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< siqgurpRswid ]jau sB mih eyku Kudwie khq hau
qau ikau murgI mwrY ]
WHYKILLACHICKEN
BHAIJOGINDERSINGHTALWARA
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Contents
INTRODUCTIONTOTHENEWEDITION................................................................................................4
THECONTROVERSY ..............................................................................................................................5
IFYOU
PERCEIVE
GOD
ABIDES
IN
ALL
BEINGS,
THEN
WHY
KILL
A
CHICKEN?....................................11
GENERALARGUMENTSINSUPPORTOFMEATEATING....................................................................13
RE:ARGUMENTNO.1 ........................................................................................................................14
RE:ARGUMENTNO.2 ........................................................................................................................20
RE:ARGUMENTNO.3 ........................................................................................................................27
RE:ARGUMENTNO.4 ........................................................................................................................38
RE:ARGUMENTNO.5 ........................................................................................................................45
RE:ARGUMENTNO.6 ........................................................................................................................47
DedicatedtoGurmukhGursikhswhorefrainfromkillingofanimalsforthetasteoftongue
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INTRODUCTIONTOTHENEWEDITION
ThisistheEnglishversionofthetractentitledTauKioMurgiMarai,whichwasoriginallypublished
inPunjabiinApril1995andreprintedinJanuary1998.ThebookletwaswellreceivedinIndiaas
wellasabroad.ThereadersfromabroadexpressedakeendesiretogetittranslatedinEnglishand
hencethis
English
translation
of
the
original
Punjabi
booklet.
My
attention
was
drawn
to
the
book
entitledMasMaskarMurakhJhagreybyS.GurbakhshSinghJiKalaAfghana.Ihavegonethrough
itcarefullyandhavenotbeenabletofindanynewpointinit.Theoldandoftenrepeatedvague
argumentshavebeenrestatedandalmostallthesepointshavealreadybeenexplainedatsome
lengthinthisbooklet.Itwould,however,beworthwhiletoreiteratesomeofthesalientpoints
herein.
OnethingwhichisworthyofspecialmentionaboutS.GurbakhshSinghJi'sbookisthathehas
ventedouthisdeeprootedprejudicesandacrimonyagainstBhaiSahibRandhirSinghJi.The
realityisthatwheneversomeoneexhortsagainstmeateatinginthelightoftheGuru'steachings,
thosepeople
who
are
addicted
to
its
taste
and
cannot
give
it
up,
are
very
upset.
In
the
heart
of
theirhearts,theywantfullfreedom,inthisrespect.Hence,evenwhileinterpretingrelevant
Gurbaniquotationsconcerningthisissue,theywouldacceptonlythatinterpretationwhichdoes
notstandinthewayoftheirunfetteredfreedomtoeatflesh.
BhaiSahibRandhirSinghJispenthiswholelifeinanuninterruptedpracticeoftheHolyNamand
Gurbani.GurbaniwasthemainstayofhislifeandheenjoyedthetrueBlissandperfect
understandingoftheessenceoftheGurbani.Gurbanihadpenetratedintoeachnerveandporeof
hisbody.Assuch,hehadnoneedtodependonanytranslatorofGurbanitounderstanditstrue
andunderlyingmeaningaswellasitsessence.Asaresultoftheimbibementofhisverysoulinthe
Gurbani,he
came
to
realize
through
intuition
that
to
kill
living
birds
and
animals
simply
for
the
sakeofeatingtheirfleshisundoubtedlyviolence,tortureandtyranny!Hencehetookthecourage
topreachthistruthamongtheSikhmassesfearlesslywithoutanyconsiderationastowhetherany
groupofpeopleappreciatesorcondemnsthisactiononhispart.If,asaresultofhispreachingthe
truthcontainedintheGurbani,numerousdevotees,livinginIndiaaswellasabroad,havebeen
savedfrombecomingsavagekillers,thecreditforthisgoestoGurbaniandnottoBhaiSahib.He
hassimplydonetheadmirableservicetothecommunitybyfearlesslybringingtolightthetruthof
whatGurbanisays.ApparentlyhisservicehasalreadyprovedfruitfulbytheGraceoftheSatguru.
HundredsofthousandsofdevoutSikhshavealreadybeen,andwillcontinuetobeinspiredto
escapethissinpointedoutasbelow:
AsMK glvF hiqAw kmwih ] (jpujI, pauVI 18)Countlesscutthroatscommithomicide.
IfsomeonegetsirritatedonaccountofthisandthenletsloosehisvenomagainstBhaiSahib,he
shallnotbeabletocauseanyharmtothesanctifiedpersonalityofBhaiSahib.Haseverbeenthe
moonmuckedbyanyone'sspittingatit?Never!AloverandadmirerofGurbaniwouldalwaystest
thetruthofhisexpositionsonthetouchstoneofGurbani.BhaiSahibwassentencedforlifefor
thesakeofDharma.Duringhisinternmenthefacedboldlytheworstofheartrendingtortures
withfullfaithinthehighidealsofSikhism.Thus,hepracticallybroughtoutexplicitlythatthetrue
braverydoes
not
come
from
eating
flesh
to
satiate
the
palate,
by
killing
helpless
innocent
animals,
ratheritisanoutcomeofone'scompleteselfsurrendertotheWillofSatguruandthroughHis
Grace.
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THECONTROVERSY
Thecontentionheredoesnotpertaintotheschismbetweenthevegetarianandfleshfoods.The
realpointofcontroversyiswhetheritisjustifiedtokillthehelplessanimalsmerelytoobtaintheir
fleshforeating.InthisrespecttheverdictoftheGurbaniisabsolutelyclear.Ifsomeonetriesto
twistthe
meaning
of
Gurbani
to
suit
his
whims
and
preferences
with
the
ulterior
motive
of
creatingjustificationforone'ssinisteractsofcruelty,oneisfreetodoso.However,allsuchefforts
toescapechastisementwouldbefutile.
WhereistheconfusionaboutthemeaningoftheGurbaniline"countlesscutthroatscommit
homicide?"Itobviouslymeansthatanyonewhocommitscrueltybykillinganylivingbeingforthe
gratificationofhisownyearningsanddesires,fallsintothecategoryofcriminalsaccusedofcut
throating.BhaiSahibBhaiGurdasJiputsadirectquestiontothosewhoindulgeincutthroating
justtosatisfytheirownpalate,asbelow:
mws Kwin gil CurI dy hwlu iqnwVw kauxu AloAw ] (BweI gurdws jI, vwr 37, pauVI 21)Whatwillhappentothosewhoeatmeatobtainedbycuttingthethroatsofanimals?
mwsu Kwin gl viF kY hwlu itnwVw kauxu hovsI ] (BweI gurdws jI, vwr 25, pauVI 17)Whatfatewillbefallthosewhoeatmeatbycuttingthethroatsoflivinganimals?
THESIMPLEANDSTRAIGHTFORWARDQUESTIONIS:
jIA bphu su Drmu kir Qwphu, ADrmu khhu kq BweI ] Awps kau muinvr kir Qwphu, kw khhu ksweI ](mwru kbIr, pMnw 1103)You
kill
animals
just
to
satiate
your
palate
and
then
you
consider
this
as
'Dharma',
apart
of
Khalsa
CodeofConduct.Then,whatwouldbe'Adharma',theCardinalsin,accordingtoyou?Ifevenafter
performingthedespicableactofkillinginnocentlivingbeings,youprojectyourselfasapiousone
(i.e.SantKhalsa)thenwhomwouldyoucallabutcher?
Jy rqu lgY kpVY jwmw hoie plIqu]Jo rqu pIvih mwxsw, iqn ikau inrmlu cIqu ](vwr mwJ, m: 1, pMnw 140)Iftheattireonewearsisconsideredpollutedwhenitistaintedwithdropsofblood,thenthe
persons
who
consume
the
blood
of
animals
in
the
form
of
flesh,
how
can
their
mind
remain
pure?
TheaboveinterpretationisstrictlyinaccordancewiththerulesofGurbanigrammaraswellasin
thecontextofthesubjectmatterdiscussedtherein.Contextuallythemeaningofthecoupletcan
beexplainedasbelow:
Iftheclothesarestainedwithblood,theclothesarepolluted.Ifthemindisstainedwithblood,
themindbecomespolluted.
Thewordmwxsw(Mansa)intheabovecoupletistobepronouncedasmwxswwithoutnazallisation
and
NOT
as
mwxsW
(Mansa[n]).
According
to
Gurbani
grammar
this
word
has
been
used
here
as
Simple(withoutpreposition)Nominativecaseinpluralform.
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ThevotariesformeateatingtrytopronounceitasmwxsW(Mansa[n])andclaimthatitreferstothemankindinparticular,meaningtherebythathereinisacondemnationofthosewhoexercise
tyrannyupontheirfellowhumanbeings.
Eveninthatcase,wouldsomebodyexplainthatifsomeoneevenpricksanotherhumanbeing,itis
tantamounttosuckingofhisblood,thenhowthevirtualcuttingofthethroatsofotheranimalsis
notconsidered
tyranny?
What
adiscriminatory
and
curious
approach!
Crueltyiscondemnedasasininallcases,whetheritisoninnocentanimalsandbirdsoronhuman
beings.Itisaghastliersintoattemptatdenyingitorcleverlycamouflagingit.
Theabovequestionsarestraightforwardandneedstraightforwardanswers.
Somepeopleassertthattheabovecoupletcondemnsonlythosewhoclaimtosacrificeanimalsin
thenameofAllah;buteattheendproduct,meat,tosatiatetheirpalateofthetongue,and
therebytrytodeceiveGod.
Thisargumentisabsolutelyuntenable.DeceptionwithAllahoccursassoonasaselfishperson,
insteadofsacrificinghisownego,targetsaninnocentandhelplessanimalforsacrificetoGod.Sri
KabirJihadseenthisthroughhisdivineeyethattherealpurposeofthesocalledsacrificeofthe
animalstoGodisnottopleaseHim,buttogratifyone'stasteofthetongue.Thatiswhyhe
proclaimed:
rojw DrY mnwvY Alhu, suAwdiq jIA sMGwrY ] Awpw dyiK Avr nhI dyKY, kwhy kau JK mwrY ](Awsw kbIr, pMnw 483)One(whoeatsmeattosatisfyhispalate),keepsfastsinordertopleaseAllah,but(underthe
influenceofhisyearningformeat)killstheinnocenthelplessanimals;hekeepsinviewonlyhis
selfishmotive(ofgettingandjustifyingmeatasfood)intheforefrontandthusdoesnotcarefor
thefeelingsofpainandsufferingenduredbytheinnocentanimalsthroughhisruthlessactof
killing.Whyistheman(whoisthesupremecreationofGod)pettifogging?
Themeatrelishersmaybetterhaveapeepintotheirconscienceandseeforthemselveswhether
theyarepettifoggingornotwhentheyclaimthatthrougheatingofmeattheyarenotcommitting
anyhomicide.Theygototheextentofglossingovertheirsinbytryingtojustifythisactionby
creatingafarcicaldistinctionbetweenJhatkaandHalal.Aretheynotcommittingthesinof
deceivingtheirownconscienceaswellascomminglingthetenetsoftheGurmatwithfalsehood?
LUDICROUSROWOVERJHATKAORHALAL
Towardofftheblameofhomicide,thesupportersofmeateatinghaveraisedgimmickofjhatka
orhalal.Ifonelooksintothissocalleddistinctiondispassionatelyandwithdiscerninginsight,the
realitycomesoutthattherealpointofcontentionisnottheprocesshowtheanimaliskilledbut
whetheranysuchkillingamountstohomicideornot.
IfsomecleverMuslimkillsthelivingbeingstoobtainmeatforthegratificationofhispalateand
callsitHalali.e.sacred,andanySikhcallssuchaproductasMahanPrasadi.e.themostsacred
food,itisallasham,aclearfraud.Infact,inthiswayheisnotonlydeceivinghimselfbutalsois
confusingthe
masses.
Their
perverted
use
of
the
sacred
words
in
such
cases
is
nothing
but
blasphemy.AccordingtotheDivineMessageconveyedthroughGurbani,suchphariseeswill
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definitelyhavetoaccountfortheirsinfulactsintheTrueCourt.Letthemjustponderoverwhat
willhappentothem:
kbIr jIA ju mwrih joru kir, khqy hih ju hlwlu ] dPqru deI jb kwiF hY, hyiegw kaunu hvwl ] 199 ](slok kbIr, pMnw 1375)"Kabir,theywhodestroylifebyforceanddeemitasHalal(sacrificedinthenameofAllah);what
willbetheirfatewhenGodtakesaccountoftheirdeedsinHisOffice?"
GurbaniclearlyspecifiesthatonecannotconvertHaram(foodobtainedthroughunholymeans)
intoHalal(sacredfood)whateverclevermeansonemayadopt.Ifsomeonetriestocoverupone's
maliciousacts(Haram)byrecitingtheholyhymnswhileperformingthem,itamountstoonlya
fraudandcannotchangetheevilintogood:
mwrn pwih hrwm mih, hyie hlwlu n jwie ] 2 ] 7 ] (vwr mwJ, 1, pMnw 141)"Ifsomeoneseasonsone'ssinfulproductwithanykindofcondiments,itdoesnotbecomepureor
sacred."
