Must Hindus Be Vegetarians?
Yes. Anyone who claims that to be a Hindu must be a vegetarian. That is the verdict of the Hindu scriptures. Hindu scripture have long supported the spiritual benefits of a vegetarian diet. There are a number of passages discussing these benefits. Here are just three:
In Mahabarath, Chapter 114, Bhisma says that people who eat meat are the vilest of human beings, and that the sin of eating meat will cause them to be born in miserable conditions:
"I tell thee what the faults are that attach to the eating of meat. The meat of other animals is like the flesh of one's son. That foolish person, stupefied by folly, who eats meat is regarded as the vilest of human beings. The union of father and mother produces an offspring. After the same manner, the cruelty that a helpless and sinful wretch commits, produces its progeny of repeated rebirths fraught with great misery."
“The sins generated by violence curtail the life of the perpetrator. Therefore, even those who are anxious for their own welfare should abstain from meat-eating.” — Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva 115.33
“How can he practice true compassion, who eats the flesh of an animal to fatten his own flesh?” — Tirukural 251
“Those noble souls who practice meditation and other yogic ways, who are ever careful about all beings, who protect all animals, are the ones who are actually serious about spiritual practices.” — Atharva Veda 19.48.5
In Mahabarath, Chapter 114, Bhisma says that people who eat meat are the vilest of human beings, and that the sin of eating meat will cause them to be born in miserable conditions:
"I tell thee what the faults are that attach to the eating of meat. The meat of other animals is like the flesh of one's son. That foolish person, stupefied by folly, who eats meat is regarded as the vilest of human beings. The union of father and mother produces an offspring. After the same manner, the cruelty that a helpless and sinful wretch commits, produces its progeny of repeated rebirths fraught with great misery."
Manusmriti (5.48-5.52) further enjoins everyone to give up meat-eating:
"One can never obtain meat without causing injury to living beings... one should, therefore, abstain from meat. Reflecting on how meat is obtained and on how embodied creatures are tied up and killed, one should quit eating any kind of meat..."
There are people who take comfort in the excuse and lie that because they were not the ones who butchered the animals, whose carcass they consume, they are, therefore, not culpable of or liable for any sin arising from eating the flesh of animals. To that Manusmriti (5.48-5.52) again warns, "The man who authorises, the man who butchers, the man who slaughters, the man who buys or sells, the man who cooks, the man who serves, and the man who eats – these are all killers".
On the issue of how heinous and dangerous it is to kill animals for their meat, Srimad Bhagavatam 10:1:4, says "only the animal-killer cannot relish the message of the Absolute Truth".
"One can never obtain meat without causing injury to living beings... one should, therefore, abstain from meat. Reflecting on how meat is obtained and on how embodied creatures are tied up and killed, one should quit eating any kind of meat..."
There are people who take comfort in the excuse and lie that because they were not the ones who butchered the animals, whose carcass they consume, they are, therefore, not culpable of or liable for any sin arising from eating the flesh of animals. To that Manusmriti (5.48-5.52) again warns, "The man who authorises, the man who butchers, the man who slaughters, the man who buys or sells, the man who cooks, the man who serves, and the man who eats – these are all killers".
On the issue of how heinous and dangerous it is to kill animals for their meat, Srimad Bhagavatam 10:1:4, says "only the animal-killer cannot relish the message of the Absolute Truth".
He who desires to augment his own flesh by eating the flesh of other creatures lives in misery in whatever species he may take his birth. Mahabharat 115.47
Those high-souled persons who desire beauty, faultlessness of limbs, long life, understanding, mental and physical strength and memory should abstain from acts of injury. Mahabharat 18.115.8
The very name of cow is Aghnya ["not to be killed"], indicating that they should never be slaughtered. Who, then could slay them? Surely, one who kills a cow or a bull commits a heinous crime. Mahabharat, Shantiparv 262.47
The purchaser of flesh performs Hinsa (violence) by his wealth; he who eats flesh does so by enjoying its taste; the killer does Hinsa 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 off 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. Mahabharat, Anu 115.40
He who sees that the Lord of all is ever the same in all that is -- immortal in the field of mortality -- he sees the truth. And when a man sees that the God in himself is the same God in all that is, he hurts not himself by hurting others. Then he goes, indeed, to the highest path. Bhagavad Geeta 13.27-28
Ahimsa is the highest Dharma. Ahinsa is the best Tapas. Ahinsa is the greatest gift. Ahinsa is the highest self-control. Ahinsa is the highest sacrifice. Ahinsa is the highest power. Ahinsa is the highest friend. Ahinsa is the highest truth. Ahinsa is the highest teaching. Mahabharat 18.116.37-41
What is the good way? It is the path that reflects on how it may avoid killing any creature. Tirukural 324
All that lives will press palms together in prayerful adoration of those who refuse to slaughter and savor meat. Tirukural 260
What is virtuous conduct? It is never destroting life, for killing leads to every other sin. Tirukural 312, 321
Goodness is never one with the minds of these two: one who wields a weapon and one who feasts on a creature's flesh. Tirukural 253
One may, seeing such injunctions, ask, "Do these prohibitions apply to all Hindus or to just those who live in the monasteries?" The Hindu scriptures are meant for every human being, particularly for those who call themselves Hindus. Therefore, all rules in the scriptures apply to all Hindus and human beings. Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, verse 24 asserts, "Therefore, let the scriptures be your authority in determining what should be done and what should not be done. Understand the scriptural injunctions and teachings, and then perform your actions in this world accordingly."
Swami Muktananda on this point says, "Sometimes, even well-intentioned people say, 'I do not care for rules. I follow my heart and do my own thing.' It is all very well to follow the heart, but how can they be sure that their heart is not misleading them? As the saying goes, 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions.' Thus, it is always wise to check with the scriptures whether our heart is truly guiding us in the proper direction. The Manu Smṛiti states: bhūtaṁ bhavyaṁ bhaviṣhyaṁ cha sarvaṁ vedāt prasidhyati (12.97) (=The authenticity of any spiritual principle of the past, present, or future, must be established on the basis of the Vedas.)" (Commentary on Bhagavad Gita 16:24).
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