Summary of evidence

http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/hinduism-forum/172714-details-book-d-n-jha-cow.html

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9503E7D8153DF934A2575BC0A9649C8B63&pagewanted=all Note that Jha is a vegetarian!

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/08/09/stories/0209000p.htm

"To Mr. Justice Lodha's allegation of Prof. Jha using stray references to present a distorted picture, the historian said he was only strengthening the position maintained by very orthodox historians in the past including the likes of Bharat Ratna P. V. Kane and J. C. Jain. “Jain is on record as stating that meat eating was not uncommon among early Jains, and Kane in his History of Dharmashastras shows that the vedic people ate beef.'' (source)

Michael Witzel:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Witzel – try to find out more.

JHA's credentials:

Revenue System in Post-Maurya and Gupta Times by Dwijendra Narayan Jha

  • 1980, Studies in early Indian economic history, Anupama Publications, ASIN: B0006E16DA.
  • 1993, Economy and Society in Early India: Issues and Paradigms, ISBN 8121505526.
  • Society and Ideology in India: ed. Essays in Honour of Professor R.S. Sharma (Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi, 1996)
  • 1997, Society and Ideology in India, ISBN 8121506395.
  • 1997, Ancient India: In Historical Outline, ISBN 8173042853.
  • 2002, Holy Cow: Beef in Indian Dietary Traditions; paperback (2004) ISBN 1859844243
  • 2004, Early India: A Concise History, ISBN 8173045879

As editor:

  • 1988, Feudal Social Formation in Early India, ISBN 8170010241
  • "Society and Ideology in India: Essays in Honour of Professor R.S. Sharma" (Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi, 1996).
  • 2000, The Feudal Order: State, Society, and Ideology in Early Medieval India, ISBN 8173044732; a collection of critical essays by 20 specialists on medieval Indian society, politics, ideology and religion.

Manusmriti (Chapter 5 / Verse 30) says, “It is not sinful to eat meat of eatable animals, for Brahma has created both the eaters and the eatables.” 

Manusmriti (5 / 35) states: When a man who is properly engaged in a ritual does not eat meat, after his death he will become a sacrificial animal during twenty-one rebirths. 

Maharishi Yagyavalkya says in Shatpath Brahmin (3/1/2/21) that, “I eat beef because it is very soft and delicious.” 
Apastamb Grihsutram (1/3/10) says, “The cow should be slaughtered on the arrival of a guest, on the occasion of ‘Shraddha’ of ancestors and on the occasion of a marriage.” 
Rigveda (10/85/13) declares, “On the occasion of a girl’s marriage oxen and cows are slaughtered.” 
Rigveda (6/17/1) states that “Indra used to eat the meat of cow, calf, horse and buffalo.” 
Vashistha Dharmasutra (11/34) writes, “If a Brahmin refuses to eat the meat offered to him on the occasion of ‘Shraddha’ or worship, he goes to hell.” [Source]

 

· Hinduism’s greatest propagator Swami Vivekanand said thus: “You will be surprised to know that according to ancient Hindu rites and rituals, a man cannot be a good Hindu who does not eat beef”. (The Complete Works of Swami Vivekanand, vol.3, p. 536).
· Mukandilal writes in his book ‘Cow Slaughter – Horns of a Dilemma’, page 18: “In ancient India, cow-slaughter was considered auspicious on the occasions of some ceremonies. Bride and groom used to sit on the hide of a red ox in front of the ‘Vedi’ (alter).”
· A renowned scholar of scriptures Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane says, “Bajsancyi Samhita sanctifies beef-eating because of its purity”. (Dharmashastra Vichar Marathi, page 180)
· Adi Shankaracharya’ commentary on Brihdaranyakopanishad 6/4/18 says : ‘Odan’ (rice) mixed with meat is called ‘Mansodan’. On being asked whose meat it should be, he answers ‘Uksha’. ‘Uksha’ is used for an ox, which is capable to produce semen.
· The book ‘The History and Culture of the Indian People’, published by Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Bombay and edited by renowned historian R.C.Majumdar (Vol.2, page 578) says: “this is said in the Mahabharat that King Rantidev used to kill two thousand other animals in addition to two thousand cows daily in order to give their meat in charity”. [Source]