Hinduism And Vegetarianism

This prompt is very crucial to the way beliefs are developing in our society in today’s times.

Indians are broadly divided in two segments – vegetarians and non-vegetarians. The divide, in some cases, is very watertight while in others not so much. Some vegetarians take eggs. Some vegetarians may also eat fish. But mostly vegetarians do not have meat of any kind. Strict vegetarians do not have any kind of meat, fish or egg.

In some households, the younger generation may have non-veg outside home, that is, in hotels or get togethers, because at home it’s entry is completely disallowed. In other households non-veg is cooked for young ones, however, under lot of restrictions, like the utensils in which non-veg is cooked are kept separately and not to be mixed with utensils which are used for cooking vegetarian dishes for elders and other members of the house. Needless to say, the same utensils are never used for cooking both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian dishes.

Caste system in India is still very strong. Higher castes, like Brahmins, do not have non-vegetarian food at all. While other castes like Kshatriyas are non vegetarian. Castes are basically guild/profession based. Brahmins are priests and preachers. They are also the intellectual class of teachers. While Kshatriyas are warriors. Of course, the bounds of profession have blurred by now. One must also take into account the vastness of this subcontinent wherein different regions have different eating habits which we ourselves as Indians are not aware of.

However, there are always exceptions. In Bengal, Brahmins are also non-vegetarians. While the Vaishnavites or worshippers of Lord Krishna are pure vegetarian. They do not even have or prepare food with onion and garlic.

Hinduism has many sects. The Brahmakumaris believe that when you are having meat you are not only devouring the flesh but also the anguish and agony felt by the animal just before it’s slaughter. Of course, now science has taught us even the trees feel and express pain and pleasure. So they must also be agonised when we pluck fruits and vegetables off the branches or cut the leaves , stems or twigs of a tree. Brahmakumaris and also other religious groups advise against having onion and garlic because of their inherent (heat producing?) qualities.

There are many who take pride in saying that we are a class apart of veggies. You, who eat non-veg, are nothing short of barbarians. Nowadays, a belief is getting frequently vocalised that a true blue Hindu is a staunch vegetarian. Given the enormous encompass of Hinduism it is not right to equate or identity Hinduism with vegetarianism. There may be many voices for and against this statement.

Though, due to various reasons, I and many like me, have taken to vegetarianism, I still occasionally have chicken, fish or egg. I do not have red meat. In our religion having beef is banned. I have never tasted pork or crab.

However, Bengalis are ‘fashionably’ non-vegetarian and do not mind experimenting with or experiencing ‘good food’. They are basically foodies. If you invite a Bengali and only offer veg food it will be nothing less than personal humiliation. I always tell my guests I prefer veg and can only serve them the same. I guess that kind of waters down the humiliation quotient.

In sharp contrast, on auspicious days of Puja (worship) a Bengali household will not cook or even allow non veg to enter their premise. In ancient times, widows relinquished all pleasures of life including eating non veg and also some protein rich veg. Paradoxically, this stringent rule was not applicable to a widower. Even now, in many Bengali households there is a separate kitchen for elderly members of the society. Having the genes of a true blue Bengali me too following the same line of eating habit with growing age and turning into a veggie perhaps!!

I strongly feel against nurturing a goat or sheep or lamb like pets and then slaughtering it when ocassion arises. It’s immoral, unethical and inhuman. My mother’s caregiver, who is a tribal, follows similar practice at her home. I keep on advising her against it. It’s like killing the animal twice – bodily as well as emotionally.

While on the subject I should also write about the limitation of a confirmed veggie. Having stopped eating or infrequently preparing non veg at home, my sense of smell revolts when I visit a meat shop. There are many who store non veg like vegetables in the refrigerator. It’s a simple no-no for me. I cannot tolerate the smell of fish, chicken, egg or mutton kept for long in the fridge. Especially, river fish – they stink. Even if they are fresh and just out of water. Cooking fish means cleaning the kitchen over and over again after preparation. You may call it a psychological issue. But I am paranoid about smell. I do not like smelly house, more specifically, kitchen (cars/cabs/train compartments etc.). Many Bengalis have a ‘fishy’ smell in their house/kitchen. I hate it. I am allergic to strong smells. There are many other smells which I cannot bear.

Coming to the topic of discussion, I basically feel there is nothing wrong in having meat. But again it depends what kind of meat we are talking about. Given the practices detailed above, perhaps there is a religious flavour in our eating habits. But to disparage a Hindu just because he/she is a non-vegetarian is a malpractice and narrow mindedness.

Like the essence and larger motive of religion, eating habits should not be a cause of discrimination. (In earlier times, a staunch vegetarian would not sit with a ‘bohemian’ non vegetarian at the same table to partake food!!) While non vegetarians are very quick to furnish ecological balance in favour of their preference of food, a vegetarian has his own theories of religious proprieties.

Basically, I feel the bigger question should be whether our eating habits make us better human beings ? What food kills or minimises our primitive impulses of hurting our fellow brethren? What do we eat to make us more compassionate, big hearted and all embracing? What do we exclude from our meals to make us better human beings , more caring towards nature and mother earth, less conflictual and more fraternal?

Food for thought…