aha.. seriously??
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.
Mahabharata 115.47
Those high-souled persons who desire
beauty, faultlessness of limbs, long life,
understanding, mental and physical
strength and memory should abstain
fromacts of injury. Mahabharata
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 abull commits a heinous
crime. Mahabharata Shantiparv 262.47
The purchaser of flesh performs himsa
(violence) 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 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. Mahabharata 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 Gita 13.27-28
ahimsa is the highest Dharm. ahimsa is
the best Tapas. ahimsa is the greatest
gift. ahimsa is the highest self-control .
ahimsa is the highest sacrifice. ahimsa
is the highest power. ahimsa is the
highest friend. ahimsa is the highest
truth. ahimsa is the highest teaching.
Mahabharata 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
destroying 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
according to our scriptures consuming excessive liquor and meat is not advisable, it creates demon character in yourself, but that does not mean eating meat is prohibited in hinduism, but killing any animal without any purpose sure is prohibited.
i read the hindi translation of manu smriti. in that book it was clearly written that shudras and kshatriyas can eat meat as they do physical labour whereas brahmans and vaishyas were 'advised' to avoid meat . even a brahmin lost in a jungle can have meat to save his life.
though im not a big fan of manu smriti and it is not the absolute authority in 'sanatan dharm' but it reflects customs at that time it was written :
Manu Smruti, the law book of Hindus, in chapter 5 verse 30
“The eater who eats the flesh of those to be eaten does nothing bad,even if he does it day after day, for God himself created some to be eaten and some to be eater.”
c. Again next verse of Manu Smruti, that is, chapter 5 verse 31 says
“Eating meat is right for the sacrifice, this is traditionally known as a rule of the gods.”
d. Further in Manu Smruti chapter 5 verse 39 and 40 says
“God himself created sacrificial animals for sacrifice, ... , therefore killing in a sacrifice is not killing.”
Vegetariaism started with the advent of Niganthas (Jains) and other minor Sramana sects.
early hindus were non vegetarians . early vedic people were very different from todays hindus.
There is no prohibition as such in Hinduism as it is not a religion of the books as Islam or Christianity are. hindu scriptures tell whats good and whats bad like a science book but give freedom to choose, it does not imposes like other religious scriptures.
