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Adherents of the Sakta sect of Hinduism hold this to be a central tenet of their belief.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lipner Julius J.|authorlink=Julius J. Lipner|title=Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0415051827|accessdate=12 August 2010|edition=New|date=23 July 1998|publisher=Routledge|isbn=0-415-05182-7|page=287|chapter=3 Images of Time Space and Eternity}}</ref>
Adherents of the Sakta sect of Hinduism hold this to be a central tenet of their belief.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lipner Julius J.|authorlink=Julius J. Lipner|title=Hindus: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0415051827|accessdate=12 August 2010|edition=New|date=23 July 1998|publisher=Routledge|isbn=0-415-05182-7|page=287|chapter=3 Images of Time Space and Eternity}}</ref>


===Hindu scriptures===
===Hindu scriptures===


The [[Ashvamedha]] ritual - in which a horse is sacrificed - is mentioned in the Vedic texts such as the ''[[Yajurveda]]''. In the epic ''[[Ramayana]]'', [[Rama]] performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice for becoming the [[Chakravartin]] emperor. In the epic ''[[Mahabharata]]'', [[Yudhishtra]] performs the Ashwamedha after winning the [[Kurukshetra war]] to become the Chakravartin emperor. The Mahabharata also contains a description of an Ashvamedha performed by the [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] king Uparichara Vasu, however, no animals were sacrificed. The rulers of the [[Gupta empire]], the [[Chalukya dynasty]], and the [[Chola dynasty]] all performed the Ashvamedha.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT207 |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|page=207|author= Roshen Dalal|publisher= [[Penguin Books]]|isbn= 9788184752779}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author= Uma Marina Vesci|title= Heat and Sacrifice in the Vedas|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ZYWFdFUfBf8C&pg=PA103 |publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|page= 103|year= 1992|isbn= 9788131716779}}</ref>
The [[Ashvamedha]] ritual - in which a horse is sacrificed - is described in the [[Rigveda]], the [[Shukla Yajurveda]], the [[Taittiriya Shakha]] of Yajurveda, the [[Shatapatha Brahmana]] and in the Srauta-sutras of the [[Aitareya Brahmana]] and in the Kaushtikati Brahmana of the Rigveda. In the [[Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]] the symbolism of the sacrifice is described, with the horse symbolising the cosmos. In the [[Ramayana]], [[Rama]] performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice for becoming the [[Chakravartin]] emperor. In the [[Mahabharata]], [[Yudhishtra]] performs the Ashwamedha after winning the [[Kurukshetra war]] to become the Chakravartin emperor. The Mahabharata also contains a description of an Ashvamedha performed by the [[Chedi Kingdom|Chedi]] king Uparichara Vasu, however, no animals were sacrificed. The rulers of the [[Gupta empire]], the [[Chalukya dynasty]], and the [[Chola dynasty]] all performed the Ashvamedha.<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT207&lpg=PT9&focus=viewport&dq=hinduism+an+alphabetical+guide&output=html_text|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|page=207|author= Roshen Dalal|publisher= [[Penguin Books]]|isbn= 9788184752779}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author= Uma Marina Vesci|title= Heat and Sacrifice in the Vedas|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ZYWFdFUfBf8C&pg=PA103&dq=animal+sacrifice+brahmanas&hl=en&sa=X&ei=xxN8VJqzFJG1uQTc1IDQDw&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=animal%20sacrifice%20brahmanas&f=false|publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|page= 103|year= 1992|isbn= 9788131716779}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author= [[Upinder Singh]]|title= A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GW5Gx0HSXKUC&pg=PA210&dq=Brihadaranyaka+Upanishad+ashvamedha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Fhl8VO6xA461uQSysYKYDw&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Brihadaranyaka%20Upanishad%20ashvamedha&f=false|publisher= [[Pearson Education]]|page= 210|year= 2008|isbn= 9788120808416}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0xludqcKE4IC&pg=PA78&dq=rama+ashwamedha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hV-EVIfcMoOguQTD3ICgBQ&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAw |title=Memorable Characters from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata - Chandra Mauli Mani - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.co.in |date= |accessdate=2015-02-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pplg_F0VyVEC&pg=PA15&dq=yudhisthira+ashwamedha&hl=en&sa=X&ei=IWGEVM3oCIuLuAS1uoCYCg&ved=0CCUQ6AEwAg |title=Tribal Culture, Faith, History And Literature: Tangsas Of Arunachal Pradesh - Narayan Singh Rao - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.co.in |date= |accessdate=2015-02-18}}</ref>


