vegetarianism

मांस-भोज्यता

“मुन्यन्नं ब्राह्मणस्योक्तं
मांसं क्षत्रियवैश्ययोः "

इत्यादि-वाक्यं तु याज्ञवल्क्यस्मृतेः (१.२६१) मिताक्षरायां पुलस्त्यस्मृतेर् उद्धृतम्।

मांसादौ विश्वासः

In accordance with culture and current knowledge of healthy nutrition, stay ovo-lacto-vegetarian (in the absence of nirUDha-pashubandha observance). Avoid food cooked with same cutting boards and knives as fresh meat.

Factors towards vegetarianism.

• Historical reasons. Why do many types of hindu-s not eat meat? Because their parents and relatives did not eat meat, and they have no idea why, and it is now a matter of cultural identity. Ok, why did this practice start and why was it sustained?

• Primary reasons:

  • the theory that food influences feelings and behavior, in a way not appropriate for these peoples’ traditional vocations. Meat is _supposedly_ rAjasika-tAmasika-guNa-pradhAna.
  • The karma theory: a person who eats meat will—in his next birth—become the meat eaten by that animal (Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 9.6.1.3).

• Secondarily, the veda-s and other holy texts urge non-violence as described here (barring exceptions).

• Additional reasons

  • Sustainability