘Aditi’ (mother of gods). The rise of Vaishnavism amongst the prosperous middle and lower castes (expressed in the figure of the cowherd god Krishna) helped consolidate the importance and the religious glorification of the cow. Some of the other factors which resulted in its sanctity were; its figurative usage in Vedic literature which later was taken literally; prohibitions against killing a Brahmin’s (priest’s) cow and lastly, the symbol of cow protection as an affirmation of religious solidarity against Muslim invaders.

 
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