GuruNanakDevJihasalsoexplainedthefactualmeaningofthecontentiouswordsofKutthaand
Halaletc.,toaSheikhwhorelishedanimalfoodverymuch,asbelow:
sc kI kwqI scu sBu swru ] GwVq iqs kI Apr Awpr ] sbdy swn rKweI lwie ] gux kI QykY ivic smwie ]iqs hlwlu lgY hvY syKu ] lohu inkQw vyK ] hOie hlwlu lgY hik jwie ] nwnk dir dIdwir smwie ] 2 ] 19] (vwr rwmklI m: 1, pMnw 956)"IfTruthbetheknifeandTruthitssteel,thenitsmakeisofinfiniteglory.Andifitissharpenedon
thewhetstoneoftheDivineWord.AndkeptsafeinthesheathoftheDivineVirtue.Thenifthe
Sheikhis
'killed'
with
this
knife,
all
his
blood
of
Greed
will
be
spilt.
And
in
this
way
he
will
become
Halal(Pure)andwillmeettheLordGod.Andthus,willwitnesstheblissofGod'sVisionatHis
Gate."
Theabovehymngivesaclearrebuffandbringstolighttherealitytothoseresponsibleforcreating
thisdisputeofJhatkaandHalal.Thus,itisapparentthatinsteadofcreatingafraudofJhatkaand
Halaljustforthesakeofsatisfyinghispalate,onemustbepreparedtosacrificeone'sselfi.e.ego
forthesakeoftheTruth,getridofsensualityandgreed,andinthiswaywouldcertainlybecome
Halal(sacred)himself.
MEAT
AND
OTHER
FOODS
Meateatersfurtherarguethateventhosewhoarestrictvegetarianscommithomicidewhile
eatinggrainsetc.,becauseallthesefoodsalsocontainliveorganisms.Thisargumentalsois
renderedabsolutelybaselessandoffthemarkwhenanalysedintheframeworkofGurbani's
guidelines.
Sikhismisawayoflifewhichenjoinsneithertotalattachmentnortotaldetachment.Itbelievesin
alifeofequipoisei.e.internaldetachmentinanenvironmentofattachment.Foodhasbeen
providedbytheCreator/Sustaineranditmustbeeatenforthesustenanceoflife.However,itisto
beeatentosustainlifeandnotmerelytosatisfyone'spalate.Onehastotakefoodtoenable
one'sbodytodoNamSimranandbringone'slifetofruition.VerdictofGurbanifavourssuchuse
offood:
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Awid purK qy hoie Anwid ] jpIAY nwmu AMn kY swid ] (goNf kbIr jI, pMnw 873)FromthePrimalLordwellsupthecornetc.Withtheenergygeneratedbyfoodgrainsinthebody,
cantherecitationoftheNambepossible.
Onewhoeatsfoodstuffs(i.e.grainsetc.)cannotbeconsideredakilleratall,justasamarried
familymanremainsareligiouspersoninspiteofbonafidesexualindulgencewithhiswifein
exerciseof
the
creative
energy
bestowed
upon
him
by
the
Creator
for
continuity
of
human
generation.Thatiswhymarriedwayoflifehasbeenclassedastopmostamongotherwaysoflife.
Ontheotherhand,ifanunscrupulousmantakesrecoursetoadultery,andyetclaimsparitywitha
marriedman,hisclaimisfarcicalandsheernonsense.Thedifferencebetweenameateaterand
graineateristhesameasbetweenareligiouslymarriedmanandaprofligateperson.
Similarly,whileaSikhcombshishair,itdoubtlesslyresultsintheremovalofsomebrokenordead
hair,butdespiteallthisheisnotconsideredanapostatebutisconsideredadevoteewhostrictly
followslifeinaccordancewiththeGursikhCodeofConduct.Asagainstthis,onewhocutshishair
justto
follow
the
general
fashions
prevalent
amongst
others
becomes
immediately
an
'Apostate'.
Literallyspeakingfallofhairisthereinboththeprocessesbuttheunderlyingintentionisdefinitely
different.Intheformercase,theintentionistorespecttheKeshasandinthelatteritisadisgrace
tothem.Likewiseissubtledifferencebetweenmeateatersandnonmeateaters.
ThefollowingcoupletfromGurbanibringsforththisdifferenceevenmoreclearly,bystressingthe
needofeatingfoodgrainsetc.,andatthesametime,questioningtheeatingofanimalfleshby
humans:
kbIr KUbu Kwnw KIcrI jw AMimRqu lon ] hyrw rotI kwrny glw ktwvY kaunu ] 199 ] (slok kbIr, pMnw 1374)
"Kabir,sublime
is
the
food,
rice
and
pulse
mixed
with
delicious
salt.
Instead,whowouldliketohavehisthroatcut(infuturelife)byeatingfleshfoodobtainedby
huntingtheanimals?
Thus,theconclusionderivedfromtheabovecoupletofGurbani,isexplicitlyclear.Onemayor
maynotacceptit.Amazingly,whenthemeatrelishersarenotabletofindanyjustificationintheir
favourfromGurbani,theyputforwardotherquestionableandvagueargumentstoachievetheir
objectives.TheysaythatallthesequotationsfromtheGurbaniwhichcondemneatingofmeat,
areauthoredbyBhagatKabirJionly.Intheirzeal,theyforgetthattheentireGurbanienshrinedin
SriGuruGranthSahibhasthestatusof,regardlessofitsauthorship,theGURU.Iteither
emanatedfrom
the
Gurus
themselves
or
from
the
Bhagats,
Bhatts
and
other
devotees
of
God
who
hadreachedthehigheststateofGodrealisation,andtheirworkshavegainedapprobationof
GuruSahibwhothenincorporatedthesameinSriGuruGranthSahib.Thus,itisimperativefor
everySikhtoacceptthewholeBanicontainedinSriGuruGranthSahibastheWholeTruthand
nothingbuttheTruth.
prQwie swKI mhwpurK boldy, swJI sgl jhwnY ] gurmuiK hoie su Bau kry Awpnw Awpu pwCxY ](vwr soriT, m: 3, pMnw 647)"Greatmenspeakinsomecontextbuttheirwisdomisapplicabletothewholeworld.
It,therefore,behovesagenuinedevoteeoftheGurutorespectallthedivineSayingsofGreatmen
andthus
attains
self
realization."
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MEAT:A'SUPERIOR'FOOD!
Themeateaterspersistentlymaketheassertionthatthereisnorestrictiononanytypeof
eatablesinSikhism.Itisawhitelie.Aretobacco,opium,liquornotprohibitedinSikhism?Gurbani
explicitlycondemnsandprohibitstheirconsumption.Itisadifferentmatterifanyonecallsliquor
as(pMj-rqnI)'AdmixtureofFiveValuableelements'andnamesopiumas(suK inDwn)thetreasureofhappiness',andthengoesonconsumingthesameincessantly.Similaristhepositioninthecase
ofmeat
eating.
Gurbani
clearly
proclaims:
kbIr BwNg mwCulI surw pwin jo jo pwRnI KWih ]qIrQ brq nym kIey qy sBY rswqil jWih ] 233 ](slok kbIr, pMnw 1377)"Kabirthosewhopartakeofhemp(anintoxicantherb),fishandliquor,
Withutterdisregardtowhateverpilgrimages,fastingsandotherreligiousritestheymayperform,
theyallgotohell."
Thus,
if,
in
spite
of
such
condemnatory
commandments
contained
in
the
Gurbani,
people
continue
togivethepervertednameofMahanPrasadi.e.mostsacredfood,toabovereferredcondemned
food,theyarenotonlygoingagainsttheedictsofGurbanibutarealsocommittingadeceptionby
givingthisname(MahanPrasad)toathingwhichhasbeenreferredtoinGurbaniasCarcass(krMgibKU)etc.IfacommonercallsmeatMahanPrasadthenwecanonlypityhim.But,whentheleaders,andtheSikhmissionariesdoso,thenwecanonlylamentovertheirintelligenceand
wisdom.
PlayingtrickerywiththerealmeaningoftheGurbanimeateatersfurtherarguethattheabove
coupletsimplyprohibitstheconsumptionofhemp,fishetc.,forthoseaddictedtoliquor.Evenif
weaccept
their
interpretation,
it
is
not
clear
that
how
things
that
are
prohibited
for
liquor
addicts
canbeallowedforadevoutKhalsa?
ANIMPROBABLE,IRRELEVANTIMAGINATION
Themeateatershavediscoveredanultramoderntheoryinthiscontextwhichsurpassesall
scientificresearchesofthe20thcentury.Theyclaim:
"Manhasauniquepowerwhichdoesnotexistinotherformsofcreation.Thisisthepowerof
mind.Birdsandotheranimalsarenotblessedwithsuchmarvellouslyequippedmind.Thefeelings
ofhappinessoragonyarefeltonlybythemind;thebodyonlyperceivessuchaspleasureorpain.
Devoidof
mind,
birds
and
animals
do
not
have
any
sense
of
pleasure
or
agony.
Thus
how
can
they
worrywhentheyhavenomindwhichonlyiscapableofsuchfeelings?"
Thedictionarymeaningoftheword'Mind'is"theorganofthebodywhichhastheSenseof
NotionaswellasofOption;"thatwhichfeels,desiresandhasthepowertomakeachoicetofulfil
thedesires.Mindalsocontrolsallotherorgansconnectedwiththeattainmentofknowledgeas
wellaswithbodyactions;andthushasenormouspowers.Thesoulinthebodyis,ofcourse,not
affectedbysensesofpainandpleasure.However,suchfeelingsdoaffectthemind.Mindexistsin
alltypesoflifeincludingbirdsandanimals,etc.Asaresult,alllivingbeingsi.e.humans,birdsand
animalsetc.,havethesenseoffeelingsconnectedwithagonyorpleasure.Thefeelingsofloveand
hate
do
exist
in
birds
and
animals
just
as
these
exist
in
humans.
This
reality
can
be
observed
by
anyoneinthedailylife.
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Justhitadogwithastick,andhewillcryoutofpain.Nowjustfondlehimandhewillbepleased
andwillexpresshispleasureandgratitudebylickingyourfeet.
Therefore,thispeculiarreasoningthatanimalsandbirdsdonothaveamind,whichonlyfeelspain
andpleasure,issheerlyhighhandednessofthemeateaters.Thisisjusttheabuseofjudicious
facultyoftheheadoftheentirecreationTheMan.
Manissuperiortotherestofthecreationsimplybecauseofhissuperiorwisdom.Evenbirdsand
animalshavewisdombuttheirwisdomisverymuchlimitedascomparedtothatofman.Man
certainlymisusesthisblessingofwisdomwhenhetriestoexterminateotherspeciesoflifejustto
satisfyhisegoorpalateofthetongue,andfurthermorewhentriestocoversuchsinfulactsby
vagueandfrivolousreasonings.Itisclearthathehasnosolidandsustainablejustificationforhis
actionsandisjusttryingtobeataboutthebush.
Intheend,Ithinkitpropertoreiteratethatthecentralpointinthiswholediscussionisnotthe
technicaldistinctionbetweenthesetwotypesoffoodbasedontheiringredients.Themootpoint
iswhether
it
is
justified
to
take
life
just
to
satisfy
one's
palate
of
the
tongue.
It
can
safely
be
assertedthatGurbanipermitsmantoeatnaturalfoodforhissustenancetobeabletomeditate
upontheholyNaam.Itcertainlyprohibitseatingofmeat,whichisobtainedbykillinglivingbeings
justforsatisfyingthetasteoftongue.
JOGINDERSINGHTALWARA
Amritsar
August15,1997.
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IFYOUPERCEIVEGODABIDESINALLBEINGS,THENWHYKILLACHICKEN?
LIQUORANDMEATTHEPROVERBIALVICES
Fromtimesimmemorial,liquorandmeathavebeenconsideredastheproverbialvices,which
havebeeninstrumentalinbringingdestructiontonumerousfamiliesanddownfallofnationsand
empires.In
spite
of
that,
clever
people
addicted
to
these
vices
have
even
tried
to
justify
their
consumptionandforthispurpose,theyhavenotrefrainedfromdistortingthemeaningsof
Gurbani.Forthisreason,itappearsimperativetoconsiderthismatterinthelightofGurbani,in
ordertobringtolightthetruth.
WIDECONSUMPTIONOFLIQUORANDMEATAMONGTHESIKHSWHOSEFAULT?
ItisverystrangethattheSikhcommunity,forwhomthehighestmoralstandardshavebeensetby
theGurus,sizeablenumberoutofithasnotbeenabletoescapethesevices.Thishasresultedin
thedownfallofSikhSocietysociallyandmorally.Theeminentleadersofthecommunityhavetried
toputtheblameofthisstateofthecommunityonthesocalledilliteracyandlackofeducationin
themasses
in
general,
especially
in
the
remote
areas.