<ref>{{cite book|editor= A. B. Gajendragadkar |editor2=R. D. Karmarkar |title= The Arthasamgraha of Laugaksi Bhaskara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ySoGJJDSFeEC&pg=PA34&dq=animal+sacrifice+jyotistoma&hl=en&sa=X&ei=klafUq-aNuHksATPnoJY&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=animal%20sacrifice%20jyotistoma&f=false|publisher= Motilal Banarsidas Publishers|year= 1998|page= 34|isbn= 9788120814431}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author= [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title= The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=p9zCbRMQbyEC&pg=PA324 |publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|pages= 324–326|year= 2007|isbn= 9788120806443}}</ref> Agnisomiya was the simplest of all Soma sacrifices in which animal sacrifice played an important part; it required that a goat be sacrificed to [[Agni]] and [[Soma (deity)|Soma]] preceding the day of offering of nectar to the gods. In the Savaniya sacrifice, victims were offered throughout the day of offering to [[Agni]].<ref>{{cite book|author= [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title= The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=p9zCbRMQbyEC&pg=PA327&lpg=PR5&focus=viewport&vq=jyotistoma&dq=animal+sacrifice+veda&output=html_text|publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|page= 327|year= 2007|isbn= 9788120806443}}</ref>
In the [[Vedas]], there are mention of animal sacrifices, such as [[mantra]]s for the sacrifice of a goat in the Rig;<ref>[http://www.intratext.com/IXT/ENG0039/__P4I.HTM Rig 1.162.2]</ref> and the Jyotistoma sacrifice in which three animal-sacrifices are performed, namely, Agnisomiya, Savaniya and Anubandhya.<ref>{{cite book|editor= A. B. Gajendragadkar |editor2=R. D. Karmarkar |title= The Arthasamgraha of Laugaksi Bhaskara|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ySoGJJDSFeEC&pg=PA34&dq=animal+sacrifice+jyotistoma&hl=en&sa=X&ei=klafUq-aNuHksATPnoJY&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=animal%20sacrifice%20jyotistoma&f=false|publisher= Motilal Banarsidas Publishers|year= 1998|page= 34|isbn= 9788120814431}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author= [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title= The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=p9zCbRMQbyEC&pg=PA324&dq=animal+sacrifice+veda&hl=en&sa=X&ei=31afUu34AbPUsATP8oC4DQ&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=animal%20sacrifice%20veda&f=false|publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|pages= 324–326|year= 2007|isbn= 9788120806443}}</ref> Agnisomiya was the simplest of all Soma sacrifices in which animal sacrifice played an important part; it required that a goat be sacrificed to [[Agni]] and [[Soma (deity)|Soma]] preceding the day of offering of nectar to the gods. In the Savaniya sacrifice, victims were offered throughout the day of offering to [[Agni]].<ref>{{cite book|author= [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title= The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=p9zCbRMQbyEC&pg=PA327&lpg=PR5&focus=viewport&vq=jyotistoma&dq=animal+sacrifice+veda&output=html_text|publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|page= 326-327|year= 2007|isbn= 9788120806443}}</ref> In the Anubandhya sacrifice either a barren cow or an ox was offered to [[Varuna]] and [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]] on the day of Soma sacrifice.<ref>{{cite book|author= [[Max Müller]]|title= Sacred Books of the East, Volume 12|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=15AZAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA379&dq=anubandhya+sacrifice&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JqJ8VODdI4iOuASh6oCADA&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAw|publisher= Clarendon Press|page= 379|year= 1882}}</ref> The Yajurveda is considered the Veda of sacrifices and rituals,<ref>{{cite book|author= Ramanuj Prasad|title= Vedas, a way of life|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=q1KDTh3Vtn0C&pg=PA32&dq=animal+sacrifice+yajur&hl=en&sa=X&ei=T0yfUru7MqfKsASZ9IDoDg&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=animal%20sacrifice%20yajur&f=false|publisher= [[Pustak Mahal]]|year= 2004|isbn= 9788122308624|page= 32}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author= [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]] |author2=[[Ralph T.H. Griffith]]|title= The Yajur Veda|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0Z19AAAAQBAJ&pg=PT294&dq=animal+sacrifice+yajur&hl=en&sa=X&ei=T0yfUru7MqfKsASZ9IDoDg&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=snippet&q=sacrifice%20&f=false|publisher= Publish This, LLC.|year= 2013|pages= 292–294|isbn= 9781618348630}}</ref> and consists of a number of animal sacrifices, such as mantras and procedures for the sacrifices of a white goat to [[Vayu]],<ref>{{cite book|authors= [[Wout van Bekkum|Wout Jac. van Bekkum]], Jan Houben, [[Ineke Sluiter]] and [[Kees Versteegh]]|title= The Emergence of Semantics in Four Linguistic Traditions: Hebrew, Sanskrit, Greek, Arabic|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=uU9IAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA77&dq=white+goat+vayu&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GFGfUrW8AsbesATL7YGoAg&ved=0CDQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=white%20goat%20vayu&f=false|publisher=John Benjamin Publishing Company|year= 2007|isbn= 9789027298812|page= 77}}</ref> a calf to Sarasvati, a speckled ox to [[Savitr]], a bull to [[Indra]], a castrated ox to [[Varuna]] and so on.<ref>{{cite book|author= [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]] |author2=[[Ralph T.H. Griffith]] |title= The Yajur Veda|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0Z19AAAAQBAJ&pg=PT1035&dq=white+goat+vayu&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GFGfUrW8AsbesATL7YGoAg&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=castrated&f=false|publisher= Publish This, LLC.|year= 2013|page= 1035|isbn= 9781618348630}}</ref> In some cases the sacrifice of a goat to [[Agni]] and [[Soma (deity)|Soma]] was replaced by ''Nirudha Pashu-Bandha''. This form of sacrifice is described in the [[Aitareya Brahmana]] and the Rig-Vedic Brahmanas. The rite was performed by a man yearly or half-yearly before he ate meat. The goat was sacrificed to either Indra, Agni, Varuna or [[Prajapati]] while a ''[[Mitra–Varuna|Maitravaruna]]'' priest gave directions to a [[Hotṛ]] priest to recite the verses. The sacrificial goat had to be completely healthy and free of any disabilities.<ref>{{cite book|author= [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]]|title= The Religion and Philosophy of the Veda and Upanishads|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=p9zCbRMQbyEC&pg=PA324&dq=upanishads+animal+sacrifice&hl=en&sa=X&ei=c417VNa8NZHiuQSRuIKIDQ&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAA|publisher= Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|page= 324|year= 2007|isbn= 9788120806443}}</ref>