To
some
extent
it
may
be
true.
However,
the
onegreatestreasonisthatthemajorityofthereligiouspreachersandotherimportantpeople
engagedinthepropagationoftheSikhfaitharethemselvesvictimtothesevices.Hencethey
startedpropagatingopenlythatthesearenotprohibitedintheSikhreligion.Someseemingly
virtuouspeoplehaveevengonetotheextentofmakingofferingsofmeatandhempbeforeGuru
SahibandprayingforacceptanceofthesameandthendistributingitasPrasadortheBlessed
food.Ifsomeonedoubtstheauthenticityofthisstatement,onemaygoevennowandwitnessthis
practiceontheoccasionofHolaMohallaatHazoorSahibinNanded,andSriAnandpurSahib.Itis
beingdoneopenly.Somepeoplehaveevengonetotheextentofdeclaringthatonewhodoesnot
eatMahanPrasad(i.e.meat)isnotaSikh.Itisasheerperversitytogivesuchareverednameof
MahanPrasad
(i.e.
most
auspicious
food)
to
this
blasphemous,
abhorred
and
filthy
material.
As
againstthis,intheSikhtraditionaswellasintheoldSikhliterature,thewordMahanPrasadhas
beenusedtodenotethemostsacredandsanctifiedfoodi.e.KarahPrasad.
eyk imstwn pwn lwvq mhw-pRswid, eyk gurpurb kY isKn bulwvtI ](BweI gurdws jI, kibq 309)InthecongregationoftheGursikhs,somedevoteesbringsweeteatables,somebringMahan
Prasad(mostsacredfoodi.e.KarahPrasad)andsomeinviteGursikhstocelebrateGurpurbs.
KWf iGRq cUn jl pwvk iekqR Bey, pMc imlI pRgwm hY ]
(BweI gurdws jI, kibq 124)Sugar,ghee,flour,waterandfire,whenallcombined,theresultantproductbecomesKARAH
PRASADi.e.foodcomprisingoffiveblissfulingredients.
kory mt Axwie nir BrwieAw ] Awix mhw prswdu vMif KvwieAw ](BweI gurdws jI, vwr 20, pauVI 10)Theybringnewearthenpotsfilledwithwater(forfreeserviceofdrinkingwater).(Theyalso)bring
MAHAPRASAD(i.e.KARAHPRASAD)forserving(intheSangat).
JustlikemisnomerofKarahPrasad,somehemplovingpeoplehavegiventhemisnomerofSukh
Nidhan(Treasureofhappiness)tohempandliquorhasbeengiventhemisnomerofPanjRatni(i.e.
admixtureoffivepreciouselements)meaningmostpreciousdrink.Inthiswaytheyarefollowing
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thepracticeofVamMargis(VamMargisasocalledreligiouscultoftheHinduswhereinmeat
andliquorareconsideredasauspiciousfoodsandunrestrictedsexhasreligioussanction).
However,suchrepugnantpracticeshavenoplaceintheKhalsaWayofLife.Bygivingavirtuous
andattractivenametoadespicablething,itsviciousnaturecannotbealtered.Thosewhoresort
tocontemptiblepracticesnotonlyhoodwinkothersbutalsobefoolthemselvesindoingso
becausetheir
explanations
are
based
on
absolutely
false
notions
which
like
wall
of
sand
are
sure
tocollapse:
kUVu n phuMcY sc no sau GVq GVIAY ](BweI gurdwh jI, vwr 34, pauVI 21)Falsehoodcannotequalthetruthbyanymeans.
Evenifthefalsehoodisconcealedunderbeautifulcover,itcannotremainhidden.Falsehood
ultimatelyfadesaway.
kUVu n phuMcY sc no sau GVq GVIAY ](BweI gurdwh jI, vwr 34, pauVI 21)Falsehoodshallultimatelyfadeaway,(Nanak)whiletruthremainsevergreen.
Thusthegistofthewholediscussionisthatbyattributingthesoleresponsibilityofthewide
spreaduseofliquorandmeatamongsttheSikhsatlargetoilliteracyamongmajorityofSikh
masses,wearesidetrackingthemainissue.ItisdefinitelytheSikhreligiousleadershipwhois
responsibleforthisstateofaffairsbecausemajorityofthembeingaddictedtothesevices,are
propagatingthesamedeliberately.
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GENERALARGUMENTSINSUPPORTOFMEATEATING.
ThosewhosupportthereligiosityofmeateatinginSikhismgenerallyofferthefollowing
arguments:
(1)In
Sikhism
there
is
no
restriction
on
eating
any
food.
To
eat
or
not
to
eat
meat
depends
on
one'sownpersonalpreferenceandtaste.AccordingtoGurmat,theonlycriterionforselectionof
foodtoeatisthatthefoodchosenshouldnotcausediseasetobodyandnotresultinpollutionof
themind.InsupportofthisreasoningtheycitethefollowingquotationfromGurbanibychanging
theactualwordingtosuittheirinterpretation:
bwbw sw Kwxw KusI KuAwru ] ijqu KwDY qnu pIVIAY mn mih clY ivkwru ]
Note:InsteadofSa(sw)inthefirstline,thewordactuallyusedinGurbaniishore(horu).
(2)In
Sikhism
the
only
restriction
is
on
eating
meat
obtained
by
killing
the
animal
in
Kosher
fashion
i.e.theMuslimmethodofkillingtheanimalwhilerecitingKALMA(theMuslimholyformula).As
againstthis,thereispermissioninSikhismtoeatmeatobtainedbykillingtheanimalbyJhatkai.e.
withonestrokewhilereciting'SatSriAkal'(theSikhholyformula).
(3)InoldSikhliteraturethereisnomentionofanyrestrictiononeatingmeat.Rathermeathas
beenmentionedthereinasoneofthefoodspreparedintheLangarintimesoftheGurus
themselves.
(4)Ifkillingofthechicken,goat,partridge,quailetc.,isconsideredasslaughteroflivingbeings,
thenthe
other
most
common
eatables
like
wheat,
beans,
milk,
water
etc.,
also
contain
living
organisms.Therefore,thosewhoeatthesefoodscannotescapethisblametoo.
(5)Thosewhodonoteatmeat/becomecowardsorchickenhearted.
(6)Meatisaverynourishingfoodthatmakesonehealthyandrobust.
Letus,now,examineeachoftheabovementionedreasoningsinthelightofGurbani
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RE:ARGUMENTNO.1
ThemeateatersoftheSikhcommunitygenerallyassertthatthereisnorestrictiononanykindof
eatablesinSikhism.Toeatornottoeatmeatislefttothediscretion,choiceortasteofeach
individual.Thisassertionisabsolutelybaseless.AccordingtotheSikhWayofLife,onlythosetypes
offood
are
permitted,
by
eating
which
both,
body
and
mind
become
healthy
and
fully
developed
whichwouldhelpinenhancingtheircapacitytodosewa(service)andSimran(meditation).
Allthefoodsandstuff,whoseusemakesthebodyandmindweakandlethargic,e.g.tobacco,
poppy,hemp,opium,liquoretc.,orwhichareobtainedbytorturingandkillingotherliving
creaturesandmakesboththebodyandmindcruelaswellasperverse,areclearlyprohibited
accordingtoGurbani:
kbIr BWg mwCulI surw pRwnI KWih ] qIrQ brq nym kIeyqy sBY rswqil jWih ] 233 ](slok kbIr jI, pMnw 1377)All
those
who
eat
fish
and
drink
hemp
or
wine,
will
go
to
hell
with
utter
disregard
of
whatever
pilgrimages,fastingsandotherreligiousritestheymayperform.
kbIr KUbu Kwnw KIcrI jw mih AimRqu lonu ] hyrw rotI kwrny glw ktwvY kaunu ] 188 ](slok kbIr jI, pMnw 1374)Sublimeisthesimplefood;riceandpulsemixedwithdelicioussalt.Whowouldhavehisthroatcut
hereafter,formealsobtainedbyhuntingtheanimals?
Itis,thus,clearthattheconsumptionofhemp,fishandliquoretc.,negateseventhegooddeeds
donebyapersonanddegradeshimmentallyintoastateofwretchedness.Atthesametimeithas
beenmadeclearthateatingsimpleordinaryfoodforsubsistenceandmaintenanceofthebody
enhancesone'senergyorinclinationforNamSimranaswellaskeepsthebodyhealthy.When
suchidealfoodsareavailableinplenty,whywouldonecommitcrueltybykillingotherliving
beingsforfood?
Hence,inthelightof'Gurbani',thereremainsabsolutelynodoubt,andtherecanbenotwo
opinionsabouttheprohibitionoffoodsobtainedbykillingotheranimals.Gurbanihasalsoclearly
decreedthateveneatingsimpleandordinaryfoodobtainedthroughfalsehood,deceit,
subterfuge,deceptionandthroughwrongfulpossessionisequivalenttoeatingacorpse.Guruor
Pirwillonlyhelpifonerefrainsfromsuchfoodsobtainedthroughwrongfulmeanswhichareas
badas
carcass.
kUVu boil murdwru Kwie ] (vwr mwJ, m: 1, pMnw 140)Byutteringfalsehoodmaneatscarrion.
hku prwieAw nwnkw ausu suAr ausu gwie ] guru pIru hwmw qw Bry jw murdwru n Kwie ](vwr mwJ , m: 1, pMnw 141)(Nanak)another'srightisswineforhim(i.e.theMuslim)andcowforhim(i.e.theHindu).The
spiritualguide/prophetshallstandsuretyonlyifonedoesnoteatcarrion.
Theactsoffalsehoodandwrongfulpossessionshavebeenregardedequivalenttoeatingofa
carrion.Thusdoubtlesslythefoodobtainedfromdeadbodiesisdefinitelycondemnedand
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prohibited.Whethertheanimalslaughteredisapigoracow;whetherthebeastiskilledwhile
recitingKalmaorSatSriAkal;withaknifeorKirpan,inaslowprocess(Halat)orwithasingle
stroke(Jhatka)itbecomesacorpse(i.e.Murdar)afteritisdevoidoflife.Whentakingpossession
ofthingsbelongingtoothersbyforceorunjustmeans,isconsideredequivalenttoeatingofa
deadbody,iffalsehoodhasbeenequatedwitheatingofacarrion,thenhowcanmeatactually
obtainedfromthedeadbodies,beconsideredpermissibletobeeaten?Howcantheeaterofsuch
afood
expect
to
get
the
blessings
of
the
Guru
or
Pir
especially
when
one
is
openly
and
brazenly
notonlyhimselfactingagainstunequivocalfiatoftheGurubutalsoispropagatinghiserroneous
wayofthinkingamongstothersonthepretextofGurmat?Suchapersonisguiltyofbringingbad
nametothefaithheisfollowing.
Suchpersonswhoeatmeatobtainedbykillinginnocentanimals,havebeenreferredtoasevil
spiritsordemonsorwitchesintheGurbani:
gYbwn hYvwn hrwm kusqwnI murdwr bKorwie ] (iqlMg m: p, pMnw 723)Likeghosts,mankillsthebeastsandeatscarriontheforbiddeneat.
EventheworksofBhaiGurdasJiwhichareconsideredthekeytotheGurbani,alsoclearlyforbids
meateating:
jy kir auDrI pUqnw, ivhu pIAwlxu kMmu n cMgw ].....jy kmweI auDirAw, jIAw Gwie n KweIAY BMgw ](BweI gurdws jI, vwr 31, pauVI 9)IfPutnareceiveddeliverance(therewasmysticalreasonforitbutherprofession)poisoningothers
wasnotgood.Similarly,ifthebutcher(Sadhna)receivedredemption(itwasduetomystical
reason,however,hisprofessionwasnotgood).Assuchoneshouldnothaveanymisconception
withregardtokillingoflivingbeings.
(AccordingtoBhagwatPuran,PuttiatriedtokillthenewlybornLordKrishnabysmearingpoison
onhersucklingnipples,butthebabyKrishnagaveabiteonherbreastwherebythepoison
penetratedintoherbloodandprovedfatalforher.Itisbelievedshegotsalvationthereby.
SimilarlySadhnawasabutcherbyprofession.HebecameatruedevoteeofGodbyvirtueofwhich
hegotsalvation.HisversesarealsoincludedinSriGuruGranthSahib.)
ThatiswhyGuruNanakDevJirefusedtoeatthedaintydishesofferedbyMalikBhagobecausehe
consideredthefoodobtainedthroughfalsehood,coercionandinjusticeasequivalenttocorpse
(murdwr).Thus,hebroughtoutthetruthbeforethepeoplethatuseofviolencetosnatchotherpeople'swealthunjustlyiscondemnable,andthewealthobtainedthroughcrueltyandoppression
issinful.Therefore,thefoodpreparedoutofthewealthobtainedthroughevilwaysis,inreality,
nothingbutthebloodofthepoor,thoughoutwardlyitmaylooktemptingandtasty.