<ref>{{cite book|author= [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]] |author2=[[Ralph T.H. Griffith]] |title= The Yajur Veda|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0Z19AAAAQBAJ&pg=PT1035&dq=white+goat+vayu&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GFGfUrW8AsbesATL7YGoAg&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=castrated&f=false|publisher= Publish This, LLC.|year= 2013|page= 1035|isbn= 9781618348630}}</ref><ref name="James2002">{{cite book|author= James G. Lochtefeld|title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC&pg=PA41 |publisher= [[Rosen Publishing|The Rosen Publishing Group]]|page= 41|year= 2002|isbn= 9780823931798}}</ref> These rituals didn't focus on the killing of the animal but as a symbol to the powers it was sacrificed.<ref>{{cite book|title=Animal Sacrifices|author= [[Tom Regan]]|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Z-WKuYt0MogC&pg=PA24&lpg=PP1&focus=viewport&dq=holy+cow+the+hare+krishna+contribution+to+vegetarianism+and+animal+rights&output=html_text|page=201|publisher= [[Temple University Press]]|isbn= 9780877225119}}</ref>
The animal sacrifices often required a large number of sacrifices and high costs, which virtually ensured they could only be performed by the royal families and the nobility.<ref name="James2002">{{cite book|author= James G. Lochtefeld|title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: A-M|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5kl0DYIjUPgC&pg=PA41&dq=animal+sacrifice+in+hinduism&hl=en&sa=X&ei=XZ17VMLWCYPluQTa3YHwAw&ved=0CBsQ6AEwAA|publisher= [[Rosen Publishing|The Rosen Publishing Group]]|page= 41|year= 2002|isbn= 9780823931798}}</ref> These rituals didn't focus on the killing of the animal but as a symbol to the powers it was sacrificed.<ref>{{cite book|title=Animal Sacrifices|author= [[Tom Regan]]|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Z-WKuYt0MogC&pg=PA24&lpg=PP1&focus=viewport&dq=holy+cow+the+hare+krishna+contribution+to+vegetarianism+and+animal+rights&output=html_text|page=201|publisher= [[Temple University Press]]|isbn= 9780877225119}}</ref>