If,accordingtoGuruSahib,thewealthobtainedthroughswindlingandcheatingisequivalentto
bloodofthepoor,thenhowcanmeatwhichisdirectlyobtainedbyslaughteringthelivingbeings,
becalledMahaPrasadthemostsacredfood?Thus,itisclearthatsuchahallowednamehas
beengiventodeadbody(meat)throughthesinisterintentionsanddeceitfulconspiracyofpeople
fondofeatingmeat.
Taketheexampleoftwobirds,SwanandaCrane:
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Fromtheirspotlesswhiteoutlook,theybothlookalike.Theirwhiteandsoberingcolourhavethe
samevirtuousinfluenceonothers'minds.HoweverinGurbani,oneofthemhasbeenpraised
whiletheothercondemned,simplybecauseofthetypeoffoodtheyeat.
Swanisconsideredgoodorsuperior.Why?BecauseSwan'sfoodisideal:
srvr AMdir hIrw moqI, so hMsw kw Kwxw ] (vwr rwmklI, m: 1, pMnw 956)InthelakearejewelsandpearlsandthesearethefeedfortheSwans.
Craneisconsideredadegenerateoroflowcaste.Why?BecauseCrane'sfoodisabhorrent:
bgulw kwg nIc kI sMgiq jwie krMg ibKU muiK lweIAY ] (rwmklI m: 4, pMnw 881)TheCranefallsinthecategoryoffilthybirdcrowashe(Crane)feedshimselfonafilthycorpse.
ThusinGurbani,theCranehasbeenconsideredasabhorrentbecauseiteatsfilthycarcass.One
failstounderstandhowhasthisfilthycarcassbecomethe'mostsacred'(MahaPrasad)foodfor
theSikhs?HowcanoneclaimtobeatrueSikhoftheGuruevenaftereatingsuchacondemned
andabhorrentcarcassormeat?
Cananymotherallowherchildtoeatpoison?AndnonecaneventhinkthattheTrueGuru,whois
theSpiritualFatherandMotherofthewholemankind,caneveralloworgivefreedomtohis
childrentoeatsuchafilthycarcass.Itcanneverbeso.So,whenwe,whocallourselvestheSikhs
oftheGuruSahib,havestartedeatingthisfilthycarcassbygivingitthehallowednameofMaha
Prasad,thenthefollowingcoupletofBhagatKabirJiwillhituswithallitsforcejustasamother
slapsherchildtoteachhimalesson:
kbIr swcw siqguru ikAw krY jau isKw mih cUk ]AMDy eyk n lgweI ijau bWsu bjweIAY PUk ] 158 ](slok kbIr jI, pMnw 1372)KabirwhatcantheTrueGurudoifhisdisciplesadoptwrongfulmeans?Notevenonewordofthe
Guruisimbibedbytheirdisillusionedmindjustasthehollowedbamboocannotretainthewind
blownintoit.
ThesupportersofmeateatingarguethatinSikhismthereisnorestrictionontheuseofanykind
ofeatables.InthisrespecttheyquotethefollowingcoupletfromGurbanibydistortingittosuit
their
interpretation:
bwbw sw Kwxw KusI KuAwru ] ijqu KwDY qnu pIVIAY mn mih clY ivkwru ]
Note:Inthefirstlineofthiscouplet,theword"hour"isgenerallyreplacedbythemeateatersfortheword"sw"forobviousreason.
TheabovereferencefromtheGurbani,inthecontextofmeateating,isabsolutelyinappropriate.
Toclearlybringtolight,thetruth,itisessentialtogothroughthewholehymncontainingthe
abovelines.ThewholeShabadisasbelow:
siB rs imTy mMinAY suixAY swloxy ]Kt qursI muiK bolxw mwrx nwd kIey ]
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CqIh AMimRq Bwau eyku ndir kryie ] 1 ]bwbw horu Kwxw KusI KuAwru ]ijqu KwDY qnu pIVIAY mn mih clih ivkwr ] 1 ] rhwau ]
rqw pYnxumnurqw supydI squ dwnu ]
nIlI isAwhI kdw krxI pihrxu pYr iDAwnu]kmrbMdu sMqoK kw Dnu jobnu qyrw nwmu ] 2 ]bwbw horu pYnxu KusI KuAwru ]ijqu pYDY qnu pIVIAY mn mih clih ivkwr ] 1 ] rhwau ]
GoVy pwKr suieny bUJxu qyrI vwt ]qrks qIr kmwx sWg qygbMd gux Dwqu]vwjw nyjw piq isau prgtu krmu qyrw myrI jwiq ] 3 ]bwbw horu cVxw KusI KuAwru ]
ijqu ciVAY qnu pIVIAY mn mih clih ivkwr ] 1 ] rhwau ]
Gr mMdr KusI nwm kI ndir qyrI prvwru ]hukmu soeI quDu BwvsI horu Awpxu bhuqu Apwru ]nwnk scw pwiqswh pUiC n kry bIcwru ] 4 ]bwbw hor sauxw KUsI KuAwr ]ijq suqY qnu pIVIAYmn mih clih ivkwr ] 1 ] rhwau ] 4 ] 7 ](isrIrwgu mhlw 1, pMnw 16-17)
Tobelieve
in
God's
name
is
all
the
sweet
relish.
To
hear
it,
is
saltish.
To
utter
it
with
the
mouth
is
sweetsavoury.AndtosingtheGod'snameIhavemyspices.TheloveoftheUniqueLordisthe
thirtysixsortsofflavourynectars.ThisisthewayofthoseonwhomHecastsHisgraciousglance.
(l)O'Brother!Ruinousisthehappinessoftheotherdaintyfoods,byeatingwhichthebody
writhesinpainandthemindisfilledwithevil.(Pause)
MindbeingimbuedwiththeLord'sloveisthereddress,verityandcharity,thewhitegarments.To
eraseblacknessofsinistowearblueclothes,andtomeditateonLord'sFeetismyrobeofhonour.
Contentmentismywaistband.AndThyName(OLord)mywealthandyouth.(2)OBrother!The
happinessofotherraimentsisruinous;bywearingwhichthebodywrithesinpainandthemindis
filledwithevil.(Pause)
Toknow
Thy
way
(O
Lord)
is
the
horse
saddle
and
gold
crupper
for
me.
To
run
after
virtues
is
quiver,arrow,bow,spearandswordbeltforme.Tobehonourablydistinguishedaremybands
andlances.Thyfavouriscaste(Lineage),thegleeofotherridesisruinous.(3)OBrother!Theglee
ofotherridesisruinous.Suchridesmakethebodywritheinpainandfillthemindwithevil.
(Pause)
TheBlissoftheNameisashouseandmansionforme.Thyfavouringglanceisasfamilyforme.For
me,onlythatisthecommandwhichpleasesThee.TosaymoreaboutYouisbeyondmyreach.
Nanaksays:TheTrueLordtakesdecisionwithoutanyothercounsel.(4)O'Brother!Thepleasure
ofothersleep(i.e.restorrelaxation)ispernicious.Bysuchsleeps,thebodywrithesinpainand
themindisfilledwithevil.(Pause)
Ithasbeenobservedthatduringgeneraldiscussion,inordertosupporttheirviewpoint,meat
eatingbrothersusetheword'SAA'insteadof'HORE'inthefirstlineoftheFirstPause.Theabove
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hymnhasfourstanzaseachbeingfollowedbya'Pause'.Inallthefourcasesthe1stlineofthe
PausecontainsthewordHORE(andnotSAA)meaningOTHERandthiswordhasitsownspecial
significance.
Inthefirststanza,mentionhasbeenmadeoftheidealspiritualfood(NAAM)fortheattainmentof
thestateofpermanentSpiritualBlissofmind.ThecoupletofPauseclearlygivesawarningthat,in
comparisonwith
the
spiritual
food,
outlined
in
it,
all
other
foods
devoid
of
NAAM
are
of
no
avail
towardstheachievementofthisgoalofSpiritualBlissandinfacttheyleadtothedestructionof
truehappinessandbliss.
Similarly,intheotherthreestanzas,mentionhasbeenmadeoftheimperativenessofspiritual
garments,spiritualridesandspiritualsleep(meditation)etc.Attheendofeachstanzathecouplet
givenasPAUSEclearlyreassertstheineffectivenessoftheworldlymaterialgarments,ridesetc.,
towardstheachievementoftheSpiritualBliss.
ItisthusclearfromtheabovebriefexplanationofthishymnthathereinGuruSahibhasonly
comparedthe
temporary
pleasures
of
the
body
obtained
through
the
foods,
garments
etc.,
with
theeverlastingSpiritualBlissachievedthroughNamSimran.AccordingtoGuruSahib'sdivine
insight,anythingdevoidofTHOU,isallfalse.InthetenthstanzaofAsadiVarthispointhasbeen
furtherexplained:
kUVu rwjw kUVu prjw kUVu sBu sMswru ] kUV mMfp kUV mwVI kUVu bYsxhwru ] kUVu suienw kUVu rupw kUVu pYnRxhwru ]kUVu kwieAw kUV kpVu kUVu rUpu Awpwru ] kUVu mIAw kUVu bIbI Kip hoey Kwru] kUiV kUVY nyhu lgw ivsirAwkrqwru ] iks nwil kIcY dosqI sBu jgu clxhwru ] kUVu imTw kUVu mwiKau kUVu foby pUru ] nwnku vKwxY bynqI quDubwJu kUVo kUVu ] 1 ] (vwr Awsw, m: 1, pMnw 468)Falseistheking,falsethesubjectsandfalseistheentireworld.Falseisthemansion,falsethe
houseandfalseisthedweller.Falseisgold,falseissilverandfalseisthewearer.Falseisthebody,
falseistheclothingandfalseispearlessbeauty.Falseishusband,falseiswife,wholanguishesand
becomemiserable.Falseisone'slovewiththe'falsehood'wherebyoneforgetstheCreator.With
whommayonecontractfriendship,thewholeworldismortal.Falseisallthatissweetandfalseis
honey.Falsehoodhasbeeninstrumentalinthedestructionofinnumerablepersons.Nanakmakes
aprayer,exceptThee,O'myMaster;Everythingisfalseandcompletelyfalse.
HencetheendresultofthewholeexplanationgivenaboveisthatGuruSahibexhortsusthat,
insteadofengrossingourselvesinthematerialpleasuresofsenses,weshouldtrytoenjoythe
everlastingBlissbyimmersingourselvesintheNam.
Thiswillleadtoahappierandmorepeacefullifeeveninthisworld.Itisthusnotunderstoodhow
thishymncanbeputforthinsupportofmeateatingwhereasGurbaniunambiguouslydeclares
meatasfilthycarcass.Theabovediscussionmakesitamplyclearthatmeateatinghasbeen
tabooedinGurbani
DOESEATINGMEATNOTPERVERSETHEMIND?
Nonecandenythatmeatisobtainedthroughbrutalitywhichinitselfisagreatsin.So,whenone
eatsmeat,whichisproducedbytormentingothers,one'smindnaturallybecomesmercilessand
perverse.Moreover,theaddictiontomeateatingalsogenerallyleadstoyearningforliquorsand
lewddesires.
That
is
why
the
people
who
are
addicted
to
meat
eating
are
usually
alcoholics
as
wellaslustful.However,ourmainthemehereisregardingthebrutalforceusedforobtainingflesh
forfood.Howcanthefoodobtainedthroughcrueltyletsone'smindconcentrateonNamsimran?
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jy rqu lgY kpVY jwmw hoie plIqu] jO rqupIvih mwnsw iqn kau inrmlu cIqu ](vwr mwJ, sloku m: 1, pMnw 140)Ifone'sattirebeingtaintedwithbloodisconsidereddesecratedwithdropsofbloodandisnotat
allconsideredusableforworshipormeditation,thenhowcanthemindofthosewho(byeating
thefleshoftheanimals)actuallyconsumeblood,canremainunpolluted?
Then,ifanyunscrupulousSikhboaststhattheuseofTobaccodoesnotpollutehismind,thendoes
tobacconolongerremainatabooforhim?Allknowthatthemereintakeoftobaccoinitselfisa
viceandresultsindisastrousconsequences.InthevariousRahitNamas,tobaccohasbeen
referredtoaspoison.Thatiswhytheuseoftobaccoandotherintoxicantsisstrictlyprohibitedin
Sikhism.
Flesh(meat),asfoodhasbeenadjudgeduniversallyaslustprovoking.Itisnotanaturalfoodfora
man.Itsconsumptionnaturallyresultsincontaminatingbodyandmindboth.Itisobtainedby
killingandpiecinginbits,thefleshoflivingbeings.Henceitisafoodfitonlyforcannibals,
barbariansanduncivilizedpeople.Tokillandcutintopiecesthelivinganimalsisamurderousand
homicidalact
which
in
itself
is
aperversity:
AsMK glvF hiqAw ] AsMK pwpI pwpu kir jwih ] (jpujI, pauVI 18)Countlesscutthroatscommitmurders.Countlesssinnersgooncommittingthissin(duringthe
entirelife).
Assoonasthepenchantdesireforeatingmeat,underthetemptationofthetasteoftongue,
flashesintoone'smind,one'smindbecomeperverted.He,theneitherrunstothebutcher'sshop
oractsasabutcherhimself.InfactoneissurprisedwhenonehearsfromaGursikh,thatflesh
eatingdoesnotcreateperversityinthemind.
ThesimpleandstraightpointisthatathingwhichhasbeencondemnedinGurbaniasafilthy
carcassandwhichcanonlybeobtainedthroughbrutalityandoppression,somuchsothatit
promptsonetoperformtheroleofabutcher,thenhowcansucha"food"becomepermissiblefor
theGursikhprogenyoftheGuruSahib?
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RE:ARGUMENTNO.2
ThemeateatingSikhshavetriedtoexplainthat,inSikhism,onlyKUTTHAviz.thetypeofmeat
whichhasbeenobtainedbyslayinganimalsaccordingtotheMuslimway;(Kosherfashion)is
prohibited.Accordingtothem,JHATKAmeati.e.meatobtainedbykillingtheanimalwithasingle
strokeof
the
weapon,
while
uttering
'Sat
Sri
Akal',
is
permissible.
Beforeweexaminethisargument,itwouldbeappropriatetoknowdifferencebetweenthewords
'kuttha'and'jhatka'.
ThewordKutthaoccursinGurbaniasbelow:
ABwiKAw kw kuTw bkrw Kwxw ] cauky aupir iksY n jwxw ] (vwr Awsw, 1, pMnw 472)They(Hindus)ononehand,eatthemeatobtainedbykillingtheanimalwhileutteringKalma
whichtheyassumeasunworthyutterance.Butontheotherhandtheyallownonetoentertheir
kitchensquare.
iqs dw kuTw hovYsyKu ] lOhU lbu inkQw vyKu ] (vwr rwkmlI, m: 1, pMnw 956)IfSheikhiskilledwiththat(knife)thenthebloodofavaricewillbeseensplitaway.
pwp klydV srpr muTy ] AjrweIil PVy PiV kuTy ] (mwrU m: p, pMnw 1019)Thesinnersarecertainlydisillusionedbythetemptationofsin.Theangelofdeathwillseizeand
mercilesslykilleachofthem.
Inalltheabovequotations,theword'kuttha'obviouslymeanstokillmercilessly.Itsreferenceto
the'killingintheMuslimmethod1isjustthecreationofthevestedinterests.
Jhatka
Theword'jhatka'hasnotbeenmentionedinGurbanianywhere.Commonlyitreferstokillingthe
animalwithonestrokeoftheweaponbychanting'SatSriAkal'.
Etymologically,theword'Kuttha'hasbeenderivedfromtheroot'Kohna',whichingrammaris
pastparticipleandmeanssimplythekilled.SimilarotherwordsalsoexistinthePunjabilanguage
suchas:
Ruttha(ru`Tw): Theestranged.
Vuttha(vuTw): Thesettled.Dhattha(F`Tw):Thefallen.Dittha(iB`Tw): Theseen.Murtha(muTw): Therobbed!Disillusioned.
Thustheword'Kuttha'literallymeansmeatobtainedbykillinganimalsandthisisprohibitedinthe
KhalsaRahitortheKhalsaCodeofConduct.Nonecandenythefactthattheanimaldoesfeel
physicalaswellasmentaltorturewhetherkilledslowlyorwithonestroke.Ofcourse,onecansay
thatthere
is
less
torture
by
killing
instantaneously
with
one
stroke
than
while
killing
slowly,
but
to
claimthatkillingbyonestrokedoesnot,atall,causepainandtorturetothekilledone,isonly
self deceit.TheverysightofthekillingoftheirfellowcreaturesintheButcher'sHouseandtheir
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painrevealingshrieks,frightentheotheranimals.Andwhentheyseethebutcherwithnaked
weaponadvancingtowardsthemforkilling,theyarefrightenedtotheirdeath.Thepoorcreature
shrieksandshrieksandtrieshardtogetoutoftheclutchesofthebutcher.Hismentalandphysical
painreachesatitsclimaxwhenthebutcherforcefullyentangleshimandcutshisheadoff.
Whatanirony,thatononehand,wetortureandkillthepoordumbandinnocentanimals(dumb
inthe
sense
that
they
cannot
protest
or
fight
against
our
atrocity)
and
cut
their
flesh
into
pieces,
andatthesametimeweclaimthattheanimalskilledthiswaydonotfeelanypainorsufferingat
all!Thishumanbigotryisperhaps,duetothefactthatallthecourtsofjusticeontheearthare
manmade.Thoughhere,inthesemanmadecourts,thepoorcreaturescannotgetjusticebut
therewillcertainlybeabsolutejusticeintheTrueCourtoftheTrueMasterofwholecreation.No
atrociousandmercilessassassincanescapethetruejusticeoftheTrueCourt,howsoevermighty
andpowerfulhemaybeintheworld:
Drm rwie no hukmu hY bih scw Drmu bIcwir ] dUjY Bwie dustu Awqmw ahu qyrI srkwr ](isrI rwgu m: 6, pMnw 69)The
Righteous
Judge
has
the
direction
(from
the
Justful
Lord)
"Administer
true
justice.
Every
evil
soulprofessinglovefordualityisyoursubject."
TheverdictoftheGurbaniiscrystalclearandappliestoallincludingthetyrants:
kbIr joru kIAw so julmu hYlyie jbwbu Kudwie ] dPqir lyKw nIksY mwr muhY muih Kwie ] 200 ](slok kbIr jI, pMnw 1375)Kabir,theuseofforceistyrannyandtheLordshallcalleveryonetoaccount.Whentheaccountof
actionscommittedduringlifeissettledintheDivineCourt,thenoneshallsufferstrokesof
punishmentsontheveryface.
kbIr jI jumwrih joru kir khqy hih ju hlwlu ] dPqru deI jb kwiF hY hoiegw kaunu hvwlu] 200 ](slok kbIr jI, pMnw 1375)Kabir,thosewhokillthelivingbeingsperforceandcallthatrighteousassacrificeinthenameof
theLord,whatshallbetheirconditionwhentheJustfulLordtakesouthisaccountintheDivine
Court?
sIh pjUqI bkrI hoeI hV hV hsI ] sIhu puCY ivsmwdu hoie iequ rhis rhsI ] ibnau kryNdI bkrI puqR AswfykIcin KsI ] Ak DqUrw KwiDAW kuih kuih KL auKil ivxsI ] mwsu Kwin gl viF kY hwlu iqnwVw kauxu hovsI
] grbu grIbI dyh Kyh Kwju Awkwju krsI ] jig AwieAw sB koeI mrsI ] 17 ](BweI gurdws jI, vwr 25)Thegoatcaughtbythelion,startedlaughingheartily.Curiouslysurprised,thelionaskedwhat
felicitymadeitlaugh.Thegoathumblystatedthatitdesiredthatitsoffspringsbecastrated(so
theiroffspringswouldnotfacesuchatyranny).BeingfedonAkkandDhatura(wildshrubsgrown
inbarrenlands)theirbodiesarecutintopieces.Whatwouldhappentothosewhocutthethroats
ofanimalsandeattheirflesh?Thefleshofthepoorinnocentgoatiseatenwithrelishandthe
fleshofthetyrantlionisunworthyofbeingeaten.Thelastlinedrawstheconclusionthat
whosoeverisbornmustdie(intheendthetruejusticewillprevail).
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kuhY kmweI bkrI lwie lUx sIK mws proAw ] his his boly kuhINdI KwDy Aik hwlu iehu hoAw ] mws Kwin gilCurI dyhwlu iqnwVw kauxu AloAw ] jIBYhMdw PyiVAw Kau dMdNw muhu BMin ivgoAw ] prqn prDn inMd kir hoAwdujIBw ibsIAru BoAw ] vis AwvY guru mMq suix ingurw mnmuuKu suxYn soAw ] vyiK n clY AgY toAw ] 21 ](BweI gurdws jI, vwr 37)Thebutcherkillsthegoat,mincesitsmeatwithtastyspicesandroastsitontheskewer.While
beingkilled,
the
goat
laughs
loudly
and
tells
the
butcher:
While
eating
Akk
(a
wild
shrub)
Ihave
sufferedthispersecution.Whatwouldhappentomykillerwhoeatsmyflesh?Boththeteethand
mouthofsuchpersonsoverpossessedwiththerelishofthetonguewillbebrokenintopieces.
Thosewhoareguiltyofadultery,usurpationandvilification,willbecomedoubletonguedsnakes
intheirnextbirths.Eventhatdoubletonguedsnakemaybetamedthroughsomecharm.However
theguruless(ingurw)andselfcenteredpersondoesnotlistenatalltotheGuru'sperceptandwalksrecklesslywithoutseeingthepitfallsonhisway.
Asbroughtoutabove,theGurbaniclearlyprohibitstheslaughteringofanimalsjusttosatisfythe
palateof
the
tongue.
Whatevermethodisusedforthepurposeviz.JhatkaorHalal,theblameofslaughteringcannotbe
refuted.Ordinarypeoplecommitthemistakeofeatingmeatthroughignoranceandlackof
knowledge.Thesurprisingthingisthattheotherwiseintelligentpeoplehavingawarenesscommit
thisblackdeedofeatingmeatjustforsatiatingtheirtaste.Totopall,inordertojustifytheirthis
sin,theyconcoctsomanyexcuses.Theyclaimthattheanimalhasbeenslaughteredasasacrifice
toGodresultinginitssalvation.TheGurbaniclearlystatesthatsuchselfishpeopleonlycarefor
thesatisfactionoftheirpalateandfillingtheirpotbellies,unmindfulofthetorturetheyafflicton
theinnocentcreatures.Therearenumeroustastyandnutritiousfoodsintheworld,whichare
available
for
the
consumption
of
the
super
most
human
race.
Then
why
should
people
commit
the
reprehensibleactbywrenchingthenecksofanimals?
rojw DrY mnwvY Alhu suAwdiq jIA sMGwrY] Awpw dyiK Avr nhI dyKY kwhy kau JK mwrY ](Awsw kbIr jI, pMnw 483)AselfishimposterobservesfaststopleaseGodbutatthesametimeslayslivingbeingsforrelish.
Thushewatchesonlyhisowninterestandpaysnoheedtopangsofothercreatures.Whydoeshe
stoopsolow?
Thepityisthattheclevermeateatershavegonetotheextentofincludingthemeatobtained
throughaparticular
method
of
slaying
the
animals,
as
part
of
religious
practice.
In
the
Gurbani
suchpeople'shoaxhasbeenclearlyexposed:
jIA bDhu su Drmu kir Qwphu ADrmu khhu kq BweI ] Awps kau minvr kir Qwphu kw kau khhu ksweI ](mwrU kbIr jI, pMnw 1103)Brother,youkillthelivingbeingsandconsideritasDHARMAi.e.areligiousact.Thentellhowdo
youdefineanirreligiousact?Youcallyourselfanenlightenedsage(apiousGursikh)thenwhom
wouldyoucallabutcher?
Othersmaydeny,buthowcantheSikhsoftheGuruevadetheapplicationofthisfiattothem?
Themeaning
of
the
above
couplet
is
brought
out
with
particular
reference
to
aSikh
as
under:
OtheSikhoftheGuru!Youkillthelivingbeingsandinordertoconcealthissin,youpretendand
propagatethisactasholy(Rahit),thenwhatelseisanunholyact(i.e.Kurahit)?Ifyoueat
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somethingobtainedthroughtortureandmurderofthelivingbeings,andyetyouclaimtobea
devoutSikh(SantKhalsa),then,whomdoyoucallabutcher?
WhetheroneisaJhatkai(theprofessionalwhoslaysanimalswithonestrokewhilechantingSat
SriAkal)oraKasai(butcher)thesearetwodifferentnamesrepresentingthesameprofessionof
killingtheanimalswhateverthereligiontheymayprofess.Thesearenotregardedastitlesof
respectat
all.
But
the
killers
and
eaters
of
the
flesh
of
animals
can't
wash
away
the
stigma
of
belongingtothisdespicablecommunity.Whatanoutrage!TheKhalsa,whowascreatedto
eradicatetyranny,hashimselfbecomeatyrantforthesehelplessanimals.Theoppressorisnever
knowntoadmittheblameofoppression.Aurangzebwasanotorioustyrant.However,hetriedto
concealhistyrannicalactionsunderthecloakofIslam.Thecleverpeoplehavealwaystakenrefuge
inthegarbofreligiontohidetheirownweaknesses.Inspiteofalltheseefforts,thetruthcannot
besuppressedforlong.Suchmalfeasancesormisdeedsdefinitelystigmatisetheirreligion.Arethe
Sikhs,addictedtothetasteoftongueformeat,notgivingabadnametoSikhismbyincludingthis
asapartoftheKhalsaRahit?
Mercyis
at
the
top
of
Godly
virtues.
It
is
considered
as
the
pre
requisite
for
any
religious
faith.