In the [[Bhagavata Purana]], [[Krishna]] tells people not to perform animal sacrifices. Animal sacrifices are forbidden by the Bhagavata Purana in the ''[[Kaliyuga]]'', the present age.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Z8CGJBo3z4C&pg=PA117&dq=purana+kaliyuga+animal+sacrifice&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lVqFVNrDB4OiugTMj4GwBQ&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAg |title=Authority, Anxiety, and Canon: Essays in Vedic Interpretation - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.co.in |date= |accessdate=2015-02-18}}</ref> The [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]] describes animal sacrifices as ''kali-varjya'' or prohibited in the ''Kaliyuga''.<ref name="Holy Cow">{{cite book|title=Holy Cow: The Hare Krishna Contribution to Vegetarianism and Animal Rights|first=Steve|last=Rosen|page=24|year=2004|publisher=Lantern Books}}</ref> The Adi Purana, Brihan-naradiya Purana and Aditya Purana also forbid animal sacrifice in Kaliyuga.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=91xAzuqbha0C&pg=PA144&dq=purana&redir_esc=y |title=Hindu Widow Marriage - Īśvaracandra Bidyāsāgara - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.co.in |date=2013-08-13 |accessdate=2015-02-18}}</ref>
In the [[Bhagavata Purana]], [[Krishna]] tells people not to perform animal sacrifices although he says he will still accept the sacrifice since he resides in the soul of the sacrificial animal. Animal sacrifices are forbidden by the Bhagavata Purana in the ''[[Kaliyuga]]'', the present age.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3Z8CGJBo3z4C&pg=PA117&dq=purana+kaliyuga+animal+sacrifice&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lVqFVNrDB4OiugTMj4GwBQ&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAg |title=Authority, Anxiety, and Canon: Essays in Vedic Interpretation - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.co.in |date= |accessdate=2015-02-18|page=117}}</ref> The [[Brahma Vaivarta Purana]] describes animal sacrifices as ''kali-varjya'' or prohibited in the ''Kaliyuga''.<ref name="Holy Cow">{{cite book|title=Holy Cow: The Hare Krishna Contribution to Vegetarianism and Animal Rights|first=Steve|last=Rosen|page=24|year=2004|publisher=Lantern Books}}</ref> The Adi Purana, Brihan-naradiya Purana and Aditya Purana also forbid animal sacrifice in Kaliyuga.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=91xAzuqbha0C&pg=PA144&dq=purana&redir_esc=y |title=Hindu Widow Marriage - Īśvaracandra Bidyāsāgara - Google Books |publisher=Books.google.co.in |date=2013-08-13 |accessdate=2015-02-18|page=144}}</ref>

The [[Tirumurugarruppatai]], a work from the Sangam period literature refers to worship of the god [[Murugan]] with animal sacrifices, consumption of liquor and frenzied dancing by the priests.<ref>{{cite book|author= Vijaya Ramaswamy|title= Historical Dictionary of the Tamils|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=H4q0DHGMcjEC&pg=PA153&dq=sangam+age+animal+sacrifice&hl=en&sa=X&ei=bCR8VOX1FNO3uQSw1YEY&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=sangam%20age%20animal%20sacrifice&f=false|publisher= Scarecrow Press|page= 153|year= 2007|isbn= 9780810864450}}</ref>


===Animal sacrifice in contemporary Hindu society===
===Animal sacrifice in contemporary Hindu society===

Revision as of 16:48, 13 May 2018

A goat being sacrificed in a Temple festival in Tamil Nadu.
A rooster sacrificed by decapitation in the month of Aadi Tamil Nadu.

Practices of Hindu animal sacrifice are mostly associated with Shaktism, and in currents of folk Hinduism strongly rooted in local tribal traditions. Animal sacrifices were carried out in ancient times in India. Hindu scriptures such as the Gita,[1][2] and some Puranas forbid animal sacrifice.[3][4][5][6]

Terminology

A Sanskrit term used for animal sacrifice is bali, in origin meaning "tribute, offering or oblation" generically ("vegetable oblations [... and] animal oblations,").[7] Bali among other things "refers to the blood of an animal"[7] and is sometimes known as Jhatka Bali[8][9] among Hindus.