The
personalityofthemanofmercyisalwaysimpressiveandheartwarming.Hisrelationswithothers
arealwayshelpfulandsoothing.Asagainstthis,themercilesspersonisalwaysroughandvitriolic
inhisdealingswithothers.
InGurbani,thevirtueofMercyhasbeengivenaveryhighplaceaswouldbeevidentfromafew
quotationsreproducedbelow:
DOlu Drmu dieAw kw pUqu ] (jpujI, pMnw 3)TheDharamwhichsustainstheearthistheprogenyofMercy.
ATsiT qIrQ sgl puMn jIA dieAw prvwnu ] (bwrhmwhw mwJ m: p, pMnw 136)Tobemercifultothelivingcreaturesisequivalentoftheablutionsinthesixtyeightplacesof
pilgrimage.ManisacceptedbyGodinrecognitionofhismercifulcharacter.
min sMqoKusrb jIA dieAw ] ien ibiD brqu sMpUrn BieAw ] (gauVI m: p, pMnw 299)Contentmindcombinedwithmercyforallmakestheholyfastaccomplished.
dXwlM srbqR jIAw pMc doK ibvrijqh ] 40 ] (slok shsikRqI m: p, pMnw 1357)Amongthevirtuesoftheenlightenedpersons,oneisthattheyaremercifultoalllivingbeings.
Theotheristhattheywardoffthefivefailingsi.e.lust,anger,greed,attachment,andego.Thatis
whytheGurbanicommandsus:
Ksmu pCwin qrs kir jIA mih mwir mxI kir PIkI ] (Awsw sRI kbIr jI, pMnw 480)RealisetheexistenceofCreatorineverylivingbeing,takepityonthemandgetridofselfishness
andegoascharmlesspursuits.
TheabovecitedquotationsfromtheGurbaniclearlybringoutthevirtueofmercyonlivingbeings,
asthebasicedificeofSikhism.Thequestionthenarises,howthemeateatersamongsttheSikhs
presumeto
have
been
exempted
from
accepting
this
basic
principle
of
the
Sikh
Way
of
Life?
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Whereistheproofofthis?Whentheprincipleofmercifullifeisapplicabletooneandall,thenis
theeatingofmeatwhichisobtainedthroughmercilesskilling,notincontraventiontothe
fundamentalsofSikhism?
DoubtlesslyMercyandCrueltyaretwocontradictoryideologies.Theformerisvaluedandthe
latteriscondemnedinSikhism.Then,whythosewhoclaimtobetheSikhsoftheGuru,
contravenethe
tenets
of
Gurmat
by
resorting
to
slaughtering
of
the
living
creatures?
Theothernaturalquestioniswhetherthevirtueofmercyislimitedonlytohumanbeings.Isthe
restoflivingcreationdevoidoftheDivinespark?Don'ttheyhavethefeelingofpleasureandpain?
Undoubtedlyalllivingcreaturesintheuniversearemadeoffivebasicmaterialelementsandthus
pleasureandpainaredefinitelyfeltbythem.Alltheanimalsandbirdsetc.,lovetheirownlives
andthoseoftheiroffsprings,justlikehumans.ThenwhythosepeoplewhoacknowledgeGurbani
astheirEternalGurugocontrarilytothecanonsconcerningMercyandtyrannyjusttosatisfytheir
palate?
GurbaniimbibestheauspiciouspreceptofMercytowardsallbecauseallcreaturesarebestowed
withtheDivineSparkofLife.ThescripturesoftheHindusandMuslimsbothi.e.(VedsandKatebs)
putforththeeternaltruthofthepresenceofthisDivineSparkoflifeinallHiscreation.However,
theirfollowersblindedbytheoverpoweringtasteofthetongueandselfishmotives,haveignored
thisprincipleandhaveadoptedthewayofthebutchers.Thus,thefaultdoesnotliewiththe
scripturesbutwiththeiravariciousfollowers.SuchsoftspokenbutcraftyMuslimsexercisethe
pettifoggeryofslaughteringtheanimalstosatisfytheirpalateoftongueortomakegoodtheloss
ofvitalitywastedthroughtheirlicentiousliving.However,theykeeptheirsinfulandmercilessact
hiddenunderthecloakofHalal(foodpermittedbyreligiouslaw).IntheGurbanisuchfalse
assertionshave
been
refuted
loud
and
clear.
byd kqyb khhu mq JUTyJUTw jo nw ibcwrY ] jau sB mih eyku Kudwie khq hau qauikau murgI mwrY ] 1 ] mulWkhhu inAwau KudweI ] qyry mn kw Brm n jweI ] 1 ] rhwau ] pkir jIau AwinAw dyh ibnwsI mwtI kauibsimil kIAw ] joiq srUp Anwhq lwgI khu hlwlu ikAw ikAw ] 2 ] ikAw aujU pwku kIAw muhu DoieAw ikAwmsIq isru lwieAw ] jau idl mih kptu invwj gujwrhu ikAw hj kwbY jwieAw ] 3 ] qMU nwpwku pwku nhIsUiJAw iqs kw mrmun jwinAw ] kih kbIr iBsiq qy cUkw dojk isau mnu mwinAw ] 4 ] 4 ](pRBwqI sIR kbIr jI, pMnw 1350)CallnotVedasandtheSemiticTextsfalse;forfalseishewhogivesnotthoughttotheircontents.If
you
say
God
abides
in
all
beings,
then
why
kill
a
hen?
(1)
O
Mullah,
you
are
propagating
about
the
DivineJustice.(OnonehandyousayGodabidesinallandyetyoukillhenforfood),thusyou
cannotgetridofdelusionofyourmind.(1)(Pause)Youseizealivingbeingandslaughteritsbody.
Inthiswayyouhavemerelykilledtheclayandnotthesoul.Itsimperishablesoulgetsabsorbedin
theImmortalDivineEssence.Saythen,whathaveyouslaughtered?(2)Whatistheuseofwashing
yourhand,feetandmouth?AndtowhatuseisyourbowingintheMosque?(3)Towhatavailis
yourprayerandpilgrimageofMeccawhenyourmindisfullofdeceit?Thusyoustillremain
impureanddonotknowthepureLordandHismystique.Kabirsaysyouhavemissedparadiseand
aredoomedtohell.(4)(4)
Aperusaloftheabovehymnraisesthefollowingquestionstobeansweredbythemeateaters:
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(i)IfyouacceptthattheDivineSparkoflifepervadesineachlivingbeing,thenwhyareyou
slaughteringit?
(ii)Thebodyoftheanimalsisalldust.WhatisthethingthathasbecomeHalalbydestroyingthe
body?
(iii)When
you
are
vile
at
heart
(i.e.
beguiling
your
ardent
desire
to
satisfy
your
taste
under
the
cloakofreligiosity),thenofwhatuseisyourprayer(Namaz)?
Howwouldtheyreplytoabovethreequestions?Inthelaststanzaoftheforegoinghymn,the
Gurbanihasexplainedthetruthinthisrespect:
Oyou,theSupermostcreationoftheSupremeLord,youhavestartedtreadingthefalsepathof
plunderandtyrannyandhaveforsakenthetrueidealofyourlife.Youhavenotenteredinto
relationshipwiththesourceofSacredness,theCreatorandtheImmortalBeing.Instead,through
yourbarbarousacts,youhaveyourselfbecomebarbarous.Thusyouareheadingtowardsthehell
insteadof
the
heaven.
Why?
ThemeateatershavecreatedamythregardingthelegitimacyofJhatkaorHalal.Ifananimalis
slaughteredwhilerecitingKalma,itsmeatbecomesHalalorsacred;andiftheanimaliskilledwith
astrokewhilerecitingSatSriAkal,itsmeatbecomesJhatka.Howstrange!Meatwhichissacred
(Halal)forMuslimsisunholyfortheSikhsandviceversa.Fromthisitimpliesthatthecondemned
thingisnotthemeatbuttheHolyKalmafortheSikhsandSatSriAkalfortheMuslims.TheKalma
andSatSriAkalareboththedivinewordsindifferentlanguages.InrealityneithertheKalmanor
SatSriAkalarecondemnable.Whatdeservescondemnationiscrueltyormercilessnessinvolvedin
slaughteringanimalssimplytosatisfyone'stasteofthetongue.Whentherealintentioniswicked,
thenhow
can
the
material
become
holy
by
outwardly
reciting
sacred
words
of
the
Lord's
praise?
One'sactionsaretobeaccountedforintheTrueCourtonthebasisofone'sinnermostemotions
andintentionsbehindtheirdeeds.Gurbaniisveryclearaboutit.
hir hir krih inq kptu kmwvih ihrdw suDu n hoeI ] (sUhI m: 4, pMnw 732)TheywhoutterGod'sNameandpracticedeceit,theirmindcannotremainpure.
bydu pVY muiK mITI bwxI || jIAW kuhq n sMgY prwxI ] 3 ] 107 ] (gauVI m: p, pMnw 201)OnerecitesVedaswithsweetvoicebutatthesame,hedoesnotshirkkillingthesentientbeings.
Thespilling
of
the
blood
of
the
other
animals
for
one's
own
self
interest
is
an
abominable
act
and
isthusavice.Howcanamind,whichisfullofsinisterthoughtwaves,becomepure?Andwithout
thepurityofmind,howNamSimranispossible?ThatiswhyGurbaniclearlydecrees:
nwnk nwau Kudwie kw idil hCY muiK lyhu ] Avir idvwjy punI ky JUTy Aml kryhu ] 1 ](sloku m: 1, pMnw 140)Nanak,uttertheNameofGodfromyourmouthwithtruthfulheart.Otherwiseallyouractionsare
merelypretentiousdisplayandarefalse.
Allreligiousactivitiesinvolvingmeditation,austeritiesandselfcontroletc.,areaimedatpurifying
themind.
But
ifmind
is
full
of
deceit
and
under
its
influence,
one
goes
on
committing
vices,
then
allhisseeminglyreligiousobservancesarenothingbutahoax.Andsuchaperson'sposition
becomesridiculous.KabirJisarcasticallyreferstosuchdoublefacedapproachinlifeasunder:
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jau idl mih kptu invwj gujwrhu ikAw hj kwbY jwieAw ] 3 ] (pRBwqI sIR kbIr jI, pMnw 1350)TowhatavailisyourprayerandpilgrimagetoMeccawhenyourmindisfullofdeceit?
AndthatiswhyGuruSahibinstructs:
AMqir kptu cukwvhu myry gurisKhu inhkpt kmwvhu hir kI hir Gwl..... ] (nt nwrwien m: 4, pMnw 978)OtheSikhsofmyGuru!Renounceyourmind'sdeceitandundeceitfullyperformyourLordGod's
service.
Totrytocoverone'ssinisteractsbydeceitfulmeans,ispartofhumannature.However,evenif
onemaynotadoptdeceitfulmeanstoconcealhisinternalsins,eventhenthesinfulthoughtsin
one'smind,defileit.Howcanoneremainunpollutedinsuchastateofmind?
jy rqu lgY kpVY jwmw hoie plIqu ] jo rqu pIvih mwxsw iqn ikau inrmlu cIqu ](vwr mwJ, m: 1, pMnw 140)Ifagarmentbecomesprofanewithstainsofbloodonit,thenhowcanthemindofthosewhosuck
the
blood
in
the
form
of
slaughtered
animal
meal,
can
ever
remain
undefiled?Inordertointerpretthiscoupletintheirownsupport,themeateatersreadthewordMansa
(mwxsw)asMansa(n)(mwxsW)i.e.withnasalisationofitslastvowel.Andthentheytranslateitas,"Thosewhosuckthebloodofhumans,i.e.thosewhocommittyrannyonhumans."Sucha
contortedexplanationisdevisedtomeettheirdesiredinterpretation.Inthiscouplet,thesimile
givenisabsolutelyexplicitwithoutanyillusion:"thebloodstainsmakethegarmentpolluted.The
spillingofthebloodoflivingbeings,toobtaintheirfleshforeating,pollutesthemind."
Thosewhosupportmeateating,aredoinggreatinjusticetothemselvesaswellastheinnocent
Sikh
masses.
May
we
ask
them
a
simple
question?
On
one
side
they
consider
even
ordinary
oppressiononhumanbeingsasequivalenttosuckingoftheirblood.Ontheotherhandtheykill
theanimalssimplytoeattheirfleshandthusliterallyconsumetheirblood,yetdenythecommittal
oftyranny.Thesocalledmanmadeandman controlledsocietymaybeoverlookingman's
atrocitiesonanimals,buttherewillbenoescapeforthekillersintheTrueCourtoftheAlmighty
Lord.Thereonlythetruthwillprevail.
Thediscussiononthistopicwouldberatherincompleteifmentionisnotmadeofanothervery
importantandinterestingpoint.Itisahardfactandeverybodyknowsthat,whileslaughteringthe
animalsinthetoday'sslaughterhouses,neithertheKalmanor'SatSriAkal'isutteredbythe
professionalbutchers.Instead,theygoonsingingvulgarsongsandtalkingaimlessly,even
exchangingabusivelanguageamongstthemselves.Themostinterestingthingisthatthevotaryfor
meatgooneatingfleshwithoutdiscriminationshelvingallsocallednotionsofJhatkaorHalalto
sanctifyit.Thus,thereends,eventhesocalleddistinctionbetweenJhatkaandHalalmeat.Well
thatisO.K.,becausethispracticeotherwisewasnothingbutatotalsham.
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RE:ARGUMENTNO.3
Themeateatersputforththefollowinghistoricalevidencesintheirfavour:
a.MeatusedtobeservedinthelangarofGuruAngadDevJi
b.AtKurukshetra,aprincepresentedthefleshofadeerhuntedbyhimtoGuruNanakDevJi,who
gotitcookedthereonthedayofSolarEclipse.ThisprovokedadiscussionbetweentheVaishnav
BrahminsandPandasononehandandGuruSahibontheother.AhymnexistsinSriGuruGranth
Sahibinthisreference.
c.GuruSahibhasbeenhunting.IfmeatwasprohibitedinSikhism,whatforthispursuitof
hunting?
Letusexaminethesepoints.
ItisanestablishedfactthatSikhHistoryhasbeencommingledandadulteratedwithanumberof
fallaciesbycertainantiSikhelementsaswellasignorantSikhwriters.Intheintroductiontohis
bookGurmatMarland,BhaiKahnSinghhasgivensomeconcreteinstancesofsuchillconceived
statementsasbelow:
"TheSikhwritershavefollowedthepreceptofotherreligiouswritersingivingthereligiouscolour
tosocialandpoliticalsubjects.Withoutinvestigatingtheyhaveincludedcertainabsolutely
baselessanecdotesinourhistory,whichleadusawayfromthetruepathofGurmat.Itisthus
naturalthatweoftenfindsomecontradictorymaterialinourliteraturewhichonlycauses
confusionand
makes
it
difficult
for
us
to
judge
their
authenticity.
However,
when
we
use
our
intelligenceandtestthematerialonthetouchstoneofGurbani,weareinapositiontodiscard
thoseportionswhicharecontrarytotheprinciplelaiddowninGurbaniandcanacceptthose
whichareinaccordancewithit.Inthiswayallconfusionsareclearedandweareabletofollowthe
truepathofGurmat."(GurmatMartandpage1,2)
AfewexamplesofsuchantiGurmatanecdotesinsuchwritingscitedinGurmatMartandbyBhai
KahnSingharereproducedbelow:
(i)Inthe2ndChapterofGurbilasofPatshahi6,ithasbeenstatedthatwhenthechild(Guru)
Hargobindji
had
smallpox,
the
worship
of
Goddess
Durga
was
done
for
seven
days
using
coconuts
andotheraccessoriesbyaBrahmin.ThegoddessDurgathenbecamepleasedandgaveher
blessing.ThesamestorywasthenrepeatedbyBhaiSantokhSinghJiinGurPartapSurajRas3#
12.Asagainstthis,SahibGuruArjanDevJi,thereveredfatherof(Guru)HargobindSahib,writes
somethingtotallydifferentinthisrespect:
sdw sdw hir jwpy ] pRB bwlk rwKy Awpy ] sIqlw Twik rhweI ] ibAn geyhir nweI ] 1 ](soriT m: p, pMnw 627)EverandEvertheDivineNamehadbeenchanted.TheLordHimselfsavedthechildren.
TheLordthuswardedoffthesmallpox.ThusallthetroubleswereremovedthroughtheGod's
name.
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(ii)InSriNanakParkashitismentionedthatSahibGuruNanakDevJiarrangedafeastfor
BrahminsaccordingtoHinduritesforthebenefitofhisdeadancestors'souls.Thisassertionis
totallyunacceptablebecauseGuruNanakDevJihimselfcondemnstheSaradhasamereshamor
heterodoxy:
iek lokI horu CimCrI bRwhmxu vit ipMfu Kwie ] nwnk ipMfu bKsIs kw kbhMU inKUtis nwih ] 4 ] 2 ]
(Awsw m: 1, pMnw 358)SomebarleyballsareformallyofferedtoancestorsandotherstoGods;butitisthePanditwho
kneadsandeatsthem.NanaksaysthatthefoodoftheGod'sNameneverexhausts.
(iii)AccordingtoBhaiSukhaSingh'sworkGurBilasCh.10,BrahminDattaNandofUjjain
performedtheworshipofDurgagoddessonthebehestofSahibGuruGobindSinghJi:
XON suin gd gd BXO ikRpwlw ] sIR muiK soN kih bcn ibswlw ] mYXw! iehY ikRpw Ab kIjY|| KVg pwix dwhnumuih dIjY] 267 ] eyv squkih mwq BvwnI ] vr dY BeI lop jg rwxI ] 271 ]
Accordingtotheabovenarration,onGuruSahib'sentreatiesGoddessDurgablessedhimwiththe
Sword.
SimilarassertionhasbeenrepeatedinSakhiNo.25ofMehmaParkash:
krw hom siqguru purK mwqw BeI pRsMn ] BieAw pRkws mwqw pRgt DMn mwq jg DMn ] (32)TheSatguruperformedtheHavan,theMata(thegoddessDurga)washighlypleased.She
appearedwithaflashofDivineLight.Hailthegoddess!
Thesame
thing
has
been
reiterated
in
Gur
Partap
Suraj
in
Rut
3No.
4.
Baba
Sumer
Singh
writes
as
underinGurPadPremParkash:
mhw bIr sIR hnMUmwn jI pRgt k`C qb dInI ] lIjY mhwrwj mm Bytw mrXwdw Aiq cInI ](gurmiq mwrqMf, pMnw c, C, j, J)
ThisquotationimpliesthattheBraveHanumanappearedandpresentedtheKachhehra
(underwear)toGuruSahibtobeincludedintheSikhCodeofConduct.
(iv)GurBilasPatshahi6statesinch.18thatGuruHargobindSahibusedtoconsumehemp:
jbY jwm idn Awin rhwXo ] sRI guru ibjIAw pwn krwXo ] (ibjIAw-hemp)
(v)BhaiSukhaSinghinGurBilasPatshahi10writesinCh.10and16thatGuruGobindSinghused
toconsumevarioustypesofintoxicantshimselfandgavethesetoothersalso:
ibjIAw DrCq Aml mMgwvy ] Awp CkY puin Avr idAwvY ](DrCq-opium)midrw ibjIAw KNwf imlweI ] crnwimRq iml gwgr pweI ](midrw-liquor)ly inj fyt kwilkw dIny ] jY BvwnI kI aucr pRbInY ]
(vi)GurPartapSuryaRut3,Ch.4statesthatGuruSahibusedtoconsumeopiumaftercrushingit
alongwithalmondsandvariousotheraromaticedibles.
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AiDkYsugMD mhkwr sMg || bhu rgV bdwmn sihq BMg || eylw lvMg imrcwn kwir || mylXo gulwb Xuqsrd bwir || (7) Xuq CqRDwr siqguruCkwie || (8) (CqRdwr-opium)
TheninRut3Ch.21,BhaiSantokhSinghmentionsthatGuruGobindSinghaskedthedrinkof
hemptobepreparedonlargescaleforthesoldierspreparingforbattleasthiswasthebestofthe
intoxicantswhichwasfavouriteofMahesh:
XNw qy sRI muKbwk aucwrw ] huie suKykI dyg audwrw ] isMG hoie jb AwXuD DwrI ] mwdk cwhIAq AnMd mJwrI] (39) sB mwidk qyibjIAw AwCI || kXoik mhyS Awid ieh bwCI ] (4)
BhagwanSinghRahitnamia,onthebasisofRahitnamasobtainedfromKhatriSinghsofChainpur
Bhabhua,writesinhisworkVimalBibekVaridhthatthosewhotakehemp,areabletofight
bravely:
AcIAY su`Kw C`qrDwr ] rn my jUJY Apr Awpwr ]
ThenmisquotingBhaiSahibManiSinghJi,hestates:
"AfterbestowingAmrittothewholesangatandequippingthemwithweapons,hebadethem
farewellbyaskingthemtotakesomeintoxicants.AccordinglySikhsstartedtakingintoxicantsand
manyofthemwereabletoachieveconcentrationofmind."
Note:Whatabeautifulwaytoachieveconcentrationofmind!DotheSikhsachievethisstateof
mindbyservice;practiceofGurbani,disinterestedbenevolenceorbybecomingdullardthrough
intoxication?(GurmatMartand,pages15,16,17)
Theaboveareonlyafewofthefallaciousexamplestobringoutthepoint.Citingmoresuch
examplesresultsonlyinmoreandmoreofselfridicule.Suchinterpolationsinourhistoryhave
beenmadeintentionallybyantiSikhandantiGurupeopleofthattime.Thelaterhistorywriters
insteadoftheiranalyticalexaminationinthelightoftenetsofGurbani,haverepeatedthese
incidentsbluntly.Itisalsopossiblethatsomeofthesehistoriansthemselvesmayhavebeen
addictedtotheseintoxicants.Inanycase,suchwritingstendtonullifytheGurmatprinciplesand
maketheSikhHistoryalaughingstockandunreliable.
ThatiswhyitismostessentialtoscrutinizeandrectifytheerrorsincludedintheSikhhistoryinthe
lightofGurbani.ThewellwishersofthePanthhavebeencryinghoarseforthisworksincelong.
AnyHistoricaleventiffoundtobeincongruouswiththespiritofGurbanimustbethoroughly
lookedintoforcorrection.
Thenhowcansuchhistoricalcanardsberelieduponinjustificationwithregardtoadmissibilityof
meateating?ThesereferencesarecontradictorytotheidealsofGurbaniaswellasother
anecdotesinSikhhistorywhereintheprincipleof'Mercyonlivingbeings'hasbeenstressedupon.
Afewofsuchhistoricalevidencesaregivenbelow:
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GURUNANAK'SPRECEPTTODEVLOOTTHEDRAGON
ipRQm qjhu AwimK (mws) ko Kwxw ]krhu jws ihq jIvn hwnw ] 7 ]kyiqk idn qih rhy gusweI ]guru isKI kI rIiq clweI ]
siB rwKS ko nwm jpwXo ]AwimK Kwn iqnih qjvwXo] (18)suDr sYn jo BUp mhwnw ]dyvlUq mwnhu iqh Awnw ]ihMsw nhI jIv kI kIjY ]siqgurujwp jphu duK CIjY ] (20)(sRI guru nwnk pRkwS pUrbwrD, AiDAwie 44)Firstly,yougiveupmeateatingforwhichyouresorttokillingofthelivingbeings.
SetexamplesforpractisingGuru'swayoflife.
The
Master
spent
a
number
of
days
there
and
set
example
for
practising
Guru's
way
of
life.
HemadethedragonstorecitetheName.
Andalsomadethemgiveupmeateating.
SudharSain,theGreatandDevlootresolvedthisintheirmindsthathomicideoflivingbeingsbe
notdoneratheritshouldbereplacedbymeditationonNamrevealedbytheGuruforthe
eradicationofallillsandsufferings.
(SriGuruNanakParkash,1stVol.,Ch.44)
DISCOURSEATMEDINA
gaU BYs Aqy murgIAW jo, hoie hYvwn grIb ]|
qh pr CurI hrwm hY, Kwvn iqnw plIq ].....jo ibcwry jwnvr, mwrn iqnw rvwl ]ibnw rjwie Kudwie dI, iqh pr CurI zvwl ]mueI SY murdwr hY, sihky jwn kvwie ]KwxI ieh hrwm hY, iqh pr CurI rvwie ]Kwxw mws gunwh hY, jorI kIAw hlwl ]zorI kuTw hrwm hY, iqs qy hoie zvwl ](jnm swKI BweI bwlw)Cows,buffaloesandhenetc.aremeekandhelplessanimals.Tocutthemwithknifeisasinfulact
andconsumptionoftheirmeatmakestheeaters"polluted".
Theywhokillthehelplessanimalsandsaythishasbecomesacred.
ItisagainsttheGod'swill.TheknifeofLordwillbefallonthem.
Whateverisdeadiscarcass(Murdar).
Eatingofwhichissinful(Haram).
Flesheatingisasin.
TheuseofforcetokillissinfulwhetheronecallsitHalalorHaram.
Suchactsleadtoone'sdownfall.
(JanamsakhiBhaiBala)
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PRECEPTTOSHEEHANUPPAL
SheehanUppalwasleadingaflockofonehundredhe goats.GuruAngadDevJiaskedhimits
purpose.Sheehanrepliedthattheseweremeantforpreparationofmeattofeedthemarriage
partyofhissonaccordingtotheprevalentcustom.ThenGuruJisaid:
ieqny jIvn ihMsw krY ] pwp ibswl Awpn isr DYr ] 7 ] Ab qo sugm jwnIAih kirbo ] AMq mhw duK
nrkn prbo ] dyihN swsnw jm kydUq ] qhw n rMck hoie shwie ] suK Bogygy sgry lok ] Awpdw prih qoihbf sok ] 8 ] Drm rwie jb kir hY lyKw ] lhY mhw duK rhY n syKw ] sRI gurU khw kro aupcwr ] ijs qy hoien jIv sMGwr ](gur pRqwp sUrj gRMQ, rws 1, AMs 26)Bykillingsomanylivingbeings,Youaretakinguponyourselftheresponsibilityofthissin.(7)Of
courseyouwouldnowbepleased(toentertainyourguestsinthisway).Intheend,however,you
aredestinedtoundergoterriblesufferingsinthehell.Whentheangelsofdeathwilltortureyou.