The Kalika Purana distinguishes bali (sacrifice), mahabali (great sacrifice), for the ritual killing of goats, elephant, respectively, though the reference to humans in Shakti theology is symbolic and done in effigy in modern times.[10] For instance, Sir John Woodroffe published a commentary on the Karpuradistotram, where he writes that the sacrificial animals listed in verse 19 are symbols for the six enemies, with "man" representing pride.[11]

Practice

It is a ritual that is practiced today and is mentioned in Medieval Hinduism too. It is important to note that the practice of animal sacrifice is not a required ritual in some sects of Hinduism.[citation needed] The majority of practicing Hindus today choose not to participate in or acknowledge the practice.[12] Adherents of the Sakta sect of Hinduism hold this to be a central tenet of their belief.[13]

Hindu scriptures

The Ashvamedha ritual - in which a horse is sacrificed - is described in the Rigveda, the Shukla Yajurveda, the Taittiriya Shakha of Yajurveda, the Shatapatha Brahmana and in the Srauta-sutras of the Aitareya Brahmana and in the Kaushtikati Brahmana of the Rigveda. In the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad the symbolism of the sacrifice is described, with the horse symbolising the cosmos. In the Ramayana, Rama performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice for becoming the Chakravartin emperor. In the Mahabharata, Yudhishtra performs the Ashwamedha after winning the Kurukshetra war to become the Chakravartin emperor. The Mahabharata also contains a description of an Ashvamedha performed by the Chedi king Uparichara Vasu, however, no animals were sacrificed. The rulers of the Gupta empire, the Chalukya dynasty, and the Chola dynasty all performed the Ashvamedha.[14][15][16][17][18]

In the Vedas, there are mention of animal sacrifices, such as mantras for the sacrifice of a goat in the Rig;[19] and the Jyotistoma sacrifice in which three animal-sacrifices are performed, namely, Agnisomiya, Savaniya and Anubandhya.[20][21] Agnisomiya was the simplest of all Soma sacrifices in which animal sacrifice played an important part; it required that a goat be sacrificed to Agni and Soma preceding the day of offering of nectar to the gods. In the Savaniya sacrifice, victims were offered throughout the day of offering to Agni.[22] In the Anubandhya sacrifice either a barren cow or an ox was offered to Varuna and Mitra on the day of Soma sacrifice.[23] The Yajurveda is considered the Veda of sacrifices and rituals,[24][25] and consists of a number of animal sacrifices, such as mantras and procedures for the sacrifices of a white goat to Vayu,[26] a calf to Sarasvati, a speckled ox to Savitr, a bull to Indra, a castrated ox to Varuna and so on.[27] In some cases the sacrifice of a goat to Agni and Soma was replaced by Nirudha Pashu-Bandha. This form of sacrifice is described in the Aitareya Brahmana and the Rig-Vedic Brahmanas. The rite was performed by a man yearly or half-yearly before he ate meat. The goat was sacrificed to either Indra, Agni, Varuna or Prajapati while a Maitravaruna priest gave directions to a Hotṛ priest to recite the verses. The sacrificial goat had to be completely healthy and free of any disabilities.[28]

The animal sacrifices often required a large number of sacrifices and high costs, which virtually ensured they could only be performed by the royal families and the nobility.[29] These rituals didn't focus on the killing of the animal but as a symbol to the powers it was sacrificed.[30]

In the Bhagavata Purana, Krishna tells people not to perform animal sacrifices although he says he will still accept the sacrifice since he resides in the soul of the sacrificial animal. Animal sacrifices are forbidden by the Bhagavata Purana in the Kaliyuga, the present age.[31] The Brahma Vaivarta Purana describes animal sacrifices as kali-varjya or prohibited in the Kaliyuga.[32] The Adi Purana, Brihan-naradiya Purana and Aditya Purana also forbid animal sacrifice in Kaliyuga.[33]

The Tirumurugarruppatai, a work from the Sangam period literature refers to worship of the god Murugan with animal sacrifices, consumption of liquor and frenzied dancing by the priests.[34]

Animal sacrifice in contemporary Hindu society

A male buffalo calf about to be sacrificed by a priest in the Durga Puja festival. The buffalo sacrifice practice, however, is rare in contemporary India.[35]

Animal sacrifice is a part of some Durga puja celebrations during the Navratri in eastern states of India. The goddess is offered sacrificial animal in this ritual in the belief that it stimulates her violent vengeance against the buffalo demon.[36] According to Christopher Fuller, the animal sacrifice practice is rare among Hindus during Navratri, or at other times, outside the Shaktism tradition found in the eastern Indian states of West Bengal, Odisha[37] and Assam. Further, even in these states, the festival season is one where significant animal sacrifices are observed.[36] In some Shakta Hindu communities, the slaying of buffalo demon and victory of Durga is observed with a symbolic sacrifice instead of animal sacrifice.[38][39][note 1]

The Rajput of Rajasthan worship their weapons and horses on Navratri, and formerly offered a sacrifice of a goat to a goddess revered as Kuldevi – a practice that continues in some places.[42][43] The ritual requires slaying of the animal with a single stroke. In the past this ritual was considered a rite of passage into manhood and readiness as a warrior.[44] The Kuldevi among these Rajput communities is a warrior-pativrata guardian goddess, with local legends tracing reverence for her during Rajput-Muslim wars.[45]

The tradition of animal sacrifice is being substituted with vegetarian offerings to the Goddess in temples and households around Banaras in Northern India.[46]

Animal Sacrifice is practiced by Shaktism tradition where ritual offering is made to a Devi.[29] In Southern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. It is most notably performed in front of Local Deities or Clan Deities. In Karnataka, the Goddess receiving the sacrifice tends to be Renuka. The animal is either a male buffalo or a goat.[47] The Kathar or Kutadi community of Maharashtra while observing the Pachvi ceremony, after delivery of a child in the family, offer worship to their family deity, Saptashrungi and also offer a sacrifice of a goat. Following this they hold the naming ceremony of the child on the 12th day.[48]

In some Sacred groves of India, particularly in Western Maharashtra, animal sacrifice is practiced to pacify female deities that are supposed to rule the Groves.[49] Animal sacrifice is also practiced by caste Hindus to placate deities at temples.[50] In region around Pune, Goats and fowls are sacrificed to the God Vetala[51] The goddess temples in Assam and West Bengal in India and Nepal where this takes place involves slaying of goats, chickens and sometimes male Water buffalos.[52]

Animal sacrifice is practiced in some Eastern states of India and Nepal.[52][53] For example, one of the largest animal sacrifice in Nepal occurs over the three-day-long Gadhimai festival. In 2009 it was speculated that more than 250,000 animals were killed[54] while 5 million devotees attended the festival.[55] The Gadhimai festival was banned by the Nepal government in 2015.[56]

For instance, Kandhen Budhi is the reigning deity of Kantamal in Boudh district of Orissa, India. Every year, animals like goat and fowl are sacrificed before the deity on the occasion of her annual Yatra/Jatra (festival) held in the month of Aswina (September–October). The main attraction of Kandhen Budhi Yatra is Ghusuri Puja. Ghusuri means a child pig, which is sacrificed to the goddess every three years.[57] During the Bali Jatra, male goats are offered as a sacrifice to the goddess Samaleswari in her temple in Sambalpur, Orissa.[58][59]

Bali Jatra of Sonepur in Orissa, India is also an annual festival celebrated in the month of Aswina (September–October) when animal sacrifice is an integral part of the ritual worship of deities namely Samaleswari, Sureswari and Khambeswari. Bali refers to animal sacrifice and hence this annual festival is called Bali Jatra.[60][61]

Animal Sacrifice is practiced by some Hindus on the Indonesian island of Bali.[62][63][64] The religious belief of Tabuh Rah, a form of animal sacrifice of Balinese Hinduism includes a religious cockfight where a rooster is used in religious custom by allowing him to fight against another rooster in a religious and spiritual cockfight, a spiritual appeasement exercise of Tabuh Rah.[65] The spilling of blood is necessary as purification to appease the evil spirits, and ritual fights follow an ancient and complex ritual as set out in the sacred lontar manuscripts.[66]

A popular Hindu ritual form of worship of North Malabar region in the Indian state of Kerala is the blood offering to Theyyam gods. Theyyam deities are propitiated through the cock sacrifice where the religious cockfight is a religious exercise of offering blood to the Theyyam gods .[67]

Method of sacrifice

Methods for sacrificing range from decapitation, strangulation, to a spike being driven into the heart of the animal.

Jhatka is the prescribed method for Hindu ritual slaughter, however other methods such as strangulation and the use of a wooden spile (sphya) driven into the heart is used.[68] The reason for this is priests see an animal making a noise as a bad omen and the animal making noise indicates that it is suffering. The Jhatka method requires the instant killing of the animal in a single decapitating blow with an axe or sword. Those Hindus who eat meat prescribe meat killed by the Jhatka method.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ In these cases, Shaktism devotees consider animal sacrifice distasteful, practice alternate means of expressing devotion while respecting the views of others in their tradition.[40] A statue of asura demon made of flour, or equivalent, is immolated and smeared with vermilion to remember the blood that had necessarily been spilled during the war.[38][39] Other substitutes include a vegetal or sweet dish considered equivalent to the animal.[41]

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Bibliography

Further reading

External links

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