Noneofyoursonsorrelativeswouldbeofanyhelptoyouthere.(8)Thoseforwhomyouare
committingthissin(ofslaughteringanimals)Theywillnothelpyouthereevenabit.Nowallyour
relativeswill
enjoy
meat
eating
but
you
will
have
to
face
the
adverse
consequences
all
alone.
(9)
WhenDharamRajtakestheaccountofyourdeeds,Youwillbefacedwithterribletroubles.Sri
Guruadvisedhimtodevisesomemeanswherebykillingoflivingbeingsbeaverted.
(GurPartapSuryaGranth,RaasI, Ch26)
HUKAMNAMASOFSRIGURUHARGOBINDJI
Hukamnama#6,page12
krqwr krqwr vwcxI | gurU qswfI ljrKYgw gurU jpxw jnm svrU sMgq
dI kwmnw gurU pUrI kryNgy sMgqI dwrujgwruhogw iek dwsI rihxw mws m`CI dy nyVynhI Awpxw sMgq dI cIrI phuqI hkIkq sBmlUm hoeI sMgq srbiq iekm ju-iq hhy iqvy rhxw jwpy gurdws nwl lg rhxwkrvwr ien no dyidAw rhxw sMgiq aupirgurU dI KrI KusI hie sMgqI dw rujgwru hogwsMgiq Awp ivic iekqu krnwsMgiq dI KrI KusI gurUdInw dy hoNdy hie sb myry
puq hYin sBnw iekqy jIAY hoxwAgy kwrvwr lydI hQ ilK kyjw hie ahsBw kwr kih ByjxI !YoureciteKartar!Kartar!
TheGuruwillprotectyourhonour.
ChantrepeatedlyGuruGuru.
Thenyourlifewillbeblessed.
GuruwillfulfilthedesireoftheSangat
Sangatwillgetgoodmeansoflivelihood.
Liveinlovewithonlyonewife.
DONOT
EVEN
CONTEMPLATE
TO
CONSUME
FLESH
AND
FISH.
Sangat'sletterreceived.Cametoknowtherealities,
Sangatshouldremainincompleteunison,andwithtendernesswithoneanother.
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HelpGurdasandprovidehimwithmeansoflivelihood.GuruispleasedwiththeSangatandthey
willalsobeblessedwithgoodmeansoflivelihood.
Sangatshouldliveinharmony.Gurualwayshelpstheweak.Allaremyownscions.Liveallin
concord.
HeretoforethesituationherehasbeenwrittenandsentthroughLADI.Sendallthecollections.
Hukamnama#9,
page
15
BweI jwpU BweI gurdwsu BweI murgI BweI jwiq BweI idAwlwgurU gurU jpxw jnm jnm svrU sMgq dI kwmnw pUrI hogusMgqI dw rujgwr hog sMgqI kI kwr ju lyhwgw gurU dIAwigAw hie kIrqn krxw iek dwsuBlI jugq rhxw mwsmCI dynyVynwhI Awvxw pUHrb dI sMgiq gurU dw Kwlsw hieauprMiq gurUdI AwigAw hie BweI jwpU BweI jwpU BweI gurdws qusNwsBnw rl ky swry purK dI kwr krxI.....BhaiJapoo,BhaiGurdas,BhaiMurar,BhaiJat,BhaiDyala!GoonrepeatingGuru!Guru!
Yourlives
will
be
blessed.
Sangats
desires
would
be
fulfilled.
Sangat
would
be
blessed
with
means
oflivelihood.TheGuru'scommandis"goonsingingpraisesofGod".Liveinhumilitytoone
anotherandinunison.
DONOTEVERCONTEMPLATETOCONSUMEFLESHANDFISH.
TheSangatoftheEastisGuru'sKhalsa.ThereafterGuru'scommandisforBhaiJapooandBhai
GurdastoremitcollectionsoftheEast.
InSudharamMarg,SriGuruGobindSinghJiisstatedtohavesermonisedasunder:
Onewhodoesnotcommitthefollowingfivedeeds,achievessalvationwhilelivinginthisvery
world:
Doesnotsteelothers'wealth.
Doesnothaveextramaritalrelations.
Doesnotslanderothers.
Doesnotgamble.
Doesnotconsumemeatandliquor.
Theabovescripthasalsobeenseenwrittenontheflyleavesofanumberofoldhandwrittenholy
volumes(manuscripts)ofSriGuruGranthSahib.
Withrespect
to
meat
eating,
the
main
thing
which
is
anti
Gurmat
is
the
committing
of
atrocity
on
innocentlivingbeings.Tocommittyrannyonanylivingbeingundergreedandtemptationis
symbolicofsavageryinthehumans.TherearenotwoopinionsonthefactthatGurbanidefinitely
prohibitstheuseofviolenceandlaysstressonshowingMercyonalllivingbeings.Quiteafew
quotationsfromGurbanihavebeenquotedearlierinthepreviouschapterinthisrespect.
Somewritersofhistoryhappenedtowriterecklesslythatfishandfleshusedtobecookedinthe
communitykitchenofGuruAngadDevJi.Onpages4546anteanhistoricalanecdotehasbeen
referredtowhereinSriGuruAngadDevJidissuadesSheehanUppalfromkillinganimals.Hewas
madetounderstandthatslaughteringoflivingbeingsisasinfulactforwhichonehastobe
accountedforintheend.
Whatasurprise!Somewaywardpersonhasgonetotheextentofstatingthatmeatandfishused
tobecookedandservedintheLangarofSriGuruAngadDevJi!BhaiSattaandBhaiBalwandwere
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bardsintheDarbarofGuruAngadDevJi.IntheballadcontainedinRamkaliRagofSriGuru
GranthSahib,theymentionimportantdaintydisheswhichusedtobeservedintheLangarofSri
GuruAngadDevJiasunder:
(a) lMgr dauliq vMfIAY rsu AMimRq KIir iGAwlI ] (vwr rwmklI blcMif qQw sqYkI, pMnw 967)InGuru'skitchen,isserved,sweetricepuddingpreparedwithbutteroilandwealthisgiventothe
needy.
(A) inq rsoeI qyrIAY iGau mYdw Kwxu ] (vwr rwmklI blcMif qQw sqYkI, pMnw 967)Everinthykitchenareservedpreparationsofbutteroil,refinedwheatflourandsugar.
Onthebasisoftheabovequotationsofthecontemporarybards,itcanbestressedthattheso
calledhistoricalevidenceunderreferencehasbeeninterpolatedintentionallybysomeantiSikh
elementsorsupportersofmeateating,underawell plannedconspiracy.Inhistoricalworks,
thereareanumberofselfcontradictoryaccounts;someinsupportof,andtheothersagainst
meateating.Thismakessuchhistoricalworksvagueandridiculous.
Similarly,theanecdoteofcookingoffleshofdeerduringthevisitofGuruNanakDevJiat
Kurukshetraontheoccasionofsolareclipseisalsoputfortherroneouslybymeateatersintheir
support.
OnlythemysticSatguruknowstherealimportofhismysteriousways.Howeverinorderto
understandthemysterybehindthisanecdote,thedecidingfactorinthiscaseisGurbaniuttered
bytheGuruonthatoccasionandwhichisalsofoundinSriGuruGranthSahib.Therelevanthymn
isadducedbelow:
slok m: 1 ] pihlNw mwshu inMimAw mwsY AMdir vwsu ] jIau pwie mwsu muih imilAw hfu cMmu qnu mwsu ] mwshubwhir kiFAw mMmw mwsu igrwsu ] muhu mwsY kw jIB mwsY kI mwsY AMdir swsu ] vfw hoAw vIAwihAw Gir lYAwieAw mwsu ] mwshu hI mwsu aupjYmwshu sBo swku ] siqguir imilAY hukmu bJIAY qW ko AwvY rwis ] Awip Cutynh CucIAY nwnk bcin ibxwsu ] 1 ]m: 1 ] mwsu mwsu kir mUrKu JgVyigAwnu iDAwnu nhI jwxY ] kauxu mwsu kauxu swgu khwvY iksu mih pwp smwxy] gYNfw mwir hom jg kIey dyviqAw kI bwxy ] mwsu Coif bYis nku pkVih rwqI mwxs Kwxy ] PVu kir lokNw noidKlwvih igAwnu iDAwnu nhI sUJY ] nwnk AMDy isauikAw khIAY khYn kihAw bUJY ] AMDw soie ij AMDu kmwvYiqsu irdY is locn nwhI] mwq ipqw kI rkqu inpMny mCI mwsu n KWhI ] iesqRI purKY jW inis mylw aQY mMDukmwhI ] mwshu inMmy mwshu jMmyhm mwsY ky BWfy ] igAwnu iDAwnu kCu sUJY nwhI cqur khwvYpWfy ] bwhr kw
mwsu mMdw suAwmI Gr kw mwsu cMgyrw ] jIA jMq siB mwshu hoey jIie lieAw vwsyrw ] ABKu BKih BuK qijCofih AMDu gurU ijn kyrw ] mwshu inMmy mwshu jMmy hm mwsY ky BWfy ] igAwnu iDAwnu kCu sUJY nwhI cquru khwvYpWfy ] mwsu purwxI mwsu kqybI chu juig mwsu kmwxw ] jij kwij vIAwih suhwvY aQY mwsu smwxw ] iesqRI purKinpjih mwshu pwiqswh sulqwnW ] jy aie idsih nrik jWdy qW aun kw dwnun lYxw ] dyNdw nrik surig lYdydyKhueyhu iD|wxw ] Awip n bUJY lok buJwey pWfy Krw isAwxw] pWfy quU jwxY hI nwhI ikQhu mwsu aupMnw ]qoieAhu AMnu kmwdu kpwhW qoieAhu gMnw ] qoAw AwKY hau bhu ibiD hCw qoAY bhuq ibkwrw ] eyqy rs Coif jovYsMinAwsI nwnkukhY ivcwrw ]2](vwr mlwk kI mhlw 1, pMnw 1289-90)SlokMohalla1.
Manis
first
conceived
in
flesh
and
then
abides
in
(the
womb
of)
flesh.
When
he
is
invested
with
life
hegetsflesh(intheformoftongue,gums,palateetc.)inthemouth.Hisbones,skinratherthe
entirebodyarenothingbutflesh.Whenheistakenoutofthewombofflesh,hesuckstheteatsof
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fleshforhisfeed.Hehashismouthofflesh,tongueoffleshandhebreathsinthebodyofflesh.
Whenhegrowsup,heismarriedandbringshome(thewifeformedof)flesh.Flesh(intheformof
offsprings)isproducedfrom(theparents'bodyof)fleshandalltherelationsofmanare
establishedthroughflesh...ItisonlywhenonemeetswiththeTrueGuruheimbibesthe
knowledgeofLord'sWillandthenaloneheisputontherightpath.Nanaksays,byone'sown
effortsonecannotbereleasedthroughmerediscussionbutisruined.
Mohalla1.
ThefoolsquarrelovertheinterpretationoffleshandknownotGod'sgnosis(DivineWisdom)and
insight.TheyknownotwhatiscallednonvegorvegorintheconsumptionofwhatdoesSin
consist.'Yajnas'and'havans'(fireworship)areperformedandtherebyrhinosarekilledand
offeredassacrificialfoodtopleasegodswhoarebehovedtobeaddictedtoit.Theywhoabandon
meatandcannotwithstanditsveryflavourwhilesittingnearit,devourmeninthedarknessof
night.They,infact,practisehypocrisyandmakeashowofittopeople(todeceivethem)butare
devoidofGod'sgnosisanddivineinsight.'Nanak' whatcanbesaidtotheblindperson(viz.
devoidofinnereye)whocanneitherexplainnorunderstandwhatissaidtohim.Healoneisblind
whoperforms
deeds
devoid
of
wisdom
and
who
has
no
insight.
Those
whose
formation
is
from
the
bloodoftheirparents,(theyclaimpuritysimplybecause)theyeatnotfishandflesh.Whenman
andhiswifeassembleatnighttheretheycohabitwithflesh.Infleshweareconceived,fromflesh
wearebornandourbodiesareformedofflesh.OPandit!Youdonotpossessdivinewisdomand
insightandyetyouclaimtobeashrewdperson.Olearnedman!(Whataparadox!)Youconsider
fleshofhomegoodandoutsidefleshbad.Allcreatureshavesprungfromfleshandthesoulhas
takenitsabodeinflesh(ofthewomb).Thosewhose,Guruisdevoidofinnereye,eatwhatisun
worthyofeatingandabandonorrejectwhatiswortheating.Infleshweareconceived,fromf